COVID-19: Dubai imposes fines on motorists driving without masks

DUBAI: Dubai Police has issued warnings to motorists who do not wear masks while driving which could lead to hefty fines, officials said on Tuesday.

According to local rules, a warning precedes a fine if the offence is repeated. Many drivers have received the warning tickets on their mobile phones with a message to adhere to the laws.

According to Dubai Police, the fine for not wearing masks is Dh1,000 and will be issued to all drivers regardless of whether they are alone in the car or travelling with others.

According to Dubai Police, 233 warnings and five fines were issued for not wearing masks in enclosed places and failing to keep a safe distance. Director of Traffic Department at Dubai Police, Brigadier Saif Muhair Al Mazroui, had stressed the importance for everyone to wear masks even if they do not have symptoms.

“We issued a circular on the importance of wearing masks inside cars,” said Al Mazroui. “Dubai Police issued warning fines to drivers who are not wearing masks while driving as part of the precautionary measures.”

“We issued warning fines at the beginning for the public so that people wouldn’t claim that they didn’t know about the order,” he said. “If a person didn’t comply the order then a real fine will be issued,” he added.

Al Mazroui said that instructions were clear regarding movement restrictions. He said that violators were exempted on the first day of the sterlisation programme following orders from the government.

Dubai Police on Monday announced issuing 2,527 fines against violators of the movement restrictions in place during the National Sterilisation Programme. This includes 2,076 warnings and eight fines to people for violating safety instructions as they had left their homes without necessity, not for work purposes or buying essentials.

Another 204 warnings and one fine were issued to drivers for exceeding the maximum allowed number of three passengers. Dubai Police has called on the public to stay indoors and strictly adhere to the precautionary measures.