Dubai's worst traffic offenders: Dh1.3 million owed in unpaid fines

DUBAI // A Bengali woman has committed 204 traffic offences and racked up Dh201,000 in fines – and it’s only June.

Another Indian driver is the second-worst offender, with 148 breaches and more than Dh137,000 in fines, followed by an Iraqi with 75 offences and Dh136,300 in fines.

The three expatriates top the list compiled by Dubai Traffic Department of 44 drivers who owe a total of Dh1,326,750 in fines for traffic offences committed so far this year.

The first Emirati on the list is in fourth place, with 104 offences and fines of Dh121,320.

Maj Gen Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, the department’s director, said an investigation team was working to track down the main offenders and compel them to pay their fines.

The team, which works undercover, can impound cars with expired registrations in coordination with the Roads and Transport Authority. Drivers with more than Dh10,000 in outstanding fines are contacted by text message.

UAE nationals make up more than half the people on the list, with 29 drivers responsible for 2,849 offences, and owing Dh851,370 in fines. Twenty of these have promised to settling their outstanding fines.

A female Emirati driver comes fifth on the list with 76 offences and Dh117,220 in fines. In seventh place is a male Emirati with 122 offences and fines of Dh92,700.

Maj Gen Al Zafeen said the six female drivers who made the list were responsible for 673 offences, and owed Dh409,100 in fines.

He attributed the accumulation of fines on drivers failing to regularly check their traffic record, not settling outstanding fines in time or being late in renewing licences.

He said the traffic department had devised a new system to pay fines in easy instalments calculated in line with people’s incomes.

newsdesk@thenational.ae