UAE- Period for discounted traffic fines in RAK extended 

(MENAFN - Khaleej Times) The 50 per cent cut in traffic fines the RAK Police granted earlier this month has now been extended due to overwhelming requests from motorists, but will be limited to radar-caught speeding violations.

The Police Directorate General Traffic and Patrols Department director Lt Col Saeed Obaid bin Aran said the extension, from December 6 to December 31, was in response to motorists' requests, particularly those with expired registration cards. The fine discount was in commemoration of the UAE's 41st National Day celebrations.

Major-General Shaikh Taleb bin Sager Al Qassimi, Commandant-in-Chief, RAK Police, has instructed that all traffic fines caught by the RAK traffic officers on the emirate's roads, shall be cut by half.

According to a traffic source, the grace period is valid till April 2013. "Intentional violations, such as parking in prohibited areas, failure to renew registration card or driving license, not belting-up, and other breaches as stipulated by law are not excluded." Earlier, the public inquired about the reasons behind excluding some traffic violations from the 50 per cent cut.

"Only erring drivers caught on the emirate's roads shall be liable to the fine discount in commemoration of the National Day celebrations," he said. The police also urged all motorists to remove the National Day decorations as per the decree of the minister of interior. "Decorations were only permitted from November 29 to December 3."

As per a tougher unified traffic law, a higher fines and black points system was enacted in 2008 all over the country. The erring motorists penalised with 24 black points shall lose their driving license.

Driving callously costs an erring driver Dh2,000 as fine, 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.