Dubai: With its fleet of 1518 buses that transports over 370,000 passengers every single day, chances are you’ve travelled with Dubai Roads and Transport Authority’s public bus services. Even as you are transported through the sprawling metropolitan hub, enjoying brightly-lit city landscapes, there are some common mistakes you need to keep in mind to avoid RTA fines, which can range from Dh100 to a whopping Dh2000.
What can I be fined for?
Fines can be imposed on behaviours such as putting your feet up on seats, eating and drinking, and others, included in the fields of health and safety, fare payment, compliance and behaviour. Here’s the full picture of what activities and offences incur fines.
1. Endangering safety for passengers
As the most important concern, heavy fines are imposed in cases of equipment or behaviours that could compromise safety of the passengers and driver.
Dh2,000
Using security and safety devices such as emergency exits or fire alarms when not necessary
Dh1,000
Carrying hazardous items, including sharp tools, inflammable materials or weapons inside the bus or bus facilities
Dh500
Carrying alcoholic beverages in bus or bus facility premises
Dh300
Sleeping in bus passenger shelters, or buses
Dh200
Distracting or causing obstruction to the driver while he is driving
Dh100
Jumping or climbing to board buses when moving - Opening bus doors or attempting to enter or leave while the bus is moving between stops
Bringing animals, except guide dogs for blind people, into the bus
Carrying or using equipment that may be inconvenient to other passengers or endanger their safety
2. Compromising health and cleanliness
Affecting bus hygiene is also an offence that incurs fines.
Dh200
Littering, spitting or any act that would affect cleanness of the bus, its facilities and services
Smoking inside the bus or at the bus stop
Dh100
Eating and drinking in buses or other prohibited areas
3. Causing damage and disturbance
Decorum must be maintained inside the bus, and behavioural disturbances that includes putting feet up on seats can be fined.
Dh1,000
Vandalising, damaging or destroying equipment on buses and bus stations
Dh200
Causing inconvenience or disturbance in any way to other bus users, which includes behaviours like playing musical instruments, using sound reproducing equipment to the annoyance of other passengers
Dh100
Putting feet up on seats
Sitting or standing in non-passenger areas
4. Non-compliance with regulations
Activities such as using the bus for sales and promotion activities, disobeying signboard regulations and inappropriately parking and using designated seats have fines ranging from Dh100 per day of offence to Dh100.
Dh100 per day up to Dh1,000:
Parking vehicles in spaces for metro users that exceeds a permitted period
Dh200
Carrying out commercial activities such as sale and promotion within buses and bus facilities
Failing to comply with instruction of authorised personnel such as inspectors, or obstructing their duties
Using bus services or facilities in a way that disobeys authority’s instructions posted on signboards, for example, not using masks or sitting on designated socially distanced seats
Dh100
Entering restricted areas within buses or stations such as driver’s and staff areas
Accessing or sitting in seats designated for specific categories that is not suited to you
5. Invalid payment sources or non-payment of fare
Always make sure to carry a Nol card and pay with a valid payment card to avoid fines.
Dh500
Using a fake Nol card
Dh200
Using buses, bus facilities or services without paying
Using an expired or invalid Nol card
Using a Nol card designated for others
Failing to show a Nol card on request
Selling a Nol card without permit
These fines will be issued against your Emirates ID or passport number, and can only be paid at certain locations. According to the latest system, inspectors issue the fines using machines that issue the receipt.
How to pay fines
You can pay the bus fines in the following ways:
• Visit the Al Kifaf Customer Happiness Centre, which is open from 8am to 7.30pm, Sunday to Thursday. It is located near Zabeel park on Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed street.
• Show the fine number on your ticket and pay the inspector directly, after the fine has been issued.
A ‘Knowledge and Innovation Fee’ of Dh20 will be charged along with your fine.
However, they can be disputed within 30 days of being imposed through these processes:
• Access the official RTA website, go to ‘Bus’ under Public Transport, and click on the ‘Dispute form’ option to fill and submit
• Emailing ask@rta.ae
• Calling 8009090
For all of these options, you would need to provide details of the fine, personal identification documents like an Emirates ID or passport, along with proof for contesting the fine issuance.
