200 offences of random parking recorded in Sharjah

Sharjah: Sharjah Police recorded 200 offences of random parking before mosques after the one-month awareness campaign ended.

Insensitive drivers who display a habit of parking their vehicles where they please are in for a rude awakening, pledge Sharjah Police.

Authorities warned motorists that beginning Friday, errant drivers who flout parking space designations and general road signs will feel the full force of the law as part of a crackdown on parking misfits.

The crackdown comes on the heels of an awareness campaign started on September 21 to educate the public about the dangers of random parking.

Police will slap fines of Dh500 and four black points on motorists whose vehicles are found parked haphazardly in front of mosques or double parked in busy roads.

The new campaign is specifically aimed at creating a new sense of order amid the traffic confusion created by some motorists who park their cars randomly in front of mosques, especially during the time of Friday prayers, and hinder the traffic flow.

Parking in the middle of the road will also invite a fine of Dh500 and four black points, according to article No 41 of the law, Lt Col Ahmad Bin Darwish, acting director of the Traffic and Patrol Department, said.

“Random parking is seen near mosques and shopping malls, which can endanger the lives of other people on the roads. Especially on Fridays, such parking can lead to unwanted traffic jams during prayer times,” he said.

The department was forced to implement these rules as many drivers were seen parking their cars randomly, taking advantage of the fact that the traffic police earlier did not penalise drivers who parked their vehicles improperly during prayer time.

He said random parking also prevents police patrols from reaching destinations during emergencies.

Booklets and brochures on road safety were distributed to road users as part of the earlier campaign