JEDDAH: The Council of Ministers held a meeting under the chairmanship of Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Mohammed bin Naif, and passed long-awaited directives to improve non-oil economic revenues, and to find a solution to the problem of traffic violations by car drifters.
Decisions also touched on the guests of God, with the single trip entry visa fee fixed at SR2,000 to be shouldered by the government for first-time Umrah and Haj pilgrims.
Those who look at Saudi Arabia’s national and economic advantages realize how lucky the country is with its strong laws and economy, and how low oil prices have not affected the country as they have in others. The economy is stable in the face of fluctuating oil prices.
These decisions came at an opportune time, with many expatriates transferring tens of billions of riyals to their countries thanks to their tax-free incomes.
The Saudi society has seen large numbers of traffic violations in which people have not been concerned about fines imposed on violators because the fines are only a few hundred riyals. Nor has any concern been shown about the risks involved in the violations. People have been positive about the punishments imposed on drifting which has not only claimed the lives of many young people and destroyed their cars but has also destroyed property.
Amendments to the traffic law stipulate that penalties will vary between a fine of SR10,000 and impounding the vehicle until the penalty has been paid. The new amendments also take care of traffic accident victims who are left at the scene of the accident without notifying relevant authorities. Those who leave the victims will be penalized by a fine of SR10,000, a prison sentence of three months or both.
The law deals strictly with drifters and the law now stipulates that drifting is a traffic violation and those who are gulity will be penalized as follows:
l First time violations include impounding the vehicle with drifters fined SR20,000, and then referred to the relevant court to look into the possibility of a prison sentence.
l Second time violations include impounding the vehicle for a month, with drifters fined SR40,000; they will be referred to the court to look into the imposition of a prison sentence.
l Third time violations include impounding the vehicle and a fine of SR60,000. Drifters will be referred to the specialized court to look into the confiscation of the vehicle or a fine that equals the value of the rented or stolen vehicle, and the imprisonment of the perpetrator.
The impounding and confiscation penalties exclude rented and stolen vehicles.
Those who use licenses of other people or vehicles will be fined SR1,000 to SR2,000. Car show rooms were also included in the law, with penalties up to SR100,000.
The Council of Ministers approved municipal service fees according to a defined schedule, and the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs will issue, during a period of 90 days from the date of this decision, the rules and lists for implementing the content of Article 1 of this decision, which will include the amount of each fee so as not to exceed a maximum limit, and a time table will be devised for its gradual implementation. The minister can delay, or stop the implementation of municipal service fees in some cases.
The Council of Ministers decided the following in regards to advertising: Amendment of Article 3 of the regulation of advertising boards regarding advertising fees to be SR200 to SR600 for each square meter, or part of it for boards listed in paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 of Article 1; fees will range from SR100 to SR400 for each square meter or part of it for boards listed in paragraph 2 of Article 1 of these rules; fees will be estimated according to the prime minister for electronic boards based upon the recommendation of the relevant minister.
Decisions also touched on the guests of God, with the single trip entry visa fee fixed at SR2,000 to be shouldered by the government for first-time Umrah and Haj pilgrims.
Those who look at Saudi Arabia’s national and economic advantages realize how lucky the country is with its strong laws and economy, and how low oil prices have not affected the country as they have in others. The economy is stable in the face of fluctuating oil prices.
These decisions came at an opportune time, with many expatriates transferring tens of billions of riyals to their countries thanks to their tax-free incomes.
The Saudi society has seen large numbers of traffic violations in which people have not been concerned about fines imposed on violators because the fines are only a few hundred riyals. Nor has any concern been shown about the risks involved in the violations. People have been positive about the punishments imposed on drifting which has not only claimed the lives of many young people and destroyed their cars but has also destroyed property.
Amendments to the traffic law stipulate that penalties will vary between a fine of SR10,000 and impounding the vehicle until the penalty has been paid. The new amendments also take care of traffic accident victims who are left at the scene of the accident without notifying relevant authorities. Those who leave the victims will be penalized by a fine of SR10,000, a prison sentence of three months or both.
The law deals strictly with drifters and the law now stipulates that drifting is a traffic violation and those who are gulity will be penalized as follows:
l First time violations include impounding the vehicle with drifters fined SR20,000, and then referred to the relevant court to look into the possibility of a prison sentence.
l Second time violations include impounding the vehicle for a month, with drifters fined SR40,000; they will be referred to the court to look into the imposition of a prison sentence.
l Third time violations include impounding the vehicle and a fine of SR60,000. Drifters will be referred to the specialized court to look into the confiscation of the vehicle or a fine that equals the value of the rented or stolen vehicle, and the imprisonment of the perpetrator.
The impounding and confiscation penalties exclude rented and stolen vehicles.
Those who use licenses of other people or vehicles will be fined SR1,000 to SR2,000. Car show rooms were also included in the law, with penalties up to SR100,000.
The Council of Ministers approved municipal service fees according to a defined schedule, and the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs will issue, during a period of 90 days from the date of this decision, the rules and lists for implementing the content of Article 1 of this decision, which will include the amount of each fee so as not to exceed a maximum limit, and a time table will be devised for its gradual implementation. The minister can delay, or stop the implementation of municipal service fees in some cases.
The Council of Ministers decided the following in regards to advertising: Amendment of Article 3 of the regulation of advertising boards regarding advertising fees to be SR200 to SR600 for each square meter, or part of it for boards listed in paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 of Article 1; fees will range from SR100 to SR400 for each square meter or part of it for boards listed in paragraph 2 of Article 1 of these rules; fees will be estimated according to the prime minister for electronic boards based upon the recommendation of the relevant minister.
