DAMMAM, 11 October 2004 — The Traffic Department plans to facilitate payment of traffic fines through any of the banks instead of just one bank as at present, according to Col. Muhammad Al-Khereiji, head of research at the department.
Motorists interviewed by Arab News expressed their relief that traffic offenders would soon be able to pay fines in any bank of their choice.
Salah Muhammad, a driver, said it was a nightmare to pay the fine under the present system. It meant a loss of half a work day, queuing up at Riyad Bank, the only bank authorized to accept the fines.
Al-Khereiji of the Traffic Department said a new decision would be announced soon regarding shaded car windows. Banning tinted windows would only cause huge losses to motorists and businessmen who have invested in the tinted glass business, he added.
His view was echoed by Brig. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, in an interview with Al-Watan. The new decision is expected to allow only very light shade to be applied on the back window so police can identify passengers inside the car.
