Abu Dhabi // Thirteen types of traffic offences will be exempt from vehicle impoundment, the Abu Dhabi Police (ADP) Traffic and Patrols Directorate announced.
But the exemption will only be valid for first-time offenders, who will have to sign an affidavit agreeing that the offence will not be repeated, police said.
The purpose of this decision was to give drivers an opportunity to learn from their first offence, and to make drivers aware of the repercussions of traffic violations, Brig Gen Hussain al Harethi, the head of (ADP) Traffic and Patrols Directorate, said.
However, he added, the exemption would not be applied to serious infractions such as jumping red lights or fleeing an accident.
Exemptions will cover offences that include speeding over 60kph, driving heavy and light vehicles that do not comply with safety regulations, driving vehicles that cause excessive noise, throwing rubbish from the vehicle on to the street and driving vehicles that emit gases that exceed specified limits.
Other exemptions are outlined as operating vehicles that are not in driving condition, not complying to the loading and unloading regulations in car parks, operating a vehicle with unsuitable tyres, driving an unlicensed vehicle, driving a vehicle that has not been rechecked after a major modification in the engine or chassis and driving an uninsured vehicle on the highway.
If an offence was repeated, the owner's vehicle would be impounded for two weeks and if it was committed a third time, the vehicle would be impounded for one month, officials said.
"We know how much owners value their vehicles and how difficult it is for them to have to do without their cars, and the traffic department's goal is to impound the vehicles only in serious cases that endanger people's lives and property," Brig Gen al Harethi said.
Vehicle owners can buy impoundment days at Dh100 per day, but the traffic authority can deny bail at its own discretion if it believes the offence has been committed intentionally.
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Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
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So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
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