RAK cuts traffic fines by 50% for 3 months

RAK cuts traffic fines by 50% for 3 months Ahmed Shaaban (ahmedshaaban@khaleejtimes.com) / 14 August 2013 For three months from August 18, fines imposed for traffic law offences on Ras Al Khaimah’s roads will be cut by half. Brigadier Mohammed Al Noobi, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the RAK Police, on Tuesday said the grace period will be valid till November 18. “Only the erring drivers caught on the emirate’s roads shall be eligible for the fine discount. The unpaid fines for speeding and other traffic offences must be paid at the 50 per cent discounted rate at the RAK Traffic and Patrols Department.” Brigadier Al Noobi noted that the only exception to this was impoundment. “In this case, the erring motorist must appear in person at the department and hand over his/her vehicle for impoundment or pay the set fine.” The move was meant to cut the financial burden on errant drivers and encourage the motorists to pay the pending fines, but exercise more caution on the road in the future. “The move is also aimed to help motorists renew their expired registration cards.” The traffic and patrols departments in all emirates ordered a 25-50 per cent discount on the traffic fines recorded in the respective emirates. “The decision encouraged many motorists to renew their expired registration cards and settle the accumulated fines.” As per a tougher unified traffic law with higher fines and a black points system enacted in 2008 all over the country, the erring motorists penalised with 24 black points would lose their driving licences. 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 attracts a fine of Dh100. Pedestrian knocked down Meanwhile, a 30-year-old Asian man, identified only as M.A., suffered serious head injuries after a vehicle driven by an Emirati motorist, named H.A., knocked him down while crossing the road near the Emarat petrol station in the Khor Khuweir area, according to the RAK Civil Defence Department. “The mishap is to be blamed on the motorist who was speeding and driving inattentively that he did not notice the pedestrian who was crossing the road. The victim, who was given first aid, was shifted to Saqr Hospital.”   Taylor Scott International