Dubai: Residents will soon have to pay traffic fines before getting any transaction processed at the residency departments across the country, a senior official told Gulf News on Thursday.
"Residents will soon be demanded to pay any traffic fines they incurred before getting their visa renewed or cancelled," said Brigadier Gaith Al Za'abi, Director General of Traffic Coordination Department in the Ministry of Interior.
The move was prompted by thousands of people who default on traffic fines and those who get their visa cancelled, leaving behind large amounts of accumulated fines. Police officials have threatened motorists, who have delayed paying traffic fines for long periods, will be sued in court.
Lieutenant General Dahi Khalfan Tamim has said motorists, who do not pay their traffic fines for a long time or have large amounts of accumulated fines, will be taken to court. "Either they pay or face jail," he said.
Brigadier Hussain Ahmad Al Harithi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Traffic Department said the move was proposed by his department and the Interior Ministry will apply it across the country within the framework of the federal traffic and licensing system.
He added residents will have also have to obtain Emirates ID cards as the traffic systems across the country will be linked to other federal systems.
Abu Dhabi is all set to link the issuance and renewal of residence visas with registration of national ID cards in July.
The process is already linked in the Western Region, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, Dibba Al Hisn, Dhaid in Sharjah and Ajman.
Violations
UAE traffic authorities have suspended 10,400 driving licences for motorists who have accumulated 24 black points since the system was introduced three years ago, official data showed recently.
As many as 3,911 licences were suspended last year, a slight improvement from 2009 when 4,235 licences were suspended, according to interior ministry figures. The black point system was first enforced in 2008.
Tough new system
- 10,400: licences suspended under 24 black points system
- 3,911: licences suspended under the system last year
