Sleeping Driver Caught Illegally Operating Another's Vehicle

A Dubai court sentenced a young Arab man to prison, fines, and deportation after concerned citizens found him unconscious behind the wheel of a running car while under the influence of multiple drugs. The case highlights growing concerns about drug-impaired driving and public safety on UAE roads.

The incident began when passersby noticed something was wrong. A car sat idling on a Dubai road, engine running and ready to move, but the driver appeared to be unconscious or asleep in an unnatural way. Worried about the dangerous situation, they immediately called Dubai Police.

When officers arrived and opened the car door, they found the suspect in an clearly abnormal state that pointed to drug use. He wasn't aware of what was happening around him, yet he was sitting in the driver's seat of a running vehicle. This created serious danger for other road users.

The situation got worse when police checked his documents. The man had no valid driving license from local authorities. Even more concerning, the car wasn't his and he didn't have permission from the owner to use it. Under UAE law, this counts as "using a vehicle without consent."

A routine search of the vehicle turned suspicions into facts. Officers found white powder that looked like cocaine, marijuana, and small amounts of other illegal drugs. While the quantities were limited, together they were enough to prove possession for personal use - and this was his second offense.

Hospital tests confirmed what police suspected. The forensic lab found traces of multiple banned substances in the suspect's system, proving he had used several drugs at the same time before getting behind the wheel.

During questioning by Dubai prosecutors, the man admitted to driving without a license and using someone else's car without permission. But he denied the drug charges. The evidence told a different story - the drugs found in his possession and the lab results contradicted his claims.

The court explained that in drug cases, criminal intent can be determined from the circumstances and evidence, even when the defendant denies the charges. Judges aren't required to accept denials when they conflict with clear proof.

Since the man committed several connected crimes - drug possession, drug use, driving under the influence, driving without a license, and unauthorized vehicle use - the court treated them as one case with a single criminal purpose. This allowed them to apply the harshest penalty under Article 89 of UAE law.

The court showed some mercy under Article 67 of the anti-narcotics law, considering the specific circumstances. But judges made sure the punishment was still strong enough to deter others and protect road users.

For drug possession and use, the court sentenced the man to two months in prison, ordered all seized drugs to be destroyed, and banned him from transferring or depositing money for two years without Central Bank approval. For driving under the influence without a license and using someone else's car, he got an additional one month in prison.

After serving his sentence, the man will be deported from the UAE. The case shows how seriously Dubai courts treat drug-impaired driving, especially when combined with other traffic violations that put public safety at risk.