Staff Report

Dubai – Traffic fines will be reduced by 50 per cent on March 20 in Umm Al Quwain as the emirate is observing International Happiness Day.

Lt-Col Saeed Obaid bin Aran, Director of Traffic and Patrols Department of the UAQ Police Directorate General, Sunday evening said the move is meant to bring happiness to the public.

“The discount, effective for one day on Monday, March 20, is only applicable on the due charges for releasing impounded vehicles.”

He said eligible drivers would rather take the chance and get their impounded vehicles released against a lower price. “The move will drop the impoundment charges by half.”

After 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 the 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.”