Transport Authority: 1,278 violators apprehended and fines reached 20,000 riyals
The Public Transport Authority's inspection teams in Saudi Arabia continued their intensive inspection campaigns across the Kingdom as part of their ongoing efforts to regulate the land transport sector and curb unregulated practices. These field visits, which covered the period from Saturday, November 29th to Friday, December 5th, resulted in the apprehension of 1,278 individuals violating transport regulations.
Details of the violations detected
The authority explained in its statistical report that the violations ranged from practicing the activity without a license to carrying out preparatory work for it. (586) individuals were apprehended for engaging in "calling out" (preparatory work to attract passengers) using their private vehicles, while (692) others were apprehended for actually transporting passengers in their private vehicles without obtaining the necessary licenses, a phenomenon known locally as "Kaddada".
Context of organizing the transport sector and its importance
These strict campaigns are part of a broader strategy adopted by the Kingdom to develop the transport and logistics sector, in line with Saudi Vision 2030. This regulatory drive aims to eliminate the phenomenon of unregulated transportation that has prevailed for years and replace it with a safe and reliable transportation system based on technology and licensed companies. The importance of these seizures lies in enhancing passenger safety, as unlicensed transportation lacks tracking and security monitoring mechanisms, which can expose users to numerous risks.
Furthermore, eliminating illegal transportation contributes to promoting fair competition in the market, protecting the investments of licensed companies and legitimate app drivers who comply with government requirements and fees, thus raising the quality of services provided to citizens and residents.
Deterrent penalties under the new system
The Public Transport Authority has emphasized the enforcement of penalties stipulated in the new Land Transport Law, issued by Royal Decree No. (M/188). Penalties are graduated to ensure compliance, with fines reaching (11) thousand riyals for those engaging in unauthorized street vending, along with vehicle impoundment for 25 days.
However, if transportation is carried out without a license, the fine may reach 20,000 riyals, with the vehicle impounded for up to 60 days. In a decisive step to deter violators, the regulations stipulate the possibility of selling the offending vehicle at public auction upon repeated offenses, in addition to deporting non-Saudi violators from the Kingdom, reflecting the seriousness of the relevant authorities in regulating this vital sector.
The authority called on all citizens and residents to cooperate and comply with the regulations, and to review the updated regulations through its official website, in order to avoid penalties and contribute to improving the urban landscape and transportation services.
