Speeding fines recorded by faulty radar in RAK revoked

Most of the speeding fines recorded on a main road of Ras Al Khaimah will be cancelled due to a technical glitch in a radar on Sunday morning.

A senior official on Monday told Khaleej Times that the speeding camera on the Rams-Shaml Road, RAK, photographed all the vehicles running on the road, even those driving below speed limit.

Brigadier Ghanim Ahmed Ghanim, Director General of the Central Operations, RAK Police, said they instantly contacted the company concerned when alerted about the malfunction.

“The company soon fixed the breakdown which was attributed to a dysfunction in the programming system of the radar.”

The speeding camera photographed all the vehicles running on the Rams-Shaml Road, including those driving at a speed lower than 120km/ph, he added.

“The Central Operations Room received several complaints from the public about the snag, and fixed the problem by taking action in a record time.”

Brig Ghanim said the Traffic Fines Section of the RAK Police was alerted about the faulty radar, and instructed to cancel all undue speeding fines.

“The RAK Police are very keen to protect road users and ensure their safety while the radars covering the roads of the emirate are meant for curbing traffic accidents and casualties.”

Few days back, the RAK Police decided to give a 50 per cent discount on speeding traffic fines incurred on the roads of the emirate. The three-month drop is to take effect from September 10 to December 15. “The 50 per cent cut on pending fines spans unpaid fines for only speeding violations caught by the fixed or portable radars on the emirates’ internal roads and highways,” he said. Most recently, the RAK Traffic Police installed new a speeding camera on the critical Shaikh Mohammed Bin Salem Road, known as Al Faisal Road, downtown.

“The new radar, fixed on the main road for those coming to Ras Al Khaimah, seeks to clamp down speeding infractions, reduce traffic accidents and casualties,” he said.

Brig Ghanim said speeding has been blamed for most of the accidents on the critical road.

Racing draws a fine of Dh2,000, 12 black points and a 30-day impoundment of the vehicle involved, while exceeding speed limit by more than 60km/h is fined by Dh1,000, 12 black points, and 30-day impoundment.

“A fine of Dh900 and six black points shall be imposed on any motorist who exceeds the maximum speed limit by less than 60km/h,” he stated.

ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com