DUBAI // A drunk man walked into a police station to tell officers about the argument he was having with a taxi driver over his fare, Dubai Court of Misdemeanours has heard.

Emirati AB, 28, showed up at Al Qusais police station at about 9.20pm on January 9 with the taxi driver after he refused to pay the fare.

A police report said that the smell of alcohol from him was clear.

They had been arguing over the cost of the fare from Al Satwa to the Emirati’s home in Al Mutainah.

However, the passenger’s problems grew to more than just a fare dispute when he was referred to the criminal lab, where a test confirmed he was drunk.

The Emirati told police he had visited a friend in Al Satwa and he had been drinking there for about three hours before he hailed a cab to return home but then got into the argument over the fare.

He confessed to police to a charge of consuming alcohol and said it was not his first time but he had never been arrested before.

He was referred to court but he did not show up. He was found guilty in absentia and was fined Dh2,000.

salamir@thenational.ae