UAE gets tough on smoking in cars

By Samreen Hayat | The 971 Report

The UAE is cracking down on smoking motorists, with increased fines for throwing cigarette butts out of cars and a ban on smoking when children are present in vehicles.

Under a new anti-smoking federal law in the UAE, drivers will be fined AED 500 and will be given four black points if they throw lit cigarettes out of the car, Emirates 24/7 reported citing Dubai Traffic Police's Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen.

According to the report, some motorists have already been fined for the offences.

Additionally, smoking in cars when children under the age of 12 are present has been banned.

“Parents and relatives who smoke inside cars are perpetrating a crime against their children and this has prompted us to issue tough laws in this respect," Zafeen said.

The move is part of the tough anti-smoking federal law which aims to reduce smoking among youth.

The law also bans any tobacco product advertising and imports of tobacco products that do not mean the UAE's technical standards. 

According to an Abu Dhabi study, 28% of children 15 and younger smoke.