Dubai's traffic fine discount scheme suspended

Dubai - Motorists who received the discounts will be able to keep the reductions.

Dubai's traffic fine discount initiative - where a motorist could get up to 100 per cent off penalties - has been suspended, police announced on Monday.
The second edition of the initiative began in February this year, as soon as the first one ended. Col Juma Salim Bin Suwaidan, director-general of the traffic department at Dubai Police, has confirmed that the discounts will no longer be given, however, drivers who have already received them will be able to keep the reductions. Discounted fines will not be reverted to the original amount.
Launched in February last year, the first-of-its-kind initiative allowed drivers to get a 25 per cent discount on fines if they were able to achieve zero violations for three months. No violations for six months entitled them to a 50 per cent discount, and those who kept driving well for nine months got 75 per cent off. A 100 per cent discount was extended to those who were able to drive safely and without any violation for one full year.  
During its first year, as many as 557,430 motorists benefitted from the initiative, and they saved a total of Dh546,970,930 in fines. 
hesham@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai