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Sharjah cracks down on stunt drivers, illegally modified vehicles

The traffic and patrol department will have zero-tolerance against motorists who modify their vehicles.

The Sharjah Police have seized 41 illegally modified vehicles as part of a campaign to crack down on stunt drivers. Action was taken against the owners of these vehicles - that produced annoying noise and were driven recklessly - after a number of complaints from residents in various areas in the city.
Major General Saif Al Zeri Al Shamsi, commander-in-chief of Sharjah Police, said that the police have already seized 41 vehicles which breached modification standards prescribed by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA).
The traffic and patrol department will have zero-tolerance against motorists who modify their vehicles to create chaos and those who drive dangerously endangering the lives of others. "The patrols have been deployed and inspections intensified in different neighbourhoods, especially in remote areas to zero in on modified engines, silencers and horns. The patrols would immediately confiscate the violators' vehicle for threatening the lives of other road-users," Al Shamsi added.
He said that due to awareness raised by the police and sustained inspection campaigns, such illegal practices have seen a steep decline during this year. "The Sharjah Police's main priorities are protecting peoples' lives and preventing negative behaviour that affect the safety of residents in the emirate," the police chief said.
He said that the police are carrying out awareness programmes to educate young people on the dangers of getting vehicle parts replaced or changed from unauthorised dealers.
Since the beginning of October, the police have stepped up patrols in areas such as Al Badayer - where desert campers abound - to ensure safety of visitors and tourists. "We have special winter plans under which patrols would be deployed in picnic areas where family gather to enjoy the pleasant weather," Al Shamsi pointed out.
afkarali@khaleejtimes.com