Saturday, May 04, 2013
Abu Dhabi: Motorists have been granted one more opportunity to pay their traffic and parking fines in instalments starting today (Sunday).
The three-month scheme will end on August 4, Abu Dhabi Traffic and Patrols Directorate announced yesterday (Saturday).
A similar scheme ended in February.
Traffic fines issued by traffic authorities in the UAE and Gulf Cooperation Council nations, and parking fines issued by the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi to vehicles registered in Abu Dhabi emirate, can be paid in instalments, said officials.
Only those who have at least Dh 1,000 fines on more than one ticket can avail of the scheme. Residents with expired vehicle licences or those coming up for renewal in the next three months have to make payment upfront of 50 per cent of the total traffic and parking fines separately before August 4 to make use of this offer.
The remaining 50 per cent can be paid in instalments in one year, Brigadier Hussain Al Harthi, director of the Traffic and Patrols Directorate, said in a press release.
As many as 144,824 motorists took advantage of a similar scheme held between November 18, 2012 and February 18, 2013, and 22,000 of them renewed their vehicle licences, he said.
He made it clear that this reprieve is only for individual vehicle owners [both Emiratis and expatriates] but companies or organisations are not eligible.
Al Harthi said those who take advantage of the scheme are not allowed to sell the vehicles while they continue to pay instalments. They cannot take the vehicles out of the country or transfer the ownership without paying the remaining instalments. Motorists who want to sell their cars must first settle all traffic fines, the official clarified. However, a resident who owns two cars and wants to sell only one can shift all traffic fines to the car he intends to keep.
Residents welcomed the move.
Abdul Bari, a self-employed Indian resident, said it will help many people who have accumulated parking fines. Thanks to the strict measures taken by the police, speeding and racing on the roads have come down considerably, so most of the people may not have many traffic fines, he said.
“But I know many people have accumulated parking fines because of ignorance about new parking rules and regulations in Abu Dhabi,” Bari said. “This will help them a lot.”
By Binsal Abdul Kader Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
