Traffic Courts to Look Into All Types of Violations

JEDDAH, 10 June 2003 — The much-talked about traffic courts are going to become a reality in the near future, according to Brig. Fahd Saud Al-Bishr, director of the traffic department. “The new courts will look into all types of traffic violations,” he told Arab News.

Al-Bishr said his department was now setting out the regulations for these courts in coordination with the Justice Ministry and other relevant agencies.

Police have already started registering the traffic violations of all drivers in coordination with the National Data Center, Al-Bishr said, adding that violators would be punished in accordance with the type of their violations.

“The punishment includes confiscation of the driving license temporarily or permanently,” he said.

The department gives points for each traffic violation considering the danger of the violation. For example, drunk driving is given 18 points, jumping a red light six points, ignoring the speed limit six points and reckless driving six points.

“Our computer system has been programmed to suspend the driving license of a driver whose violations have reached 18 points within a year,” he said.

The license will be withheld for three months for the first time, six months for the second time and one year for the third time. If repeated for the fourth time, the license will be withdrawn entirely, he added.

The director said his department would accept car insurance policies from all companies in the Kingdom, without exception.

Earlier the department recognized only policies issued by the National Company for Cooperative Insurance (NCCI), which is the only licensed insurance company in the Kingdom.

Al-Bishr, who came to attend a meeting with businessmen working in the field of car insurance, said a committee would be formed to solve all problems related to car insurance.

Maj. Saleh Al-Sudais, director of the insurance division, will represent the traffic department at the new committee.

Adel Faqeeh, chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the chamber organized the meeting on car insurance in response to the demand of insurance companies.

Khaldoon Barakat, head of the insurance section at the chamber, said that narrowing the differences of the insurance companies and the traffic department was essential against the backdrop of the companies’ efforts to win their share in the market.