29 expats held for cheating in car inspection test

JEDDAH: Jeddah police have arrested 29 expatriates for allegedly violating motor vehicle inspection regulations. The detained are accused of applying a kind of powder to their vehicles' weak brake systems to pass MVPI tests.
This was disclosed by Jeddah Traffic Director Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Qahtani. He also announced that a new center for MVPI tests would be opened south of Jeddah to serve car showrooms in the area.
“The use of such powders for passing MVPI brake tests threatens road safety,” he said, adding that his officers had handed over three expatriates to police this week for the same violation.
He said police had also seized 87 vehicles for allegedly applying the powder.
Al-Qahtani disclosed plans to open a number of new driving license centers in Jeddah, bringing the total to 12. A new licensing department will be opened at Old Airport in two months.
“During 2012 about 170,000 new cars were registered in Jeddah while 8,000 cars were exported and 19,000 old cars sent to Tashleeh (car junkyard),” he pointed out.
The traffic chief said all procedures for issuing driving and road licenses are done electronically. “There is a special section for women to get road licenses for vehicles registered in their names.”
The licensing department has opened a special section for the handicapped and elderly people.
Al-Qahtani said as many as 165,000 vehicles failed the MVPI tests this year while at Jeddah driving schools 72,000 passed and 49,000 failed.
“We renew about 200,000 driving licenses annually,” he added.
Col. Salman Al-Jomaie, director of the traffic licensing department in Jeddah, said the new offices in different parts of the city were opened for the benefit of public, adding that all of them are well-equipped to provide electronic services.