Dubai: A man who slept behind the wheel at a traffic light until policemen woke him up and discovered that he was heavily intoxicated, has been fined Dh15,700.
The Asian man had consumed alcohol at a nightclub in Al Muraqabat area before he drove back home on January 25.
Once the man, in his mid 30s, reached the traffic light, he brought his car to a complete stop and waited for the signal to turn green.
The man had his car’s windows down and while waiting for the green light, he completely dozed off.
As other cars lined up behind him, the man did not move his car despite the light turning back to green.
According to records, a police patrol drove by and spotted the man’s car obstructing a trail of vehicles behind him despite the signal turning green.
When the police patrol flashed its lights for the man to drive his car, the driver did not move.
When policemen went to the man’s car, they found him to be heavily drunk and as sleep. Police woke him up and took him to police station.
Traffic prosecutors accused him of drinking alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol and unnecessarily stopping his car in the street.
When he showed up before the Dubai Traffic Misdemeanours Court, he admitted that he was too drunk and had taken a snooze behind the wheel.
Having pleaded guilty, the presiding judge fined the accused Dh15,700.
Sources close to the case told Gulf News that the defendant’s driving licence was suspended for three months.
Monday’s ruling remains subject to appeal within 15 days.
