Bail Out Your Impounded Vehicle

Traffic violators who have their cars impounded now have the option to bail them out, according to a traffic police official.

By paying Dh100 for each day of confiscation, motorists can release their car from the Confiscated Cars Section, said Lt Ahmad Abdullah Bin Hareb, Head of Violations Section at Dubai Police Traffic Department.

Most vehicles are confiscated for traffic violations, especially jumping the red light, which entails a week-long confiscation.

The new traffic system, which took effect on September 17, calls for harsher punishment.

But authorities are now running out of parking space for the confiscated cars as the vehicle-to-population ratio in Dubai has reached more than 1:2.

The confiscated car pound, which can hold up to 6,500, is divided into three parts — one for traffic violations, another for CID and Dubai police stations, and the third for damaged vehicles.

More serious violations require up to three months in the police car barn.

Bin Hareb said the new rules could be a solution for some boorish motorists. For others, however, it could be a burden as the amount they have to pay to release their vehicles from a three-month confiscation - Dh9,000 - may be higher than the cost of their car.

Bin Harib said that for jumping a red light, the penalty would be one week's confiscation or payment of Dh700 instead, and for reckless driving or road racing offenders are liable either to pay Dh6,000 or to leave their car at the pound for 60 days.

Those who prefer to leave their cars at the Confiscated Cars Section are not charged extra – unless they overstay.

Unclaimed cars will be auctioned off as "we have a shortage in parking space for the confiscated vehicles", declared Bin Hareb.

The Violations