The drivers told Al-Watan newspaper Wednesday that their employers forced them to pay the fines even though they were actually dealing with emergencies. The drivers were not identified but many of them have threatened to go on strike.
Director of Financial and Administrative Affairs at the Department of Health Muhammad Habib admitted the drivers were made to pay the fines. He said the department wrote to the Health Ministry asking it to exempt ambulance drivers from such fines when they are responding to emergencies.
Ahmad Barayan, spokesman for the Saudi Red Crescent, said the organization’s officials were talking to the traffic police to exempt ambulance drivers from Saher fines.
Spokesman of the Civil Defense Maj. Abdullah Al-Harithy said firefighting vehicles were exempt from Saher fines when they were on official duty, but added other vehicles were not.
