UAE parking fines: Does waiting in your car exempt you from paying the fee? – information

All public parking spaces are monitored by inspection teams to ensure they are not being abused

file photo

It is fairly common practice for motorists in the UAE to park their vehicles in tolled areas and wait inside without paying. Some people leave their hazard lights on. They do this to answer the phone or wait for someone.

The Sharjah Municipality, which regulates parking in the emirate, has clarified that sitting in a car does not exempt motorists from paying parking fees. The civics agency issued clarifications in a social media post on Thursday.

Failure to pay for parking will result in a Dh150 fine, according to the list of parking-related offenses on the Sharjah Municipality website. The fine for staying longer than the stipulated time is Dh100. Parking in reserved or disabled spaces is a serious offense and will result in a fine of AED 1,000.

A senior official had earlier said that there are currently more than 57,000 parking spaces in Sharjah for public parking. All of these are monitored by inspection teams to ensure they are not being abused. Inspectors issue fines for parking violations, such as parking without paying the prescribed fee, or occupying more than one parking space at a time.

So the next time you stop in a paid area thinking it’s just a minute or 10, make sure you pay. The public parking fee in Sharjah is 2 dirhams per hour, 5 dirhams for two people and 8 dirhams for three people. Fees apply Saturday-Thursday 8am-10pm, Friday parking is free in all areas except those marked with blue information signs. In these areas, parking is a paid service all days of the week.

Some motorists stopped on the road to pick up groceries, restaurants or other stores. The municipality had earlier warned against such an approach. Authorities have told store staff not to serve such customers because the practice would impede traffic.

Also read: