Dh3,000 fine and 24 traffic points for operating illegal taxis in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi - The Abu Dhabi Police said on Thursday that they seized 1,573 private cars during the first four months of 2019.

Over 1,500 motorists have been fined in the Capital after authorities caught them operating illegal taxis.
The Abu Dhabi Police said on Thursday that they seized 1,573 private cars during the first four months of 2019 after the vehicle owners were found lifting passengers from different roads in Abu Dhabi and ferrying them to various areas.
The motorists were caught mostly by undercover officers from transport authorities in coordination with the traffic police when picking up or dropping off commuters across Abu Dhabi.
The police said they would not tolerate with anyone caught operating illegal taxis in the emirate of Abu Dhabi as it's against traffic laws.
Colonel Mubarak Awad bin Mahiroum, director of the transport security department at the Abu Dhabi Police, said the phenomenon of illegal taxi operation is uncivilised and has serious effects on the health and safety of users of such anonymous and unlicensed vehicles.
"Some of the drivers of these illegal taxis may not be having licences issued by the UAE authorities and while others are staying in the country illegally," said Mahiroum.
Police investigations suggest that most of the cars doing illegal taxi services are owned by individuals and sometimes the owners employ unlicensed drivers to operate the illegal service.
Authorities said they are running a campaign educating the public about the dangers of using illegal taxies and to put illegal cabbies out of business.
Illegal cabbies usually transport commuters travelling from Abu Dhabi city to the city outskirts like Musaffah industrial area and Shabiyah, Mohammed bin Zayed City, Bani Yas and other areas especially during the morning and evening hours and over the weekend.
Some people in Abu Dhabi, mostly labourers, use illegal taxis because of the lower fares compared to the regulated taxis.
These private cars are mostly driven by Asian men who charge from Dh10 per person and carry four people in a car at a time.
Police has called upon all community members to help the concerned bodies including police and municipality to eliminate this dangerous phenomenon by immediately reporting whoever exercises such activity.
According to the Federal Traffic Law, the penalty for illegally transporting passengers carries a fine of Dh3,000, loss of 24 traffic points and seizing the car for 30 days.
ismail@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi