Draft law proposes community service for minor offences
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Mistreating pets, eating or drinking in public during Ramadan, violating the car window tint rule, and other such minor offences will be punishable by up to 240 hours of community service under a new law, an official said.
A draft law allowing people who commit certain minor offences to repent in public by doing community service instead of spending time in jail or paying fines will take effect immediately,” said Lieutenant Colonel Saif Obaid Al Khaili, director of the Community Service Department at the Interior Ministry.
The law will not cover offenders who have already been sentenced.
Al Khaili, also chair of the committee on alternative penalties, said the length of community service will be determined in coordination with a number of ministries and governmental departments, including the Ministry of Social Affairs, the UAE Red Crescent Authority, Abu Dhabi Municipality, General Islamic Affairs and Awqaf Authority.The draft law provides for ordering offenders to do voluntary work, work with people with special needs, work for the municipality, or the Islamic Affairs departments in cleaning and maintaining mosques across the country, work for public charitable and awareness campaigns such as anti-smoking drives and blood drives.
On March 15, the Cabinet approved the proposal.
The proposal would require approval of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan to become law.
Under the draft law, community service of between 20 and 240 hours would be imposed on people who commit 20 minor offences, including harassing women in public, which at present carries a jail term of up to one year, a fine, or both.
The draft law, Al Khaili said, would also provide for undergoing rehabilitation courses.
“Whoever attempts to disgrace a female by words or by deeds in a public street or frequented place, shall be ordered to put community service ranging between 20 and 240 hours and shall undergo training courses of not more than 160 hours,” according to Article 1 of the draft law.
At present, the UAE Penal Code states that this offence is punishable by detention for a period not exceeding one year and by a fine not exceeding Dh10,000, or by either of these two penalties.
Al Khaili said enforcing community service would improve the mental state of convicted people and help them integrate back into society without any notable psychological effects.
Fact file: New rules
– Eating or drinking in public during Ramadan will carry up to 150 hours of community service or a training course of not more than 150, or both.
– Violating the 30 per cent car window tint rule will bring up to 150 hours of community service or a training course of not more than 50 hours, or both.
– Mistreating animals will carry up to 20 hours of community service or a training course of not more than 20 hours, or both.
– Driving carelessly will bring up to 240 hours of community service or a training course of not more than 100 hours, or both.
http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Police_and_The_Courts/10303602.html
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