It has happened to us all – sometime you finally find a parking spot, but when you reach the parking meter, you realise you do not have enough coins.You start pleading with passersby to give you change for your Dh5 note, but with no luck. There are no stores nearby where you can rush in and buy something to break your Dh10 note.
You look at your watch and decide to take a chance and finish your errand fast before the ticket inspector does his rounds. But by the time you rush back, there is a ticket under your wiper.
Here are a few numbers to give you an idea what happens when you do not get a parking ticket out of the machine and place it on your dashboard where it can be seen easily: Last year many of the Dubai motorists who did not do that forked out Dh177 million in parking fines.
The Road and Transport Authority has done the math for us and gleefully points out that it works out to an average of nearly Dh49,000 in fines every day.
Besides complaining about the daily traffic jams, Dubai motorists also like to gripe about the rapidly proliferating parking meters around the city. Today, there are nearly 48,000 paid parking spaces in the city, and growing.
Gulf News gives you a few pointers to avoid paying parking fines: First, get a parking card.
But that’s easier said than done. I was told that the only place where you can purchase the parking cards was at the Al Twar branch of the Dubai Municipality in Al Ghusais.
You can reach it by going right at the Al Mulla Plaza signal. There are no signboards to guide you, but the branch is located on the first floor of the Al Twar Centre, which is right opposite the Ministry of Education.
The lady at the information desk said the municipality does not sell the cards anymore. “We used to sell the cards earlier. Try the Eppco stations,” she said.
But most of these petrol stations only sell you Dh100 cards, which they retail for Dh85. For a wider choice of cards, you have to go to any of the downtown groceries. The grocery near the municipal branch near the Creek had a sign saying that it sells both phone and parking cards.
It had cards of three different values: Dh100; Dh50 and Dh30 and was selling it for Dh85, Dh43 and Dh26. The higher value card you buy, the more you save.
The Dh30 card I purchased had instructions on the back: 1) Insert Card (in parking meter). 2) Press ‘Card Payment’ button one time for one hour, two times for two hours, and so on… 3) Then press ‘Ticket’ button. It also said that for more information you can call the Hotline 8004567.
You can also purchase the cards at the post offices.
Better alternative
If you have parked in a certain spot only for a short while, you can use the ticket again in another spot elsewhere, till its validity expires. But you cannot use the Dh1 parking ticket in a busy area where the parking fees are Dh2.
If unfortunately, you live in an area where your parking space is metered and you have to keep coming down from your flat to insert coins in the parking meter, or if you are a businessman and you have to park in front of your shop, there is a better option.
You can apply for a Season Car parking permit at the Al Twar branch of the Municipality. This is the only place where you can apply for such a card. You will need to give a photocopy of your car registration.
The permit can be affixed to your windshield. (The type of card, its cost and validity, is listed below). If you apply for the cheaper ‘B’ card for Off-street parking, then you are given a list where you are allowed to park with this card. The parking spots range from places as Al Bastakia to behind the Labour Office: 69 spots in all.
With the more expensive ‘A’ Card, you can park anywhere.
Long-term parking options
‘A’ card
Validity: 3 months
Cost: Dh700
Validity: 6 months
Cost: Dh1,300
Validity: 1 year
Cost: Dh 2,500
‘B’ Card
Validity: 3 months
Cost: Dh450
Validity: 6 months
Cost: Dh800
Validity: 1 year
Cost: Dh1,500
You can also be ticketed and fined if you:
Park in space reserved for the disabled,
Park in bus bays,
Park in yellow boxes,
Park in loading and unloading areas,
Park on footpaths and walkways,
Have parked your vehicle causing disruption to vehicle movement or it endangers lives of drivers,
Double parked,
Are illegally parked, even on a holiday.
The fines can be paid at the main building of the Municipality.
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