المملكة: 5 million riyals in fines and deportation of violators.. New controls to regulate public and airport fares – Urgent
Adopted General Authority for Transport A new mechanism and controls regulate the continuation of individual service providers previously authorized to work in the activity of transportation by public taxi and airport fare.
This is within the framework of its continuing efforts to regulate the sector, improve the quality of services, ensure the safety of passengers, and achieve the highest standards of professional discipline and traffic safety.
Modern cars and precise standards
The authority explained The new controls stressed that The caris modern and has not previously been registered within the Kingdom when it is introduced into the activity, and its operational age must not exceed five years from the year of manufacture, with the requirement that it be registered as a “taxi” in accordance with the traffic system, and that it has a valid traffic licence.
The authority also obligated it to pass regular periodic technical inspection, and that the vehicles be equipped in accordance with approved security and safety requirements, and carry an identification card. An exterior color with a specific color and explanatory stickers for the service provider, in addition to car insurance to cover civil liability towards third parties and passengers.
Imposing penalties and the mechanism for their application
The authority indicated that inspectors are responsible for imposing field penalties, which include warnings and financial fines not exceeding ten thousand riyals, in addition to the penalty for seizing vehicles, while the committee specializes in looking into grievances and violations of the land transport system on roads. By imposing more severe penalties, such as fines exceeding ten thousand riyals, completely or partially suspending licenses for a period of up to a year, as well as stopping the driver, the vehicle, or both for the same period.
The authority confirmed that the warning principle is applied only to non-serious violations before imposing the penalty, while giving the violator a period to correct his situation, while the same principle does not apply when the violation is repeated. It also required a gradual imposition of penalties, starting with the minimum and then doubling it in the event of repetition within one year, as the fine could reach five times its basic value.
In the event that the violation is repeated for the sixth time, the committee may double the fine not to exceed the maximum limit stipulated in the system, which is estimated at five million riyals, taking into account mitigating or aggravating circumstances depending on the nature of the violation. Violation.
Daily fines and non-financial penalties
The controls stipulate the possibility of imposing a daily fine for every day that the violator continues to violate him after the issuance of the final decision, provided that the total fines do not exceed “10%” of the maximum limit of the specified financial penalty, and the fine is calculated from the date specified by the committee in the decision.
The regulations also included Non-financial penalties include deporting the violating non-Saudi from the Kingdom, publishing a summary of the penalty at the violator’s expense in a local newspaper or other appropriate means after the decision becomes final, in addition to obliging the violator to remove the violation, block applications and websites belonging to the violating establishments, or close the violating business if the activity is carried out without a valid license.
In repeated cases, the committee can The competent authority requests the judicial confiscation of the vehicle in the event that the violation is repeated for the fifth time or more, within the framework of tightening control and ensuring full compliance with the provisions of the system.
Operating cards and renewal procedures
The controls stressed that the service provider is obligated to obtain an operating card for the car that is considered the official license to practice the activity, and is issued for a period of one year only, with the possibility of replacing or replacing the car once. During the validity period of the card, provided that all regulatory requirements are met.
The Authority also obligated service providers to renew the card 30 days before its expiration, while allowing late renewal within 90 days after expiration in exchange for a fine for the delay.
Conditions for issuing a professional driver card
The instructions stated that the driver must He obtains a professional driver card, provided that he has a valid operating card, a public taxi driver’s license, and a free criminal record, in addition to an approved certificate of professional competence.
The card is issued for one year only, and its validity is linked to the validity of the operating card and driving license. The driver may not drive the car after the expiration of the card, provided that he is allowed to submit a renewal application within 30 days from the date of its expiration in exchange for a financial fine, with the possibility of canceling it upon the request of the service provider after the financial dues are met.
The rights of the driver to refrain from providing the service
The controls approved the right of the driver to refrain from providing the service in specific cases, including the number of passengers exceeding the carrying capacity. of the car, or the passengers’ refusal to wear seat belts, or smoking inside the car, or tampering with the interior equipment, or in the event of aggressive or abnormal behavior from the passengers.
Doubling and Gradualizing the Penalties
The authority explained that the penalties will be imposed according to the principle of gradualism and doubling when the violation is repeated within a period of one year from the issuance of the decision, as the fine can be gradually increased until it reaches five. Many times more in the event of continuing to commit the violation.
An additional daily fine may also be imposed not exceeding 10% of the maximum fine limit specified in the table, in order to ensure that the situation is corrected and that the violation does not continue after the final decision is issued.
Major Violations and Their Penalties
The Authority has classified the practice of activity without a professional driver’s card or using a canceled card. Among the serious violations that require a fine of 2,800 riyals for the first time, with the vehicle being stopped for two months, and the fine is doubled upon repetition, reaching four times, with the vehicle being stopped for three months.
In the event of working with an expired card, a fine of 2,200 riyals is imposed for the first time, with the same suspension. Carrying out the activity without an operating card or using a canceled or expired card is considered a major violation requiring A fine of 2,800 riyals and impoundment of the vehicle for forty days, increasing to sixty days upon repetition, while work during the card suspension period is punishable by cancellation of the card itself.
Simple and medium violations
According to the regulations, fines for minor violations start from 50 riyals only, and include delay in renewing operational or professional cards, failure to connect to electronic systems, and failure to review the authority. After being summoned, or not providing it with contact information and the national address, in addition to neglecting the cleanliness of the vehicle or not handing over lost items to the security authorities within the specified period.
A fine of 100 riyals is also imposed on violations such as not subjecting the vehicle to a technical inspection upon request, making unapproved modifications, neglecting general maintenance, smoking inside the car, or loading passengers from designated sidewalks. For pedestrians, or not providing basic safety tools.
The highest violations in this category include transgressions such as not operating the fare meter or tampering with it, or not writing the phrase “Free ride” when it malfunctions, or combining more than one request within the city, and are punishable by a fine of 400 riyals and stopping the vehicle for three months.
Severe penalties
The regulations stressed that waiving the operating card is For another person, or engaging in activity outside the specified scope, or not collecting the fare in accordance with the approved policy, or refraining from providing the service without a legal justification, is considered one of the highest violations within the medium category, and requires a fine of 1,600 riyals, in addition to the possibility of stopping the vehicle.
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