JAZAN — Hundreds of vehicles stand in queue at the motor vehicle periodic inspection center in Jazan every day after the Traffic Department started imposing a fine of up to SR300 on vehicle owners who failed to do the inspection. Workshops run by expats exploit the situation and offer vehicle owners quick fixes. They would do the necessary repair work to complete the inspection procedures. The Jazan MVPI center serves more than 2 million vehicle owners in the region, including a large number of expatriates. Okaz/Saudi Gazette visited the center to see the chaos and confusion at the facility due to the arrival of thousands of vehicles with lines reaching more than a kilometer. Mechanics who run workshops stand along the road to woo customers, offering their services to pass the test without any problem. "The MVPI center in Jazan has become like a flea market. Mechanics exploit the situation and charge high prices for repairs," said a driver while speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette. He highlighted the negative developments at the center. "There is shortage of workers, the building is dilapidated and there is no system. This chaos is unacceptable," he said and urged the authorities to take immediate measures to improve the situation. Mansour Al-Hakami spoke about the difficulties being faced by vehicle owners to complete inspection procedures and get the MVPI pass sticker. "I came to this place just after midnight with the hope of completing inspection procedures early. I was shocked to see the long queue at the center. This would not have happened if the center had appointed more workers for inspections," he said. Al-Hakami also referred to foul play by workshop owners to make quick money. "They compete with one another to get more customers," he said, adding that many of these workshops are not qualified enough to do repair works properly and efficiently. The management of the center said the unusually long lines of vehicles was the result of the Traffic Department's decision to impose fines on owners who do not conduct MVPI tests. The department considers it as a third category violation and imposes a fine of not less than SR150 and not more than SR300 on violators.
