From distracted driving and tailgating to dangerous overtaking, motorists may face an additional vehicle impoundment period of up to 30 days
Dubai: Using your mobile phone while driving, failing to maintain a safe distance or sudden swerving on the road are serious traffic offences in the UAE. While the federal traffic law imposes fines and black points on these offences, if the violation happens in Dubai, you may also get your car impounded for 30 days.
In 2024, Dubai Police issued Administrative Resolution No. 1 of 2024, listing out 14 traffic violations that can lead to your car being impounded for a period of either 14 or 30 days.
The resolution was issued by Lieutenant General Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, on September 10, 2024, and came into effect in October 2024.
Is vehicle impoundment automatic?
Under Article 2 of the resolution, the violations listed below may result in the “discretionary administrative impoundment” of a vehicle.
This means that the Director of Dubai Police’s General Department of Traffic, or an authorised representative, may order the vehicle’s impoundment based on a traffic enforcement report.
14 violations that can get your car impounded
As per the resolution, these are the violations and the duration for which your car may get impounded:
1. Sudden swerving of the vehicle in a manner that endangers lives, property, or traffic safety – 30 days
2. Failure to maintain sufficient safe distance from the vehicle in front – 30 days
3. Entering the road without first ensuring that the lane is clear – 14 days
4. Driving while distracted by using a mobile phone or any other object – 30 days
5. Reversing the vehicle in a manner that endangers lives, property, or traffic safety – 14 days
6. Non-compliance with mandatory lane discipline while driving a light vehicle – 14 days
7. Stopping in the middle of the road without a valid reason – 14 days
8. Performing dangerous overtaking manoeuvres – 14 days
9. Driving a vehicle that does not comply with the necessary safety and security requirements – 14 days
10. Non-compliance with mandatory routes while driving a heavy vehicle – 30 days
11. Stopping or overtaking on the hard shoulder of a road in other than emergency situations – 14 days
12. Driving a vehicle without number plates or with only one plate affixed – 14 days
13. Driving the vehicle in a manner that obstructs the flow of traffic – 14 days
14. Changing the vehicle colour without authorisation – 14 days
What happens when a car is impounded?
If an impound order has been issued on your car, you would need to visit the Dubai Police traffic department, to hand over the vehicle, or apply for the Dubai Police ‘smart impound’ service, which allows you to keep your vehicle at home or a location you prefer, after a smart device is installed on your vehicle, which alerts Dubai Police’s control room in case an impounded car is moved.
The other option is to pay for the release of the vehicle, the amount for which can range from AED 10,000 to AED 100,000, depending on the severity of the violation. This is based on Decree No. 30 of 2023 ‘Concerning Impoundment of Vehicles in the Emirate of Dubai’.