Dubai: Residents in Dubai are free to give a ride to their relatives and friends as long as they don’t charge money for the ride, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has said.
The RTA has launched a campaign to raise awareness among tourists and residents of Dubai about the menace of illegal taxis.
Notices have been put up at different locations near the airport and Rashid Port to inform people about the penalties for operating illegal transport, creating panic among many residents that giving friends and relatives a ride could put them in trouble.
However, Abdullah Yousuf Al Ali, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency, clarified that people are free to give a ride to friends and relatives without being worried about being penalised.
“If friends and relatives are to be picked up or dropped off from and to the airport, people will not be penalised. We have installed boards to create awareness among residents and tourists who are not aware of illegal transport operators,” said Al Ali.
According to the RTA, the campaign is aimed at protecting commuters and safeguarding their rights, which might be compromised by unauthorised taxi operators.
“RTA calls on all community members to shun the use of illegal or unlicensed transit means as they constitute grave risks to the security and safety of riders,” he said.
Any unauthorised pick-up and drop off of passengers in exchange for money is considered illegal in Dubai and the penalty for such an offence varies from Dh20,000 to Dh50,000.
The law and the penalties were revised earlier this year through executive resolution No 6 of 2016.
Video: Don't worry, you won't get a fine for driving around friends and family
The RTA confirmed that many individuals and firms continue to operate illegal transport despite hefty fines and the campaign is aimed at clamping down on their activities.
Highlighting the threats faced by people taking rides on illegal taxis, Al Ali said: “Riders of illegal transport are vulnerable to manipulated fare, bad treatment, immoral behaviour, especially with women, or exploitation. Moreover, vehicles used in such activities are not subjected to periodic inspections, and lack the standard security and safety stipulations which would eventually undermine the reputation of the emirate.”
However, many motorists giving their friends or relatives a ride to the airport told Gulf News that the campaign has resulted in them being questioned by RTA inspectors and in some cases they are asked to prove their relationship with those they came to drop off or pick up.
Al Ali said that proof of relationship is asked only as a last resort.
“Our inspectors are trained to undertake an investigation by which they can identify any suspicious illegal activity through an individual’s behaviour or body language and asking for proof of an individual’s relationship with his relative or friend may be one of the last resorts,” said Al Ali.
He added that if an individual feels that he is fined unfairly, he is welcome to take up the matter with the grievance committee at RTA by calling 8009090.
“Once a complaint is registered we will further investigate the matter and come to a resolution,” he said.
Individuals operating illegal transport face a fine of Dh20,000, while companies, including mobile app-based service providers without permits, face a penalty of Dh50,000.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, issued an executive council resolution earlier this year that reorganised the transportation sector.
Resolution No 6 of 2016 specifies penalties for different transport-related offences, while setting technical and safety standards required to operate taxis and limousines.
Among the offences is hiring unauthorised people to operate taxis or limousines, which will attract a fine of Dh20,000.
The resolution also prohibits transporting passengers in vehicles not licensed for this purpose within the emirate or from Dubai to any other emirate. The penalty for the violation is also Dh20,000.
