Back in 2017, the automatic number plate recognition technology (ANPR) was introduced to improve the traffic flow and monitoring of vehicles for better road safety in Abu Dhabi. This helped the police with monitoring cars with covered number plate. Here is a detailed account of covering the number plates and its consequences in the capital.
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) Technology
NPR technology was introduced in Abu Dhabi to improve the traffic situation. It uses radars to read and record the number plates, monitor the traffic flow and number of vehicles at the designated areas.
The idea behind putting these traffic radars on the UAE roads was to reduce traffic violations, congestion and number of road accidents. These ANPR radars help Abu Dhabi police to monitor and identify motorists who have bad lane discipline or overspeed.
Cases of Covering Number Plates
While the effort was made to improve road safety and traffic flow, cases of obscuring number plates started to surface. Unfortunately for the offenders, Abu Dhabi number plates can be read electronically, have holograms integrated, are coded, stored and registered in a database so as to prevent tampering and duplication. Therefore, Abu Dhabi police identified and fined more than 5,380 drivers in one year for not keeping their vehicle number plates visible.
Abu Dhabi police have warned the motorists transporting items to make sure their car number plates are not completely or even partially covered.
Covering number plates fine in Abu Dhabi
As per Article 27/B of the Federal Traffic Law, Abu Dhabi traffic fine for the offence of obscuring car number plates is AED 400. Abu Dhabi Police imposed the fine on a lot of drivers as well. However, new traffic rules were issued in Abu Dhabi to deal more strictly with the problem of number plate tampering and other traffic violation issues.
Therefore, driving a car with an invalid number plate or tampering with your car number plate deliberately may result in immediate vehicle seizure. The vehicle impoundment will be followed by an auction of the said vehicle after three months unless the owner pays AED 50,000 for its release. In case, the said car gets sold for an amount less than the designated fine of AED 50,000, the remaining amount will be transferred to the owner’s traffic file.
These measures are taken to ensure proper road safety and discourage offences and violations of the traffic laws. The government has allowed these laws after thorough traffic studies to reduce reckless driving and resulting road accidents.
In addition to driving a car with tampered or invalid number plates, other major road offences to incur similar vehicle impoundment include street racing, damaging police vehicles, tailgating, not giving way to pedestrians and sudden deviations on the road. Allowing a child under 10 to sit in the front seat of the car also results in the same fate.
FAQs
What is the fine for driving a car with an unclear number plate in Abu Dhabi?
According to the Federal Traffic Law, the fine for driving a car with a hidden number plate is AED 400. However, tampering with it can lead to more serious consequences such as vehicle impoundment.
How to replace a damaged number plate in Abu Dhabi?
You can replace or even get a new number plate in Abu Dhabi during your car registration or renewal. You can also get a number plate registered at any of the centres approved by Abu Dhabi police.
How does Abu Dhabi police identify obscured/tampered car number plates?
Obscured and/or tampered number plates are detected by means of radars that are placed on the roads. These radars have automatic number plate recognition technology and electronically read number plates. The obscured or invalid ones are recorded, caught and are later fined by Abu Dhabi police.
These are all the reasons why you should never tamper with your car number plates in Abu Dhabi. In the event your car number plate gets damaged or you want to replace it for any reason, always get it registered at any of the centres approved by Abu Dhabi police. Check out these Abu Dhabi number plates for sale if you want one for your new or used car.
For more information on car number plates, how to get them registered and more, stay tuned to the best auto blog in the UAE.
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