In an effort to effectively curb the spread of the virus in the UAE community, the Dubai Police on Wednesday (April 15) has announced that they will issue warnings to motorists who don’t wear masks while driving in Dubai.
According to the announcement, fines will be issued to all drivers regardless of whether they are alone in the car or traveling with others.
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Dubai Police: Wear a Face Mask Before Getting Inside a Car or Get an AED 1,000 Fine
According to the Dubai Police, 233 warnings and five fines were issued for not wearing masks in enclosed places and failing to keep a safe distance, as shared in a report by Gulf News.
Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, Director of Traffic Department at Dubai Police, noted that the official spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP), Dr. Farida Al Hosani, had stressed the importance for everyone to wear masks even if you don’t have symptoms.
Al Mazroui shared, “We issued a circular on the importance of wearing masks inside cars.”
He added that the Dubai Police has already issued warning fines to drivers who are not wearing masks while driving as part of the precautionary measures.
A warning fine is a warning issued, followed by a fine if the offense is repeated.
Many drivers have already been issued warning tickets on their mobile phones with a message to adhere to the laws.
According to the Dubai Police, the fine for not wearing masks is AED 1,000.
“We issued warning fines at the beginning for the public so that people wouldn’t claim that they didn’t know about the order,” Al Mazroui clarified. “If a person didn’t comply with the order then a real fine will be issued.”
Also, based on the announcement, fines will be issued to all drivers regardless of whether they are alone in the car or traveling with others.
The instructions especially when it comes to movement restrictions released by the Ministry of Health, Al Mazroui pointed out, were clear from the very beginning.
Despite this, violators were exempted on the first day of the sterilization program as per orders from the country’s leaders.
On Monday (April 13), the Dubai Police issued announced that they have issued around 2,527 fines against violators of the movement restrictions in place during the National Sterilization Program.
The Dubai Police added that 2,076 warnings and eight fines have already been issued to people for violating safety instructions such as unnecessarily leaving their homes (i.e. not for work purposes or to buy essentials.)
Another 204 warnings one fine have also been issued to drivers for exceeding the maximum allowed number of passengers (three).
The Dubai Police General Command reminds the public to stay indoors and to strictly adhere to the precautionary measures announced during the National Sterilisation Programme for their safety.
Here is a video clip posted by Dubai One TV via Twitter on the announcement from the Dubai Police:
#Dubai motorists and passengers to be fined for not wearing a mask. Individuals should cover their mouths and noses at all times#Dubai #UAE #DubaiOneTv #togetherathome #DubaiEyeOnOne@DubaiEye1038FM@SurinaRadio @NCEMAUAE@ARNNewsCentre @DubaiPoliceHQ pic.twitter.com/SUwXUmkBlN
— Dubai One (@DubaiOneTV) April 15, 2020
As per UAE guidelines concerning the coronavirus situation, stepping out of one’s home without a movement permit is a legal ground for deportation.
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