JEDDAH, 3 November 2007 — The government has no plans to increase driving and vehicle license fees, Maj. Gen. Fahd Al-Bishr, director general of the Traffic Department, announced yesterday capping rumors that the new traffic law, which was passed by the Shoura Council a few weeks ago, would increase driving license and vehicle registration fees.

Speaking to Al-Madinah Arabic daily, Al-Bishr also said that his department was facing a shortage of staff and called for an increase in the recruitment of traffic officers to meet the requirements of a rising population.

“We are trying to make use of modern communication technology, including computer systems, to solve traffic problems,” he explained.

He emphasized the need to establish a special institute under the Traffic Department for the training of traffic officers. He also favored the idea of renewing vehicle licenses every year but without increasing the fee.

Al-Bishr said drivers having third-party insurance would not be detained if accidents involving them only caused damage to other vehicles.

However, he pointed out they would be arrested to settle public rights if the accident caused death or injury. “The new traffic law was drafted taking modern requirements into account and covers many aspects that were not considered under the previous law. There will not be any increase in vehicle license fees even if it is renewed annually,” he said.

He said the department would take seriously if any of its officials make mistakes in recording traffic violations.

“We have instructed our officers to do their work carefully while recording violations in order to avoid such mistakes,” he added.

He emphasized the role of the Motor Vehicle Periodic Inspection (MVPI) to prevent the use of old vehicles that cause environment pollution. “We recommended annual MVPI checks and link it with the renewal of vehicle license. We have also instructed traffic patrol police to stop such vehicles,” he said.

Al-Bishr said the use of mobile phones while driving was a traffic violation. “Traffic officers have been instructed to behave decently with the public,” he said, adding that the department would implement a points system for traffic violations once an automatic registering network is in place.

According to the system, a driver’s license will be withdrawn for three months if he accumulates 18 demerit points in a single year. “If he drives during that period, he will be fined SR900 and jailed for a week,” the department said. If he accumulates another 18 points in the same year, his license will be revoked for six months.

Points are determined in accordance with the seriousness of the violation. Six points will be given for joyriding, violating the rules of overtaking, driving the wrong way, driving while intoxicated, running a red light, failing to stop after a traffic officer’s order, failing to stop at a stop sign, speeding and failing to have an MVPI check.