'Salik' traffic tolls coming to Abu Dhabi

The National -- Road tolls are being introduced in Abu Dhabi, according to a law issued by President Sheikh Khalifa on Sunday.

Law No 17 of 2017 stipulates that the Department of Transport will be responsible for determining the areas the tariff will be implemented, the amount to be paid and the operation times.

These suggestions will then be submitted to the General Secretariat of the Executive Council for approval, according to Arabic-language newspaper Aletihad.

The DoT will be responsible for collecting the tariff from vehicle owners that pass through the tolled areas. The ways in which the money will be collected is yet to be determined by the department.

Ambulances, the Armed Forces, Civil Defence, public buses and motorcycles will be exempt from paying the tariff. The Executive Council, however, may exclude any other vehicles from the road toll, based on a proposal by the chairman of the DoT.

Article 8 stipulates that it is illegal to evade payment of the road toll by concealing the vehicle's plate number or by any other means. The Integrated Transport Centre will refer all monitored offences to the competent authority to take the necessary measures against offenders, reported Aletihad.

Motorists who cross a toll and do not pay the fee can face fines not exceeding Dh10,000, the law said. While, the total fines imposed on one vehicle will not exceed Dhs25,000 within a full year from the date of committing the first offence.

The electronic toll system Salik was introduced in Dubai on July 1, 2007 in a bid to ease traffic on popular roads.