Car-less and yet fined!

DUBAI — Is it possible that you do not own or drive a car, and yet be notified that you have a traffic fine to pay?

By Lily B. Libo-on & Amira Agarib

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Published: Thu 21 Aug 2008, 1:26 AM

Last updated: Wed 8 Apr 2015, 1:25 PM

Sounds incredible? But this is exactly what seems to have happened with a Khaleej Times reporter.

An SMS saying “A traffic ticket was issued on plate 55826 Priv D. Visit www.dubaipolice.gov.ae for more details” was sent to the mobile of the ‘car-less reporter’ of KT. She received the alert thrice in the day.

“As I checked the web site, I did not see my name nor a summary of fines,” the reporter said.

SMS and email notifications are part of the e-system of the General Department of Traffic of Dubai Police, where motorists are sent SMS or email, to alert them of their traffic fines. Launched this year, the traffic e-system records traffic violations and notify the motorists instantly. Commenting on the reports of people receiving SMSes even though they neither have cars nor have they committed traffic violations, Saif Muhair, Deputy Director of General Department of Traffic of Dubai Police, said: “It happens because some drivers provide wrong information or do not update the police when they change their mobile phones.”

He said the Traffic Department was facing this problem as most of the motorists were giving wrong information about their addresses and some of them were changing their phones or addresses without informing the Traffic Department.

“In case someone receives a wrong SMS, the General Department of Traffic verifies the information. We hope to eliminate this problem with the cooperation of motorists. They should go to the Dubai Police web site and update their date,” he urged.

The official also warned that the Traffic Police would stop processing any papers of motorists who do not update their data before the end of this year. He said that by the year-end, the police expects to have an updated data base of people.

“Motorists who come for renewal of car registration would be asked to furnish accurate information about their addresses,” he stressed.

lily@khaleejtimes

amira@khaleejtimes.com


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