Prosecutor warns of drink-driving consequences

Lawyers are expecting an influx of drink-driving prosecutions in the aftermath of this year’s New Year's Eve celebrations.

Rubberneckers will be fined Dh1,000 for taking pictures of an accident scene and obstructing traffic, Abu Dhabi Police said. Rich-Joseph Facun / The National

ABU DHABI // Dozens of people are expected to be stopped for drink driving after New Year’s Eve celebrations, public prosecutors said.

Ayman Hanafi, a prosecutor in Abu Dhabi, said he was on duty on Christmas Eve and handled five cases. Ten more were referred to him on Christmas Day.

Police can spend up to 48 hours with people they arrest before referring them to the public prosecution.

Mr Hanafi said that based on previous years, he was expecting even more to be detained on New Year’s Eve.

He advised people not to get behind the wheel even after one drink – having just a small amount of alcohol in your system is a criminal offence.

"The law criminalises driving under the influence of alcohol in general and not just above certain amounts that lead to drunkenness, like other countries," he said.

Mr Hafani said drink-driving arrests were higher over the festive season compared with at other times of the year.

He said the cases involved a variety of nationalities, but mostly people who were not Muslims and not from Arab countries.

Usually they were caught after being involved in an accident.

The law states that being caught drunk behind the wheel carries a minimum fine of Dh20,000, 24 black points on your licence, and your vehicle will be confiscated for 60 days.

As for the charge of illegal consumption of alcohol – without a liquor licence for non-Muslims and in all cases for Muslims – the civil law penalty is a prison term of between one and six months and a fine of between Dh 1,000 and Dh2,000.

To deter motorists from driving after drinking on New Year's Eve, police officers will be patrolling near hotels and nightclubs serving alcohol.

Col Khamis Isaaq, the deputy director of the Abu Dhabi Police Traffic and Patrols Directorate, said officers would be out in force to prevent accidents by ensuring motorists were abiding by the rules of the road.

The increased surveillance also aims to prevent noise disturbances and any behaviour that may disrupt the flow of traffic, he said.

Col Isaaq said accidents last year were caused mainly by speeding, distracted driving, running red lights, sudden turning, negligence and not paying attention to pedestrians at crossings.