A driver in Abu Dhabi has been sentenced to six months in jail and fined Dh100,000 after he was caught driving on the wrong side of the road while under the influence of alcohol.
The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department said on Monday that the criminal court convicted the man of deliberately endangering the lives of road users.
The court also ordered the confiscation of his vehicle and suspended his driving licence for three years. The suspension will begin after he completes his prison term.
Tests carried out after his arrest confirmed he had consumed alcohol, according to a forensic laboratory blood test.
The court said the defendant was seen driving recklessly against the flow of traffic, in a serious breach of road rules and public safety requirements.
The conviction was based on evidence including a field report, surveillance footage from the monitoring centre and the defendant’s confession.
The court said the driver’s actions were a clear violation of traffic regulations and stressed the need for strict enforcement against such offences.
What UAE traffic law says
Under UAE Federal Decree-Law No 14 of 2024 on traffic regulation, authorities may arrest a driver caught driving under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or psychotropic substances that cause loss of control of the vehicle.
Article 35 states that anyone who drives or attempts to drive while under the influence of alcohol can face imprisonment, a fine of not less than Dh20,000 and not more than Dh100,000, or either penalty.
The court must suspend the driving licence for at least three months for a first offence, six months for a second offence and cancel it for a third offence.
For drivers under the influence of narcotic or psychotropic substances, the law provides for imprisonment, a fine of between Dh30,000 and Dh200,000, or either penalty.
In such cases, the court may suspend the licence for at least six months for a first offence, one year for a second offence and cancel it for a third offence.
If a driver under the influence of alcohol, narcotics or psychotropic substances causes a death, Article 40 provides for imprisonment and a fine of not less than Dh50,000, or either penalty.
The penalty rises to at least one year in prison and a fine of not less than Dh100,000 in aggravated cases.