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28 March 2024

No Dubai cop, camera, but violation recorded?

There are many irregularities that members of the public can help in monitoring, such as parking in spaces reserved for special needs or driving on the hard shoulder. (EMARAT AL YOUM)

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By Staff

More than 1,500 cases of traffic violations in Dubai were recorded by the public via Dubai Police’s smart app Koloona Police (we all are police) during nine months between May 2014 and January 2015, Dubai Police has revealed.

According to a report in Arabic daily Emarat Al Youm, members of the public sent in almost 4,000 pictures of violations in the period, resulting in 1,524 fines being issued for the irregularities.

Colonel Saif Mohair Al Mazroui, Director of the Traffic Department of Dubai Police, said that there has been a significant and growing participation from the public regarding recording and documenting of traffic violations since the service was launched in May 2014.

He explained that fines resulting from such reports are subject to stringent checks, where the image of the violation must be sent via the same mobile that clicked the picture, and it should be done within two hours from the time of taking the photo.

This is to avoid people forwarding old images or those clicked by others in different circumstances.

Colonel Al Mazroui confirmed that the Dubai Police technical systems are geared at analysing the pictures sent and making sure they meet this standard. He pointed out that the program rejected 2,266 offence reports because they did not meet the conditions of reporting such violations.

He added that of the 3,926 reports sent by the public using images via the app, the system accepted 1,524, rejected 2,266 on technical grounds while 136 others were refused on the grounds that they did not classify as traffic violations.

Colonel Al Mazroui also explained that that the app does not accept any image captured while a person is driving the car because taking pictures while driving is an offence in itself. He said that this filter has been in place to ensure safety of the driver and other road users.

He added that the image should be clear and include composite data, particularly the nature of the offense.

There are many irregularities that members of the public can help in monitoring, such as parking in spaces reserved for special needs or driving on the hard shoulder, he further explained. In addition, double parking, blocking traffic and children leaning out of the side windows or sun/moon roof of the cars can also be reported via the app.