Dubai: Dubai Traffic Police issued 10,265 fines for drivers occupying parking spots reserved for physically challenged people between January and November of this year.

Colonel Jamal Al Bannai, Deputy Director of Dubai Traffic Police, said there is an increase in incidents of people misusing handicapped parking spots, which carries a fine of Dh1,000 and four black points.

In 2014, there were 9,409 fines all year, which was also an increase from 8,317 from 2013.

The numbers were revealed at the launch of a 10-day traffic awareness campaign, which will raise awareness of this issue. The campaign is held under the motto, “Stand by their Side … Not in their Spot.

The campaign will include awareness messages on social media, brochures, radio (in Arabic, English and Hindi) and awareness lectures.

Col Al Bannai said parking in a handicapped spot while one is not handicapped is not only against the traffic law, but a violation of the rights of people with disabilities.

“There are very few handicapped parking spots available compared to regular parking — they form maybe 1 per cent of all parking spots — and still people park in them even if there is regular parking available,” he said.

Another issue, he said, is handicapped people who do not have a handicapped parking permit, which is also considered a violation.

Col Dr Jasem Khalil Mirza, Director of the Security Awareness department at the General Directorate of Community Services at Dubai Police, said the famous Arabic radio show the “Direct Line” has been receiving many complaints about this issue.

“That is why we thought this would be a good time to launch this campaign, which will be our last awareness campaign of the year,” he said.

Dubai Police had earlier installed one of the monitoring devices they created to catch people who park in handicapped parking spots at the Dubai Mall.

“We are still working with shopping centres to install the rest,” he said.

Fines recorded by the device since its installation were not immediately available.