Dubai: Traffic enforcement officers will be lenient with motorists who commit minor traffic offences during the three-day celebration of National Day and Martyr’s Day, Gulf News has learnt.
Barring serious traffic offences that cannot be overlooked, motorists who breach minor road laws will be sent texts warning them of the offences instead of fines, said a senior police official.
Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, Commander in Chief of Dubai police, said the central thrust of the campaign is to spread happiness among motorists and to encourage them to follow traffic instructions and not to cause chaos on Dubai roads during the celebrations.
“Instead of issuing a traffic fine to a motorist who committed a minor offence, we will send a text message to them saying there is a minor traffic fine against you but due to National Day celebrations it won’t be registered. We will ask them not to repeat the offence again,” Maj Gen Al Merri told Gulf News.
Traffic officers have received instructions to be lenient with motorists who commit minor traffic offences such as blocking traffic, expired car registration, stopping a car on the road and other minor offences.
“This gesture doesn’t mean reckless drivers won’t be fined or it is a window for them to commit traffic offences during National Day celebrations. Our officers can estimate if the offence was committed without intention by the motorist or if the motorist meant to commit an offence.”
Maj Gen Al Merri said that for example, if a woman with children parks illegally for a few minutes because there is no parking space, then the officer won’t fine her.
“Instead, she will get a text message about the fine and why we didn’t register it. This gesture will make her feel happy and more aware of traffic violations in the future. We hope motorists will appreciate the gesture not to use it in negative way,” Al Merri told Gulf News.
Meanwhile, Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of Traffic Department in Dubai Police, said the initiative will encourage motorists to follow traffic instructions.
“Police are not only a security department but also a partner in happiness for all motorists. We don’t want to collect money from people for their fines to make everybody follow traffic rules. Drivers must avoid any traffic offence even if it’s a minor one. We want safer and better roads,” Brigadier Al Mazroui told Gulf News.
Officers who will be in all Dubai roads, will monitor the offenders and decide whether to penalise or not.
“If the offence happens on a highway like Mohammad Bin Zayed or Shaikh Zayed Road, then there will be fine because it is a serious, not minor, offence,” Brigadier Al Mazroui added.
Earlier, Dubai Police sent a warning ahead of 46th National Day celebrations, that bad behaviour and dangerous driving will result in fines of up to Dh2,000 and 23 black points and cars can also be impounded for up to 60 days.
Brigadier Al Mazroui, said that police would be prepared during the national celebrations to tackle offenders.
Police will deploy more than 600 patrols on all roads to make sure there will be no traffic jams or dangerous offences by revellers.
