MADINAH — Traffic police in Madinah have set up checkpoints to crack down on dozens of vehicles whose license plates have been concealed to avoid being caught by Saher traffic cameras. Col. Omar Alnezawi, spokesman for Madinah traffic police, said the campaign continues to eliminate such violations and its effectiveness will be measured after two weeks. The number of violating vehicles continues to increase, he added, but will gradually decrease as the campaign continues and the number of checkpoints increases. He said violating vehicles will be impounded for 15 days, their owners fined SR500 and drivers who commit multiple offenses could be banned from driving. He said dozens of vehicles have been impounded and no excuse will be considered, adding some owners gave the reason that they were visitors or travelers from another country. He added that the fines would not be reduced for violators who have accumulated tens of thousands of riyals already. He said in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce steps have been taken to monitor and prosecute shops that sell forged license plates and equipment to conceal them in any way. Alnezawi said the second phase of Saher has been implemented and will now crack down on violators at signals and intersections, while work on infrastructure for monitoring sites is under way. Alnezawi was responding to complaints about the Saher system as reported by Al-Madinah newspaper. One citizen complained varying speed limit signs were being placed too close to each other. He claimed on one road there was a speed limit sign of 100km that would then be followed by a speed limit sign of 60km only 50 meters away.
He said no one could reduce speed in such a short distance. Other citizens have supported Saher, but called for more awareness of the fact it protects human lives against reckless drivers.
One citizen commented: “Why blame Saher and not yourself for not respecting the law? “If we respect the law, Saher will not record any violations against anyone.” Others commented that most citizens are on limited incomes who need to borrow to pay their accumulating fines that can reach thousands of riyals and they should be given some leeway to pay their debts.
A car rental company owner complained that he is automatically liable for any Saher fines accumulated by his customers.
