The Jeddah Traffic Department has shut down several car showrooms for various violations including operating without licenses and not employing Saudis.

Col. Zaid Al-Hamzi, spokesman of the traffic department, warned citizens and residents against dealing with illegal car dealers and showrooms.

“Last month, the department carried out extensive raids on showrooms in different parts of Jeddah, which resulted in the shutting down of more than 50 illegal car showrooms,” Al-Hamzi told Arab News.

“We were also surprised to find during one of our inspections that one branch manager of an automobile company on Palestine Street, from an Arab country, was a plumber.”

All these businesses face prosecution, he said.

Al-Hamzi said the traffic department launched the raids after giving these businesses one month to rectify their status. He said labor ministry officials were also involved in the raids.