Jeddah’s traffic police have warned private vehicle owners from working as chauffeurs during Ramadan.

“This will be considered a traffic violation,” Brig. Gen. Zaid Al-Hamzi, official spokesman, told Arab News. “Violators will be fined SR300 and have their vehicle impounded for 15 days.”

The police plan to set up checkpoints across the city’s streets and neighborhoods.

Manpower has also been deployed across the region to streamline traffic during the holy month, said Maj. Gen. Waslallah Al-Harbi, Jeddah traffic police director.

“Other locations, including commercial areas downtown, that are witnessing an influx of shoppers for dates and vegetables ahead of Ramadan have been secured with traffic patrols to maintain smooth traffic flow and prevent any violations, such as illegal parking,” he said.

“During Ramadan traffic gets bad just before dusk. Bottlenecks occur because people rush home to break their fast.”

He called on worshippers to parked their vehicles correctly around mosques to avoid penalties.

“Other centralized areas will see traffic flow unified in one direction,” he said. “Traffic in downtown Jeddah will flow toward the north and the main entrance will be east of the area. One-way traffic will also be implemented on Al-Barid Street; cars will exit from King Abdulaziz Street to ensure smooth traffic movement because of high congestion during Ramadan.”