Some Salik users can heave a sigh of relief now. In a landmark move, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that all Salik toll violations by subscribed or unsubscribed cars and heavy vehicles until October 31 have been waived. However, fines for November and December will remain.
The RTA has also revoked all fines during the same period on subscribed and unsubscribed motorcycle users and fines will be levied on violations from January 1.
This follows a total review by RTA of all Salik toll violations during the year. Motor vehicle users also do not have to settle their Salik fines for completing their vehicle registration.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, said the department has conducted an in-depth review of all Salik-related fines as a sign of goodwill to motorists.
The RTA has also revoked all fines during the same period on subscribed and unsubscribed motorcycle users and fines will be levied on violations from January 1.
This follows a total review by RTA of all Salik toll violations during the year. Motor vehicle users also do not have to settle their Salik fines for completing their vehicle registration.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, said the department has conducted an in-depth review of all Salik-related fines as a sign of goodwill to motorists.
RTA will now allow motorists to verify their fines and settle them, thus avoiding any delay in registration caused due to Salik fines.
“RTA has an updated and integrated system to monitor the fines before issuing them to Salik subscribers,” he said. “A special system for complaints has also been introduced by RTA. Motorists can now check the validity of their fines by visiting the licence registration centres of RTA in Al Barsha, Al Ghusais and Deira. These procedures reflect the transparency of RTA in dealing with the public,” he added.
Al Tayer said that RTA is using state-of-the-art technologies in issuing Salik fines, and the authority will provide motorists two working days before imposing a fine. This will give motorists more time to recharge their accounts or subscribe to Salik, as the case may be.
Salik, the road toll system, was launched in Dubai on July 1 this year. Two toll gates, one at the Garhoud Bridge and the other near the fourth interchange on the Shaikh Zayed Road were set up. An amount of Dh4 is automatically deducted from the Salik account on crossing the Salik gates.
The RTA has stated that there would be two kinds of fines. The first one was for motorists who do not stick tags to the wind shield.
The fine will be Dh100 for the first day, Dh200 for the second day and Dh400 for the third day. Any additional fine will not exceed Dh400 limit. The second was for motorists who already having a tag but have run out of credit.
They will be fined Dh50 for each entry. But they can escape the fine if they recharge within two days and the Dh50 will be automatically transferred into the credit.
The RTA had later clarified that there would be no fines until the motorists received the SMS alert with regard to their Salik balance being over.
The officials reminded that the motorists who do not wish to use the toll roads can use the Business Bay crossing, the Maktoum Bridge, the Shindagha Tunnel, the Dubai Crossing Road, the Emirates Road and the Floating Bridge.
Motorists have hailed the decision.
“This is a landmark step by the RTA. Though it is six months since the launch of Salik, there are still confusions. Still we don’t get SMS alerts whenever our balance is low or over. Earlier, the RTA had stated that motorists would be getting upto three SMS alerts so that they are aware that their balance is low or over. Now that they are developing a system that will monitor the fines, we hope that confusions will ease off. This is a welcome step,” said Qaider Hashmi. Source
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