Dubai clamps down on driving while smoking shisha

Police in Dubai have launched a crackdown on motorists smoking shisha while driving, even though it is not illegal to do so, according to a story on ArabianBusiness.com.

At the same time, officials are considering changing the law in a bid to stop the practice.

General Mohammad Saif Al Zafeen, head of the Federal Traffic Council, said in comments published by the Dubai daily, 7Days, that officers had stopped motorists and issued fines after catching them smoking shisha while behind the wheel.

There is no specific offence under UAE [United Arab Emirates] law of smoking shisha in a vehicle but police officers have been told to fine motorists under careless driving regulations until ‘a solution can be found’.

“I’m surprised at this new habit of smoking shisha in cars; it’s clearly dangerous,” Al Zafeen was quoted as saying. “Such acts make the chances of traffic accidents more likely.”

The daily said some firms were marketing devices to aid the smoking of shisha in cars and Al Zafeen said he would bring this issue to the attention of the traffic council and push for a change in the law.

In the meantime, the police intend to target websites that advertise car shisha kits.