Smoke in JLT 'smoking' areas or else Dh200 fine

All high-rises in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) have banned smoking in all basement levels and closed parking structures with designated areas now being allocated on all promenade levels.

“As public safety is a top priority, we have recently introduced designated smoking areas in JLT,” Concordia, which manages community services within the master development, said in a newsletter.

The new smoking areas have been implemented on the promenade levels of all parking structures.

They are intentionally situated at locations that are more than 10 metres away from tower doorways and entrances, as required by the JLT Master Community Rules.

Smoking is not allowed within elevators and basement levels 2, 3 and 4 (closed areas of the parking structures), Concordia said.

Those violating the community rules can face a fine of Dh200.

“We invite community users to utilise these areas in order to maintain a cleaner and healthier environment for all,” the community management company said.

S Melini, a resident of cluster J, says that despite the rules in place people do smoke inside the tower.

“On Sunday, the fire alarms went off at 11.30 pm. We had to run out of the building to know later that it was a false alarm.”

She adds: “I have found cigarette stubs in our balcony as people who live on the floors above us seem to simply throw their cigarette carelessly without thinking of its consequences.”

Smoking danger

In December, Dubai Police had confirmed that the fire in Tamweel Tower in JLT was caused by a cigarette butt thrown into a garbage bin containing papers and inflammable stuff.

Other management companies are following suit, warning residents to stop throwing cigarette butts from their balconies.

Strata Global Group has told apartment owners in a residential building in Tecom that it has received complaints regarding some residents throwing litter and cigarette butts from their balconies.

“This is a breach of the Community Rules for the building. It is also dangerous as this action could cause injury to another resident or start a fire and should cease immediately.

“One resident actually had cigarette burns on an item of clothing that was out on their balcony, this could have developed into a fire.

“If the person had been on the balcony at that point they may have been injured.”

In Discovery Gardens, smokers have been warned with a fine, with notices reading “smoking prohibited in corridors, staircase, etc due to the fire hazard.”

According to Dubai Municipality, smokers can be fined up to Dh500 for throwing cigarette butts on streets.
 

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