Court rejects request for transfer of black points and a claim for Dh15,000 in compensation.
Dubai: A Dubai civil court has ordered a motorist to pay Dh7,500 to a vehicle owner after being found responsible for traffic fines and Salik toll charges incurred while the vehicle was in his possession.
The court also directed the defendant to cover court fees and expenses. However, it rejected claims seeking Dh15,000 in compensation for alleged reduction in the vehicle’s market value and dismissed a request to transfer 35 black points to the defendant’s driving record.
According to court documents, the dispute arose after the registered owner said he had made a verbal agreement with the defendant to sell the vehicle. Under this arrangement, the defendant was allegedly responsible for clearing all pending traffic fines linked to the car and transferring ownership of a damaged vehicle wreck in return for taking ownership of the car.
The owner told the court that he handed over the vehicle to the defendant based on mutual trust and their friendly relationship. The defendant then took possession of the car and began using it. However, the claimant alleged that the defendant failed to fulfil the agreement by neither settling the fines nor transferring ownership of the wrecked vehicle as promised.
Court records further showed that despite repeated attempts by the owner to complete the official transfer of ownership, the defendant allegedly refused to cooperate. During the period the vehicle remained in the defendant’s possession, additional traffic violations and Salik toll charges totaling Dh16,050 were incurred, along with 35 black points recorded against the vehicle.
The claimant argued that, as the registered owner of the vehicle, he suffered financial losses due to traffic violations and alleged accidents committed while the defendant was driving. He also sought Dh15,000 in compensation, claiming a reduction in the vehicle’s market value as a result of the alleged incidents.
To substantiate his case, the owner submitted the vehicle registration documents, records of traffic fines, and WhatsApp messages exchanged between both parties.
The defendant did not appear in court despite being duly notified, leading the court to issue a judgment in absentia.
In its ruling, the court referred to the UAE Civil Transactions Law, which holds that any person who causes harm to another must provide compensation. It also noted that civil liability depends on establishing fault, damage, and a direct causal link between the two.
The court found that the defendant had actual possession of the vehicle and had acknowledged in WhatsApp messages that he would pay the fines. This admission was considered sufficient evidence that he was responsible for the traffic violations and Salik charges incurred during his use of the vehicle.
However, after examining the evidence, the court determined that the proven financial liability amounted to Dh7,500 and ordered the defendant to pay this amount to the claimant.
The court rejected the separate claim for Dh15,000 in compensation for alleged reduction in the vehicle’s market value, stating that the claimant had not provided adequate evidence to prove the accidents or the resulting financial loss.
It also dismissed the request to transfer the traffic violations and 35 black points to the defendant’s driving record, noting that such penalties remain legally tied to the registered owner in official records at the time of the offences and cannot be altered retrospectively.
