RIYADH: The General Traffic Department has clarified that all motorists will be penalized if they are caught violating traffic rules and that the elderly are not exempt from penalties.

“There is no rule that stops fining violators who are aged above 60. However, cases involving senior citizens will be looked at differently by traffic personnel,” Col. Tareq Al-Rubaiyan, spokesman of the General Traffic Department, told local media.

Khaled Al-Fakheri, secretary-general of the National Society for Human Rights, urged the traffic department to treat the violations committed by senior citizens with exception in some cases.

Al-Fakheri said the rules should be applied to all without discrimination, but individual health cases of violators should be taken into account.

The best way for everyone is not to violate traffic rules and not to look for ways to bypass penalties, he said. “Everyone must use the roads in a responsible way and respect regulations.”

Most traffic violations committed by the elderly involve running the red light and parking vehicles at the wrong place, said Al-Fakheri said. “However violations such as accidents should be dealt with strictly, irrespective of age,” he added.

The Cabinet recently passed directives on traffic violations. Amendments to the traffic law stipulate that penalties will vary between a fine of SR10,000 and the seizure of the vehicle until the penalty has been paid.

The amendments also take care of traffic accident victims. Those who leave the victims without informing the authorities will be penalized with SR10,000 or a prison sentence of three months or both.

Drifters will be dealt with strictly, and face the following penalties:

* First time violations include impounding the vehicle and a fine of SR20,000, and referring the offenders to a court to look into the possibility of a prison sentence.

* Second time violations include impounding the vehicle for a month, with a fine of SR40,000; the guilty will be referred to a court to look into the imposition of a prison sentence.

* Third time violations include impounding the vehicle and a fine of SR60,000. Drifters will be referred to 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 showrooms have been included in the law, with penalties up to SR100,000.