An Abu Dhabi court has sentenced two men to six months in prison for illegally installing and using emergency warning systems on a private vehicle without official approval.
The Abu Dhabi Criminal Court also fined one of the defendants Dh100,000 and ordered the confiscation of the vehicle fitted with emergency warning lights reserved for authorised emergency vehicles. The warning equipment was also seized.
According to the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, the first defendant was convicted of driving the modified vehicle on a public road while using unauthorised emergency equipment.
The second defendant, a manager of a company specialising in security systems trading, was also sentenced to six months in prison and fined Dh100,000. The court ordered the confiscation of the company’s inventory related to the equipment supplied to the vehicle owner. He was found guilty of supplying and installing emergency warning systems without the required permits.
The case was uncovered after security monitoring systems detected a vehicle travelling on a public road with warning lights designated for emergency vehicles. Authorities identified the vehicle through surveillance systems and found that the driver did not have legal authorisation to use the equipment.
Investigations later traced the supply and installation of the systems to the security equipment company, leading to the arrest of the company manager and the referral of both individuals to the Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution.
Authorities warned the public and businesses against selling, supplying or installing emergency lights and audible warning devices on private vehicles without approval, stating that such violations could threaten public safety and interfere with authorised emergency services.