1508 violators arrested for transporting passengers without a license: deterrent penalties
The Public Transport Authority's inspection teams continued their intensive inspection campaigns across the Kingdom as part of their ongoing efforts to regulate the land transport sector and ensure all operators comply with regulations. These field visits, conducted from Saturday, December 20th to Friday, December 26th, resulted in the identification of 1,508 violators of transport regulations, against whom the necessary legal measures were taken.
Details of the violations detected
The authority explained in its statistical report that the violations ranged from preparatory practices to the actual practice of unlicensed transportation. (834) violators were apprehended for engaging in what is known as "soliciting" or preparatory activities to attract passengers using their private vehicles without obtaining the necessary licenses. Conversely, (674) violators were apprehended for actually transporting passengers in their private vehicles in an irregular manner, a phenomenon known locally as "Kaddada.".
Context of campaigns and the national transport strategy
These rigorous monitoring campaigns are a direct reflection of the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy, through which the Kingdom seeks to enhance the efficiency of the transport sector and improve the quality of services provided to beneficiaries. These efforts aim to eliminate the phenomenon of unregulated transportation, which negatively impacts the urban landscape and undermines fair market competition. Unlicensed transportation harms the interests of licensed taxi drivers and ride-hailing applications that adhere to regulations.
The importance of compliance and its impact on safety
The importance of these seizures extends beyond mere regulation to encompass crucial security and social aspects. Operating unlicensed passenger transport services lacks the safety and security standards mandated by the authority for licensed operators, such as periodic technical inspections, insurance, trip tracking, and verification of driver identity and records. Therefore, eliminating this phenomenon is a pivotal step towards ensuring passenger safety and providing a secure and reliable transportation environment within and between cities.
Deterrent penalties in the new system
The new land transport regulations have introduced strict penalties to deter violators. The regulations stipulate that engaging in preparatory work (such as soliciting passengers) incurs a fine of up to 11,000 riyals and vehicle impoundment for 25 days. For actual illegal transport, the penalty increases to a fine of 20,000 riyals and vehicle impoundment for up to 60 days. In cases of repeated violations, the regulations allow the relevant authorities to sell the offending vehicle at public auction, in addition to deporting non-Saudi violators from the Kingdom. This underscores the seriousness of the authorities in putting an end to these practices once and for all.
