Reckless driver gets Dh1.2 million fine in UAE

The traffic fine slapped against the driver is the biggest ever to be recorded by the RAK police.

A young Emirati has racked up over Dh1 million in traffic fines, making it the highest accumulated amount recorded by the Ras Al Khaimah Police. The 23-year-old was involved in 1,251 traffic violations, resulting in fines of Dh1.15 million, the police revealed on Sunday. These violations were recorded in the federal traffic system, which means they were committed across the country.
The young driver was booked 1,200 times for speeding and his car was ordered to be impounded 51 times.
According to Colonel Waleed Mohammed Juma, chief of the Maamura police station, the Emirati was caught in a "surprise inspection raid". "The motorist, who is from another emirate, committed the violations in two years," the officer told Khaleej Times. "The first of these violations was committed on November 11, 2017."
The highest speed for which the motorist was booked was 200km/h, Col Juma disclosed.
He added that the motorist's driving licence had expired. The officer added that the motorist - who is a clerk with a government department - will be referred to the Ras Al Khaimah traffic prosecution for legal action.
What will happen to the motorist's licence?
Mohammed Fawzi, a lawyer in Ras Al Khaimah, told Khaleej Times that the erring driver faces licence suspension either temporarily or for life, as deemed by the traffic prosecution.
When asked what would happen if the motorist fails to pay up the amount, the lawyer said his car would be seized and auctioned off.
Speeding kills, warn police
The Ras Al Khaimah Police have warned that speeding has been blamed for several fatal accidents all over the country. The most recent of these was when four kids aged 10 to 18 years died after their 4WD vehicle flipped over.
"However, some drivers, particularly the youth, don't heed to the advice we give out about the dangers of speeding," the police said.
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com

• Ras Al Khaimah