DAMMAM: There is no mechanism yet to force GCC motorists to pay traffic fines when they visit member states even though discussions on the issue have been going on since 2011.
The situation is compounded by the fact that 1,697,858 vehicles with GCC plates entered Saudi Arabia from Jan. 1 to July 23.
Even though the violations are monitored and recorded, the absence of a fining mechanism saves many drivers who, aware of the situation, have no qualms committing traffic violations. They speed, jump red signals, ignore safety belts and commit other violations with impunity.
All traffic violations of vehicles with GCC plates in Saudi Arabia are monitored and registered.
Once traffic departments in GCC countries are connected to their counterparts in Saudi Arabia, they will have to decide the period during which drivers will have to pay.
Col. Tariq Al-Rubaian, spokesman for the General Traffic Department, said: “The violations of GCC vehicles are not recorded by the Automated Monitoring System, but are monitored and saved to help in an emergency. In case a vehicle is stopped by an officer, the system will apply to both car and driver.”
He said that there are problems that need to be solved. For example, a month ago, a car was stopped. It was discovered that the driver had changed the number plate to deceive the authorities and that 39 violations were recorded on the original number.
“We detained the person for five days and placed on record all his violations,” said Al-Rubaian.
No unified GCC mechanism to force drivers to pay fines
No unified GCC mechanism to force drivers to pay fines
