8 Expats Deported In Traffic Campaigns For Driving Without Licenses

Traffic security campaigns are being organized to prosecute careless drivers, and those who commit serious traffic violations that endanger the lives of road users, under direct instructions from the Assistant Undersecretary for Traffic and Operations, Major General Jamal Al-Sayegh, Al Jarida reported. The statistics also showed that the traffic patrol officers were able to arrest 54 minors driving vehicles without obtaining a driver’s license, while 8 expatriates were arrested for driving vehicles without a driving license, and they were referred to the Deportation Department in preparation for deportation from the country.

The recent campaigns led to the issuing of 28,324 traffic violations, impounding 10 vehicles and 7 motorcycles, referring 111 violators to the detention center of the General Traffic Department, impounding 17 vehicles wanted by security and judicial authorities, and arresting 10 persons on the wanted list.

Al-Jarida daily reported traffic security campaigns were launched against reckless people in various areas of the country, especially those witnessing an increase in recklessness driving, and traffic violations which put the lives of road users are at risk, and cause inconvenience to citizens and expats.

The statistics issued by the Traffic Operations Sector indicated the Traffic Operations Department ranked first in recording the number of violations, which amounted to 6,620, followed by the Traffic Department of the Capital Governorate, with 5,401 violations, and in the third place the Traffic Department of Hawalli registered 5068, then the Department The traffic of Al-Farwaniyah with 3096, followed by Al-Jahra Traffic Department with 2811, then Al-Ahmadi with 2795, then the Traffic Department of Mubarak Al-Kabeer recorded 1473, and finally the Traffic Duties Department with 1060 violations.

 Severe Punishments for Expats

In July, Directorate General of Public Relations and Security Information at the Ministry of Interior (MoI) released a statement stressing that based on the keenness of the security establishment to enforce laws and impose traffic discipline on the road, any expatriate found driving a vehicle without a license will be deported from the country.

In recent months, the MoI has been enforcing the strengthened traffic laws against violators, meting out punishments such as impounding vehicles and temporarily withdrawing driving licenses to those caught flouting the traffic laws.

According to a circular issued by the ministry earlier in the year, the withdrawal of the vehicle and the driving license and the referral of the person to the authorities was to be enforced against violators found carrying passengers in return for money, holding illegal races on public roads, and driving recklessly.

The punishment of license withdrawal and impounding of cars is also mandated for those who drive a vehicle without number plates, drive against the flow of traffic, reckless driving or if the motorist tends to be negligent.

Other violations that could invite severe punishment include not showing the registration book, driving the vehicle without insurance, if the vehicle is emitting smoke or producing too much noise, driving a vehicle with tinted glass, obstructing traffic movement and exceeding the speed limit.

Plans to replace old driving licenses 

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) at the start of 2021 is expected to replace old driving licenses with new state-of-the-art ones for about two and a half million people, comprising 1,650,000 expatriates and 800,000 Kuwaiti citizens, reports a local daily.

The new driving licenses are likely to incorporate the latest technology with distinct specifications including modern security features that adhere to international standard ISO-18013. This measure would make forgery difficulty.

As part of receiving these licenses for all citizens and expats, a person will have to pay all outstanding fines for traffic violations recorded against the driver, and review the provisions associated with the law. All driving licenses obtained illegally or under exceptions will be rejected, and those people discovered with a license, who did not meet with the conditions of the license at the time of issuance, will have to present their identification documents online. Also, renewals will not be allowed for those who changed their profession for licenses that were issued after 2013. A grace period is allotted to replace the old licenses with new ones, as the old licenses become invalid, said the daily.

 

SOURCE : TIMES KUWAIT

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