Abu Dhabi vehicle ownership transfers must be completed in full, warn police

Abu Dhabi: Vehicle ownership transfers must be completed in full unless the first owners are willing to be held responsible for traffic black points, fines or confiscation of the vehicle even after selling it, warned police.

"The first owner of a vehicle and the showroom supervisors where the sale deed of a vehicle is processed will be held responsible for any offences related to the vehicle in case ownership transfer procedures have not been completed in full," read a statement issued by the police, in this regard.

Stressing the importance of completing all legal procedures during the sale of a vehicle, First Lieutenant Juma Al Hosani, the head of traffic offences section, said if a vehicle is sold without the completion of the procedures then the traffic offences involving the vehicle will be the responsibility of the first owner until and unless the second owner admits the offences.

"If the second owner does not own up his act then it is up to the first owner to prove his innocence in the court of law," he said.

Al Hosani explained that some of the owners are negligent about completing the ownership transfer in accordance with the rules. "This could potentially invite them financial penalties and traffic black points."

The police also advised employers to add a clause in the job contract of their drivers that holds them responsible for the offences or fines acquired by them during their tenure of service.

If a vehicle involved in an offence was undergoing repair at a workshop, then the workshop will be held responsible, said Al Hosani.

He suggested that the companies with large fleets of vehicles must maintain a log book of their vehicles showing its schedule and details of the driver to help them track the offence and the person responsible for it.

Should a dispute arise as to who committed the offence, the police has clarified that the registration of the vehicle will only be done after identifying the offence and the offenders.