By Andy Sambidge www.arabianbusiness.com
Passengers using the Dubai Metro can be fined for a total of 31 different offences, with penalties ranging from AED100 to AED2,000, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said on Thursday.
The RTA has published a code detailing the raft of offences in an effort to uphold safety on the city’s new rail system, which launched on September 9.
“Through publishing this code, Rail Agency aims at regulating the metro conveyance and identifying the elements engaged in riots and sabotaging acts, or tampering with the stations and the metro,” said Peyman Younes Parham, director of Marketing & Corporate Communication at the RTA.
The top fine of AED2,000 would be issued, he said, to anyone found “operating or using any security or safety system such as the emergency exits unless it is essential to do so”.
AED500 penalties would be issued for damaging, sabotaging or tampering with the systems, equipment, and seats of public transport and for using fake cards.
The offence of sleeping in passenger shelters or prohibited areas would come with a AED300 fine while parking vehicles in the metro park and ride facilities for more than 48 hours would result in a AED250 penalty, he added.
A AED200 fine would be levied against several offences such as fare skipping, using an expired/invalid card, and selling a unified card without prior permit from the RTA.
Spitting, littering or performing any act that can pollute the rail facilities would also carry a similar fine, as does being caught smoking on the metro or carrying weapons, sharp objects, and inflammable materials.
The AED200 fine list also includes carrying of alcoholic drinks or selling goods on board the train.
Lesser offences such as sitting in the wrong carriage, taking pets on board would see a AED100 fine issued.