Life on the Spot! Life and Leisure in Doha, Qatar

The Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday issued a decree (Law No.19\2007) on traffic laws. Notable among them are the following:

• Qatar Visitors can now make use of their local driver's license provided they get an approval from the traffic department, 15 days from their arrival in Doha.
• A driver detected not holding a driver's license would serve jail time of not less than 1 week and no more than 3 years and/or would get a fine between 20,000-50,000
• Point System would be used for traffic violations

Here are some more details: from The Peninsula

As per the law, the traffic violations by motorists will be recorded on a point-based scale. The five-phase process will end up in cancellation of the licence of the violators and forcing him/her to appear for a re-test, after at least one year of the cancellation of the licence.

Traffic violations for the first time will earn a motorist penalty points, ranging from 1 to 14. The licence of the motorist who accumulates 14 points will be suspended for three months.

In the event of further violations, the motorist will be given a point between 1 and 12. On accumulating the maximum 12 points, his licence will be suspended for six months. In the third phase, the offender would be awarded points ranging from 1 to 10 and on ‘scoring’ the high point the licence will stand suspended for nine months. In the next phase, the total points awarded to the driver will be eight and the licence will be cancelled the moment he touches the barrier. In fifth and last phase, the motorists would be given a maximum point of six and once they touch this, the licence will be cancelled by the traffic department. In the event of cancellation, the violator will have to take a re-test to get a fresh licence, but only after one year.

The law stipulates hefty fines ranging from QR10,000 to QR50,000 and/or imprisonment of between one month and three years for serious violations. A driver detected without a valid driving licence or a vehicle plying without registration plate will entail imprisonment of not less than one week and not more than three years and/or a fine of QR20,000-QR50,000, for instance.

An insurance company found guilty of denying third party policy shall be punishable under the law with QR10,000 fine. And the fine will be doubled for subsequent offences committed within six months.

The new law empowers the Traffic Department to take legal action against companies, service stations and workshops which undertake maintenance, modification and repair works without the prior approval of the traffic department. The department has the authority to suspend operations of any offenders in this case for three months and it would close such establishments permanently if the offences are repeated.

As per the new decree, fancy numbers will be issued by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, which will also fix the minimum prices for bidding. The ownership of number plates can be transferred through auction.

When the ownership of the vehicle is transferred to another individual, the original owner should notify the authorities three days in advance in prescribed forms. The original owner will be held responsible for any traffic violations if the transfer is not approved by the concerned authorities even if the offence is committed by the buyer.