Loud cars to be confiscated in Sharjah



SHARJAH // Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the supreme council member and Ruler of Sharjah, has ordered police in the emirate to confiscate any vehicle causing a public nuisance by using illegal and loud modifications.

Police have been clamping down on modified cars for the past few months, with 120 impounded last month - including 50 in one day. They will now step up their efforts.

Maj General Humaid Mohammed Al Hudaidi said: "The year-long campaign is also targeting youths who drive at breakneck speed causing a nuisance and panic in residential areas. They do this even when they know there are fines for these violations."

He said the new campaign would tackle reckless driving and allow police to impound the violating cars and motorbikes permanently.

"No excuses will be tolerated after a car is found to be committing these violations and all police officers are obliged to confiscate the car without compassion," he said.

Emirates Road near the National Paints factory, Al Wahda Road and Al Arouba Road in Rolla in Sharjah are popular with drivers of modified cars.

Maj Gen Al Hudaidi said any car, regardless of its emirate of registration, must obey the new ruling once it enters Sharjah. He warned that garages and workshops found to be carrying out modifications on exhausts and engines would also be closed permanently.

The ruling has caused some confusion among motorists in Sharjah over which types of exhausts are now banned.

"There are some cars where loud exhausts are part of the original design from the manufacturer, like Lamboghinis and Ferraris. Not all cars have had to go to workshops," said a Ferrari owner.

However, for most residents, especially the elderly, the decision comes as a relief. "We always have to close the windows on a Thursday night to minimise the noise reaching our mother in our flat at Al Arouba Street," said Ali Muhsin, a resident of the Al Nabba area. "We have even thought of giving up this flat because it's on the road and the youths are so reckless with their expensive cars."

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Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

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Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

How to wear a kandura

Dos

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Don’ts 

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A foster couple or family must:

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Creator: Mike White

Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell

Rating: 4.5/5

Directed: Smeep Kang
Produced: Soham Rockstar Entertainment; SKE Production
Cast: Rishi Kapoor, Jimmy Sheirgill, Sunny Singh, Omkar Kapoor, Rajesh Sharma
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1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday

2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment

3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone

4) Try not to close the sale at night

5) Don't be rushed into a sale 

6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour

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Name: Sari Al Zubaidi

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.

  1. Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
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