Toll gate violators to get grace period

Dubai: Motorists passing through toll gates without Salik tags will be able to have their fines waived if they register for the system within two days of the offence, said a senior official.

The first phase of Dubai's road toll system called Salik will be in place from July 1 this year.

"Registration for the Salik system will start in the first week of June when the Salik tags will go on sale all around Dubai," said Maitha Obaid Bin Udai, Chief Executive Officer of the Traffic and Roads Agency at the Dubai Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA).

She told Gulf News yesterday that motorists need not panic even if they pass through the toll gate even before getting Salik tags. "They can register within two days and get Salik tags to have the fines waived," she explained.

This concession will also solve the problem of motorists coming from other emirates or neighbouring countries and pass through toll gates without Salik tags.

She further said a motorist, who gets a fine for insufficient credit on the Salik cards while passing through a toll gate, will also have it waived automatically if the Salik card account is replenished within two days of the offence. The concession has been given to help motorists and give them enough time to register for the Salik card account and have tags pasted on the front windscreen of their cars.

The fine for passing through the toll gates without a Salik tag is Dh100. The fine for passing toll gates with insufficient credit will be Dh50.

Also, motorists will be informed through SMS service in case they do not have enough credit.

Gates

There will be two toll gates, one at Al Garhoud Bridge and the other at the Fourth Interchange [near Mall of the Emirates] on Shaikh Zayed Road. Motorists will be charged every time they pass through a toll gate. Taxis will also pay toll when they enter or leave the toll-controlled area. Taxis are not excluded from the toll and the passenger travelling through the toll controlled area will be charged the toll money along with the taxi fare. But passengers will have the option to opt for Salik route or alternative routes. However, the public transport buses; school buses, ambulances, police and army vehicles will be exempted from the toll.

TOLL
Cards to go on sale within a week

Maitha Obaid Bin Udai, Chief Executive Officer of the Traffic and Roads Agency at the Dubai Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), said Salik cards would go on sale within a week.

Every motorist intending to use the toll-controlled road will have to get a Salik tag. Motorists will have to fill an application form, which will be available with the Salik tag kit and also online. To get a Salik tag, a motorist will have to complete the application form and will have to provide personal information and a copy of car registration card.

Once a motorist registers or opens account with the Salik system, he/she will be able to access his/her account and check the balance www.salik.ae or by calling the customer service centre at 800 SALIK (72545).

Motorists will be able to recharge his/her Salik cards at selected banks Automatic Teller Machine (ATMs) and online using credit or debit cards. Companies or individuals, who have more than one vehicles, do not require to have separate Salik accounts for each vehicles. They can open one account in their name and can get separate tags for all their vehicles working under the same account.