Dubai
2024/06/11
Black points are penalty points registered on a driver’s license and record after violating traffic laws. In the UAE, drivers earn black points for every traffic offense violation. This ranges from minor issues like not fastening seat belts to serious violations like driving a car under the influence.
Although black points can be harmless when low, they can accumulate over time and eventually cause serious issues. So, it is not advisable to leave black points on your license. This article discusses everything you need to know about black points and ways to remove them from your license.
The UAE has convenient methods for checking a person’s black point record. You can do this from the comfort of your home through the police website or app. Follow the steps below to inquire on the Dubai Police website:
The steps are quite similar when using the app. Below is the detailed guide:
Having less than 24 black points on your license is slightly manageable. Although it may come with some consequences, like higher insurance premiums, it will not lead to your license being revoked or your vehicle being impounded. Eventually, these points will clear out at the end of the year without serious consequences.
Below are some smart ways of removing black points from your license in the UAE:
Festive occasions and special dates are the right time to reduce or remove your black points. Dubai Police and other relevant authorities use these periods to give opportunities, including special promotions and discounts on levied fines. Take advantage of these periods to drastically reduce your points or clear them.
One of the most effective ways of removing black points is to drive your luxury car in Dubai safely and avoid violating traffic rules. Black points are typically removed from your record if you do not accumulate additional points through further offenses.
Relevant authorities usually organize awareness courses for black points holders. These courses are meant to create awareness and teach people more about minimizing their black points and preventing future recurrence.
They can also utilize the classes to reduce the black points on people’s licenses, as attending them signifies responsibility and readiness to do better in future situations. There are several courses available, and their impacts and prices vary. For instance, you can reduce eight black points with an AED 200 course. You can choose the courses to take, depending on your points.
Attending the black point classes can help you understand the whole system better. Many find out they can clear their black points in these classes and know if they have been unfairly sanctioned. You can request that your black points be transferred if you believe that the one accrued on your license recently is due to someone else’s fault.
For instance, your license may be sanctioned if a vehicle registered to your name runs the red light. However, this is an undeserving punishment if someone else is driving. Therefore, you can contact the Dubai police on their helpline to have the black points transferred to the offending person’s license instead.
Apart from transfers, you can also request a re-evaluation if you believe you have been sanctioned with a black point unfairly. Submit your re-evaluation request to the Dubai police department via any of their platforms or contact them at their toll-free number. A re-evaluation may take a while, so you must be patient and consistent.
The culture of convenience is ingrained in the UAE’s tapestry. Therefore, it is unsurprising that some Northern Emirates, like Ras Al Khaimah, have some Black Point awareness programs on social media.
As simple as these programs are, participating in them can help reduce your black-point record. The tasks can be as simple as sharing traffic rule awareness videos via your social media handles. You must have applied to be in this program for it to affect your black-point record.
Although it is inadvisable, you can wait for your black point to expire. There are rarely consequences for black points that are less than 24 points. Fortunately, licenses get reviewed annually, and existing black points are canceled. Therefore, if you have less than 24 points on your license during the evaluation period, they will expire, resetting your license’s point back to zero.
Black points do not just appear on licenses in the UAE. Instead, there is a systematic way that ensures black points only get recorded on deserving licenses. The procedure starts when a police officer, traffic camera, or radar device detects a traffic violation. The police will then review the evidence and confirm the violation.
After the violation has been confirmed, black points are assigned due to the severity of the offense. The driver is notified via email or SMS after adding the black point.
No, the point is not the same for all offenses. Minor offenses include tailgating, using a mobile phone while driving, not wearing a seat belt, not using a safety belt or car seat for children, overtaking in a prohibited area, and illegal parking. All these offenses attract four points each.
Below is a table highlighting the offense and its respective punishment:
| Offense | Black Points on License |
| Driving through a red light | 8 points |
| Exceeding the speed limit | Between 4 to 12 points |
| Exceeding the maximum speed limit by more than 60 km/h and Reckless driving | 23 black points |
| Driving without a license, driving under the influence, and causing an accident | 24 black points at once |
Accumulating black points on your license can be problematic for using your vehicle and affect your finances. Twenty four points or more can lead to serious consequences like license suspension or revoking and vehicle impoundment. Also, accumulated black points can lead to higher insurance premiums. You may also have problems renewing your car’s registration or even employment challenges.
