Thousands of motorists across the UAE last year were fined for breaking laws on excessive vehicle noise, but many residents say it still feels as if they live “next to a racetrack”.
After orders were issued to clamp down on noisy vehicles, police carried out campaigns in Ajman, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Sharjah’s Ruler, Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, called for cars and motorcycles that create extreme noise in residential areas, particularly after hours, to be confiscated indefinitely and for garages that carry out modifications to be permanently closed.
More than 900 cars fitted with accessories to boost engine noise and power were confiscated in Sharjah as a result.
In RAK, 123 souped-up cars and 373 noisy vehicles were seized and in Ajman, between January and November police confiscated 186 loud cars.
Despite the crackdown, residents say their evenings are still plagued with the sound of revving engines.
Dima Ali, a mother of three, said she struggled to get her children to sleep because noisy cars flood the streets in Al Muwaihat, where she lives, as soon as the sun sets.
“We called police several times, the last of which no one answered the 999,” Ms Ali said. “It is unbelievable.”
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Ahmad Saeed lives in Al Rawda – an area without street lights – where he says the noise is unbearable in the evenings.
“As soon the sun goes down, we hear cars and motorbikes revving their engines and spinning their tyres,” Mr Saeed said.
“You would think you are living next to racetrack. We rarely see police patrols in our neighbourhood, especially after dark.”
The penalty for making noise is a Dh2,000 fine and 12 black points on the offender’s licence. Illegal modifications mean a Dh1,000 fine, 12 points and a 30-day confiscation.
The fine and length of the impound period can also depend on the level of sound the vehicle emits.
Motorists who blast loud music from their cars or aggressively honk their horns will be fined Dh400 and given four black points.
In 2017, the government introduced rules that regulated the extent to which a car’s engine, exhaust system and transmission could be tinkered with.
Motorists must obtain a modification licence and all changes must be approved.
When residents report a noisy vehicle, police go to the area and confiscate the car.
“The car is referred to the traffic department to undergo a test that determines the level of noise emitted,” said Maj Gen Saif Al Shamsi, the chief of Sharjah Police.
“If the level is above legal limits, the car is confiscated.
“We aim to protect people, not issue them fines, but strict measures must be taken against offenders.”