50% discount on traffic fines in Umm Al Quwain

The UAQ Police are now offering a 50 per cent discount on all the traffic fines incurred on the internal roads and highways of the northern emirate for 41 days.
A top police officer said the discount, in line with the UAE's 45^th National Day celebrations, is to be valid over the period from Sunday, November 20 to Saturday, December 31, 2016.
Lt-Col Saeed Obaid Bin Aran, Director of Traffic and Patrols Department of the UAQ Police Directorate General, said the discount is applicable to the violations registered before Nov 20. "Later traffic violations will have to be paid in full."
The drive is meant to bring happiness to all members of the society, reduce financial burdens on them, and hopefully encourage drivers to be more responsible on the road and drive safely, he added.
"All the vehicles, whether registered in Umm Al Quwain or any other emirate can benefit from the drive, but the violation had to be committed on the roads of the emirate of Umm Al Quwain."
Lt-Col Bin Aran said the fines can be paid at any service centre across the country. "Payment is also acceptable through the ministry of interior smart application available on all smart devices."
Lt-Col Bin Aran noted that the only exceptions to this discount are the violations that pose a risk to other people's life and end in impoundment, such as driving at more than 160km/hr, jumping the red signal, racing, over tinting car windows etc.
"Erring motorists need to appear in person at the UAQ traffic department and hand over their vehicles for impoundment or pay the set fine."
As per a tougher unified traffic law with higher fines and a black points system enacted in 2008 all over the UAE, erring motorists are penalised with up to 24 black points, following which they lose their driving license.
Driving callously costs an erring driver Dh2,000, 12 black points, as well as the impoundment of the vehicle for 30 days. Not carrying a driving licence or using a horn in a disturbing way draws a fine of Dh100.
Lt-Col Bin Aran said the UAQ Traffic Police have recently launched an intensive campaign to monitor traffic flow to curb reckless driving. "More traffic patrols are deployed on the roads of the emirate to ensure road users' safety, particularly with the advent of the new academic year."
ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com