Sharjah impose austere measures on disabled parking cheats

In the last couple of years, Sharjah police and municipality officers have given out more than 2.200 fines to drivers who illegally parked in spaces set aside especially for the disabled or for emergency vehicles.

Accordingly, the penalty for parking in one of these spaces can be a fine of up to Dh1,000 and four black points on the offender’s licence.

In 2012 and 2013, 2,227 fines were handed out in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Colonel Ahmed bin Darwish, Acting Director of Traffic and Patrols at Sharjah Police, said that the problem was widespread and infringed on the rights of the disabled.

“Parking in a place allocated for the handicapped people is illegal and uncivilized,” said Col bin Darwish. “The reason we allocate these people special parking slots is to make life easier for them.”

Col bin Darwish said most violations were in the evening, when motorists thought there was less chance of being caught by police and inspectors.

“Such people would hurry in the morning to remove their cars only to find they have been fined, and then they complain,” said Col bin Darwish.

“Others wrongly believed the spaces marked for ambulances or police cars as well as disabled drivers were only valid for certain times.”

Then, Mr Darwsih called for members of the community to report any vehicle wrongly parked in these spaces.

“Handicapped parking is located to accessible building entrances and easily identified with appropriate signs,” said Col bin Darwish.

“Only people with an authorized handicapped driver permit as well as a special number plate that goes with the permit can use these slots.”

Quick Facts about Disabled Parking in UAE

Wheelchair accessible entrances are available in most of the newer parts of Dubai. It is the older parts such as Karama, Satwa and some parts of Deira that still lack these conveniences.

The Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) has been the most active government department in including special needs considerations in buildings. Some of the special needs facilities include:

• Elevators in Metro stations and special seating areas on trains
• Most buses are specially fitted to carry passengers in wheelchairs
• Special needs taxis (which are wheelchair accessible passenger vans); they can be booked in advance by calling Dubai Taxi Corporation Dispatch Centre
  • o Tel: 04 208 0808
• Toilets, ticket booths and parking spaces designed for those with special needs

Public transport fares

The RTA announced special rates for disabled travellers using public transport. The reported rates have ranged from free travel to a 50 percent discount. However nothing has been implemented as of October 2010.

Parking Permits for the Disabled

There are four different types of disabled parking permits which allow the permit holder to park in spaces reserved for disabled people.

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