Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Shoura Council on Tuesday started deliberations on a proposal to crack down on stunt driving and approved adding a new penalty against violators of the Cyber Law. The proposed measures against joyriders include a maximum of five-year jail, SR40,000 in fine and the confiscation of the vehicle. According to the proposed amendments in the Traffic Law, those who engage in stunt driving for the first time will be fined an amount up to SR10,000, jailed for a maximum of six months, and the vehicle will be confiscated for one month. In case of repeating the violation for a third time, the offender will be jailed for a period between one and five years, fined up to SR40,000. The vehicle will be confiscated. If the vehicle is not owned by the driver, he will be fined the equal amount of the vehicle's value. Amendments in the Traffic Law have been proposed to take penal action against those who assist joyriders through cash or kind or encourage him to engage in the illegal activity. They will receive half of the punishment in terms of fine and jail given to the one who is convicted of stunt driving. According to the amendments, gathering to encourage the joyrider will be considered a traffic violation. Such violators will face a fine to the tune of SR1,500 or the seizure of the vehicle for 15 days or both. The punishment will be doubled and made stringent if those involved in joyriding or encouraging them were found using drugs or alcohol or using stolen vehicles or disrupting traffic movement or defying the traffic authorities. The Council session also approved an addition to Article 6 of the Cyber Law, which stipulates that violators of the law shall be given a maximum of five-year in jail or SR3 million in fine. Apart from this, the verdict against the violator will be publicized in one or more local newspapers or through the way that deems suitable to the court, according to the new addition.
