The Saher traffic camera system is expected to be operational in Madina by the beginning of August, 10 days before Ramadan, Siraaj Kamal, chief of Madina Traffic Police, has said. “We've started preparing and installing around 100 mobile and fixed cameras, and we are working with the Mayor's Office for cameras to be installed upon the completion of some project works currently being conducted,” Kamal said. The traffic chief said that national program was running on schedule, and that Madina was part of the first phase which includes installation of cameras in Riyadh, the Eastern Province and the Western Region. He also revealed that car rental companies would provide databases with the names of their drivers and that the Credit Bank would provide the names of persons with car loans. “This is to avoid the companies in question being issued with fines,” he said. Kamal also warned drivers to keep abreast of their information to “prevent fines building up and reaching their ceiling”. According to Kamal, undercover traffic police will continue patrolling the city. “They have been very effective and have helped a great deal in cutting down offenses on highways. We often register around 2,000 traffic offenses in a single day, and that number is likely to go up once the Saher system is operational,” he said. Concerning reports that some drivers have been seeking out equipment to detect the locations of cameras, Kamal said: “Good. What matters is that drivers keep to speed limits and other regulations. We are not simply trying to give people tickets.” Saudi Gazette reported Saturday that some Riyadh motorists were using a variety of methods to prevent Saher cameras from capturing images of their license plates, including removing them, covering them up, and using a spray believed to reflect back the flash of cameras to make identification impossible.
