Dubai: Police fine 18 bike rental offices for violating safety rules

The Dubai Tourist Police fined 18 motorcycle rental offices and inspected 33 tourist camps in the Al Aweer area since last year to ensure the safety of tourists and visitors.

The figures were revealed as part of a new awareness campaign launched by the Dubai Tourist Police, in collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), that target recreational motorcycle rental offices in the emirate with the increased turnout of community members and tourists in the desert areas during the winter.

First Lieutenant Ahmed Muhammad Saif Al Muhairi, Head Dubai Tourist Police Programs, explained that rental offices are obligated to provide suitable gear in different sizes, and to avoid renting a recreational motorcycle with an expired license, renting to an unfit person, nor using or renting a motorcycle that has been operated for more than four years.

He stressed that it is against the law to rent recreational motorcycles to anyone under the age of 16, except with the approval of their guardian and under their supervision.

He added that rental offices must provide the necessary firefighting and first aid equipment and keep a record of names, nationalities and ages of recreational motorbikes renters, the date, time and duration of rental, as well as any other data deemed important by the authority.

In addition, rental offices must provide customers with an introductory guide that includes safety procedures and provide a price list of all categories.

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com