Sharjah offers traffic fine relief for more than 600,000 old violations
Motorists in Sharjah given a chance to clear decade-old fines as part of new initiative
Sharjah: Sharjah Police have announced that over 600,000 traffic violations older than 10 years are now eligible for waiver provided specific conditions are met.
This comes as part of a directive from the Sharjah Executive Council aimed at resolving long-standing traffic issues and expired vehicle registrations. The move aims at easing the burden on motorists and promote road safety.
Decade-old traffic fines
According to Sharjah Police, more than 44,000 vehicles currently have expired registrations, and their owners are being urged to settle overdue traffic fines.
Speaking to Gulf News, Colonel Mohammad Alay Al Naqbi, Director General of the Traffic and Patrol Department, encouraged motorists to visit the Traffic and Licensing Services Center to begin the process. To apply for a waiver, individuals must pay a Dh1,000 application fee.
However, the fee will not be charged under special circumstances:
The vehicle owner has passed away
The owner has lived abroad continuously for more than 10 years
The vehicle has been abandoned and the owner cannot be contacted
“There are genuine cases where people have been unable to return to the UAE or unfortunately passed away, and we take that into account,” said Col. Al Naqbi.
In addition, those whose total fines amount to less than Dh1,000 may not need to pay the processing fee at all.
No new car registration
Col. Al Naqbi also clarified that motorists with unresolved traffic fines cannot register or renew any vehicle until their traffic record is cleared.
“Violations are linked to the individual’s traffic file, not just a specific vehicle. All outstanding fines must be resolved first,” he added.
The decision to waive old traffic fines was made during a recent meeting of the Sharjah Executive Council (SEC), chaired by Sheikh Abdullah bin Salem Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah and Vice Chairman of the Council.
The SEC issued a decision that all traffic violations older than 10 years, recorded by Sharjah Police, will be cancelled under the following conditions:
A request is submitted with a Dh1,000 fee.
The violation predates April 2015.
Exceptions are made for deceased owners, long-term expatriates, or unclaimed abandoned vehicles.
Encouraging Safer Roads and Cleaner Records
Authorities say the move is part of broader efforts to enhance road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and provide motorists with a clean slate.
“This is a good opportunity for people to resolve old issues and move forward,” Col. Al Naqbi said, urging drivers to adhere to traffic laws for the safety of all road user
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