Traffic police given authority to use force against violators

The Ministry of Interior has authorized traffic departments and field traffic policemen across the Kingdom to use force against severe traffic violators.
Brig. Hassan bin Saleh Al-Hassan, spokesman of the Riyadh Traffic Department, said that security and traffic agencies had noticed that violators would hide the number plates of their vehicles, or drive without any plates, a local newspaper reported. “Such acts are a threat to security and traffic in general,” said Al-Hassan. When drivers of such vehicles do not comply with orders to halt their cars, they tend
to escape. This forces police field teams to pursue them and force them to
stop.
The authorization included the use of civil cars (secret traffic teams), and more than one car during a pursuit process to ensure offenders and suspects would not get away.
“Qualified officers and members of the police force will implement these pursuit operations for the safety of all parties concerned,” he said. Al-Hassan pointed out that directions were issued to choose a suitable spot for halting the vehicle, with the utmost precautionary measures to take full control of the situation on hands. “All these procedures and measures will be subject to the personal supervision and monitoring of heads of traffic departments,” he concluded.