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Intensified drive against illegal parking

ABU DHABI - The Abu Dhabi Traffic Police issued 14,551 tickets to motorists for obstructing vehicular movement and 1,630 tickets for double parking from March 1 to August 13, according to an official.

An intensified campaign against illegal parking has been on in Abu Dhabi since August 13.

Ahmed Abdul Dhahir, legal consultant, Ministry of Interior, said in a statement that the black point system for illegal parking and obstruction of traffic was being enforced as per the regulations issued by the ministry. He added 17 motorists had got black points for parking their vehicles in front of hydrants, in parking spaces for persons with special needs and in ambulance bays.

A fine of Dh1,000 plus four black points were also imposed on each of them.

He said the motorist parking his/her vehicle in the middle of the road will be fined Dh500 and will get four black points.

The ticket in this case is issued on the spot.

'Parking in the yellow box, left side of the public road and zebra lines will invite a fine of Dh500 each while the fine for parking behind another vehicle obstructing movement is Dh300,' he said.

Cab drivers who park in places not assigned for them will get a fine of Dh200 and four black points. The same penalties plus impounding of the vehicle for a week will be enforced on drivers who breach the rules of embarking and disembarking of passengers.

Giving a lift to passengers illegally will invite a fine of Dh200, four black points and impounding of the vehicle for a week.

The penalties for parking in prohibited places are Dh200 fine and two black points.

The motorist parking his/her vehicle in a way it endangers the lives of road users and obstructs smooth flow of traffic would get a fine of Dh200 and three black points, and the motorists abusing parking facilities and parking on a pavement will be fined Dh200 and get three black points.

The Civil Defence Department has warned motorists against abusing parking spaces reserved for fire engines, ambulances and persons with special needs in residential areas and near commercial centres, public and private firms.

Colonel Abdullah Hassan Garib, Acting Director of Civil Defence in Abu Dhabi, said sloppy parking of vehicles at parking facilities, road shoulders, slopes and entrances of main roads obstruct smooth movement of vehicles of Civil Defence and rescue teams during emergencies.

He noted that a delay of even a few seconds due to wrong parking could cost the lives of those trapped in fire, lifts or rubbles.

Statistics compiled by the Traffic and Patrols Department showed that from March to August 13 when the campaign was launched, 4,657 tickets were issued in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Western Region to motorists for parking their vehicles in front of fire hoses, at bays reserved for ambulances and fire engines and in parking spaces for persons with special needs.

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