Dubai: It's easy to purchase a car here and many families own more than one vehicle, making it a nightmare to find a parking space near home or at work.
In the central business districts of the emirates of Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, the roads authority and municipalities have installed parking meters to try and control the parking problems. (In Abu Dhabi the parking meters have been installed in Sector 8, Khalifa and Hamdan Streets and should be operational soon).
Motorists complain that the parking meters have been set up not only in business areas but also in some residential places.
It is now mandatory for landlords of new residential towers to provide parking space for their tenants. The tenant pays anything between Dh2,000 to Dh6,000 for the parking rights.
Fines are high for people parking in illegal spots and if the vehicle obstructs the movement of other cars.
If you are fined for breaking the paid parking rules, you should pay it as soon as possible otherwise there is an additional 10 per cent penalty. The fine is paid in the emirate the parking ticket was issued as this system is not linked by computers in other emirates.
You can pay the fine at the traffic department when you are renewing the registration of the car. There can be no excuse that the ticket is lost, because the fines are all registered online.
Some motorists are not aware that if you park your car in a parking lot and punched out a ticket but did not utilise the whole time, that ticket can be used in another lot in another part of the city. But you cannot use it in parking lots that charge more than what you have paid.
Motorists will be fined Dh100 if they park in the lots without punching out a ticket. The fine is Dh200 for misusing the parking facilities in such a way that it causes inconvenience or harm to others. If you damage the parking meter, the fine is Dh500.
The fine can be paid in Dubai or Sharjah at the municipality or at the Traffic Department. Incidentally, if you have a parking fine ticket, it can be paid in Dubai at the following locations: Roads and Transport Authority Main Office; Car Parking Dept., Gubaiba, Bur Dubai; Emirates Post Offices and Traffic Police Departments in the UAE and GCC countries.
You can pay for your ticket at the machine, or by prepaid card. The cards are issued by the municipalities or can be purchased at some gas stations. The pre-paid parking cards in Dubai sell for Dh100; Dh50 and Dh30.
It is now mandatory for landlords of new residential towers to provide parking spaces for their tenants.
