Man returns from leave to Dh23,500 in parking fines

An Arab expatriate travelled home for a holiday and left his car parked near his apartment in Abu Dhabi.

When he returned, he was shocked to learn that he had piled up parking fines of Dh23,500.

Instead of paying the fines, he filed a law suit against Mawaqif, a Department of Transport affiliate in charge of paid parking services in the emirate.

The court rejected his plea after Mawaqif argued that the man knew he left his car in a paid parking space before travelling abroad.

Mawaqif rebuffed claims by the unnamed driver that he left his car in a place before it was turned into a paid parking area. It told the court that he was fined many times and came to its office to pay the fines before travelling.

“The man asked court to cancel the fines or if possible, reduce them. But the court rejected his demands and ordered him to pay legal fees for the case,” the Dubai-based Arabic language daily Emirat Alyoum said.

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