His Excellency Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, revealed details of the weights and dimensions of heavy vehicles, the administrative penalties resulting from their violation, and the controls for transporting unusual loads on federal roads, which were approved by the Council of Ministers pursuant to Resolution No. (138) of 2023, which came in implementation of the provisions of the federal decree law. No. (12) of 2023 regarding regulating the weights and dimensions of heavy vehicles.
His Excellency stressed that the implementation of the federal law regarding regulating the weights and dimensions of heavy vehicles that use roads in the country comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to enhance road safety and reduce traffic accidents, and that the issuance of this law is considered an achievement in the transport and infrastructure sector, pointing to its role in supporting the country’s goals. Supporting climate neutrality and its strategic initiative for climate neutrality 2050, the Year of Sustainability, and its hosting of the “COP28” climate conference, because of its role in reducing the negative impact of environmental pollution and carbon dioxide emissions, strengthening infrastructure and supporting safe and sustainable behaviors in the land transport sector of goods, and thus Enhancing the quality of road infrastructure, which supports the goals of global leadership, in addition to its contribution to prolonging the lifespan and sustainability of roads in the country.
His Excellency explained that the Ministry will begin enforcing the law during the first quarter of the current year 2024, immediately after completing coordination with the competent federal and local authorities, to install 24 smart electronic portals concerned with measuring and monitoring the weights and dimensions of heavy vehicles, and that the maximum total weight of a heavy vehicle with six or more axles is 65 tons, according to the details of the maximum gross and axle weight tables, while the vehicle whose total weight exceeds this limit or whose axle load exceeds the approved limits or maximum dimensions, and the load cannot be divided, must obtain a prior transportation permit from the competent authority.
His Excellency indicated that, according to the decision, the weight of a heavy vehicle with two axles must not exceed 21 tons, a heavy vehicle with three axles must not exceed 34 tons, a vehicle with four axles must not exceed 45 tons, while the weight of a vehicle with five axles must not exceed 56 tons, provided that the weight of a vehicle with six axles or More than 65 tons.
His Excellency pointed out that the decision specified the maximum dimensions for heavy vehicles, as follows: The total length of a single heavy vehicle (compact) is 12.5 meters, the total width is 2.6 meters, and the total height is 4.6 meters, while the length of the locomotive and semi-trailer is 21 meters, and its total width is 2.6 meters. Its total height is 4.6 meters, while the decision specified the length of the heavy vehicle (locomotive, trailer, and semi-trailer) at 28 meters, its total width at 2.6 meters, and its total height at 4.6 meters. The total length of the heavy vehicle carrying small vehicles is 23 meters, its total width is 2.6 meters, and its total height is 2.6 meters. Total 4.75 metres.
His Excellency explained that the approved schedule of violations and fines set the value of the fine resulting from a violation of a heavy vehicle whose total weight exceeds the maximum by less than (10%) of the weight during a single trip at (400) dirhams for each ton or part thereof, and at a rate ranging between ( 10%) and (20%) of the weight during one trip, at (500) dirhams for each ton or part thereof, and a percentage exceeding (20%) at (600) dirhams for each ton or part thereof, with a maximum of 15 thousand dirhams. While the fine for exceeding the previously specified maximum axle weight is 1,500 dirhams for each single axle or for a group of tandem axles in a single trip, and 3,000 dirhams for a single trip if any of the previously specified maximum dimensions is exceeded. The decision stated that intentional evasion of weighing stations or monitoring sites exposes the violator to a fine of 5,000 dirhams, and the same fine is imposed in the event of non-compliance with the controls of a permit for transporting cargo that does not facilitate its division for a single trip. The fine for providing incorrect data in the application for a permit is also as high as Loading that cannot be easily divided is 5,000 dirhams, while the fine for non-compliance with the instructions of the authorized person is 2,500 dirhams. The decision clarified that the Ministry or the competent authority may not impose more than one fine for the same violation, if it is committed during a single trip, even if it is monitored multiple times, and that if a violation is committed that exceeds the maximum total and maximum axle weight during one trip, the highest fine will be imposed among those. Two fines, and in the event that any of the violations is committed repeatedly within a month from the date of committing the same violation, or in the event that the value of the unpaid financial fines for the violations committed exceeds 45 thousand dirhams, the competent authority may impound the heavy vehicle or prevent its operation on the roads for a period not exceeding 30 days, while the competent authority may exempt the owner of a heavy vehicle from the penalty of seizure in exchange for paying a fine of not less than 200 dirhams for each day of the scheduled seizure, provided that the amounts of the financial fines that have not been paid for the violations committed are paid. The decision included an exception to its provisions, which is that it permitted a heavy vehicle to exceed the maximum weights and dimensions in cases of load that does not facilitate its division, in accordance with the specified weights and dimensions, according to a transportation permit issued by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure or the competent authority in accordance with the following controls: No alternatives. A process for transporting the load, and the absence of anything that affects the safety of the infrastructure or road users, in addition to determining the appropriate permit period to complete the transport process, and any other controls determined by the ministry or the competent authority. The decision stressed the necessity of the heavy vehicle operator’s obligation to install devices approved by the licensing authority to detect the weights, loads and dimensions of heavy vehicles, and to link them to the automated systems of the competent authority, and any other obligations imposed by the competent authority under its applicable legislation. The decision allows anyone with a capacity and interest to file a grievance to the minister, the head of the competent authority, or whomever they delegate, against any decision or action taken against him, within 15 days from the date of being notified of the decision or action he is complaining about, provided that the grievance is in writing, reasoned, and documents are attached to it. Supporting it, the grievance will be decided within 30 days from the date of its submission, and in accordance with the procedures in force at the ministry or the competent authority.
It is worth noting that the provisions of the federal law regarding regulating the weights and dimensions of heavy vehicles that use state roads also apply to heavy vehicles licensed in any foreign country and allowed to enter the country, while heavy vehicles owned by security, military, and police agencies and civil defense vehicles are excluded from the decision.
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