Manama: Qatar is offering to halve old traffic fines if they are paid within three months.
The interior ministry said that the 50 per cent deduction applies to all fines recorded before December 31, including those registered by radar or doled out by traffic patrols and policemen as well as car impounding. However, the deductions will not be applied after April 7, it added.
The reduction offer is to encourage drivers to pay their fines instead of accumulating them.
“People can take advantage of this opportunity to settle their traffic fines either through ministry MOI e-channels such as MOI web portal, Metrash2 mobile app and Self-Service Kiosks as wells as traffic service counters throughout the country,” the ministry said in a statement.
“This opportunity is given to the public to correct their traffic status and settle all their fines. It also seeks the strict implementation of traffic laws and regulations following the amendments in the traffic law. The Traffic Directorate urges all motorists to abide by traffic rules and regulations and cooperate with the efforts to save lives by curbing violations.”
According to figures posted by Qatari media, the number of traffic violations recorded in Qatar from January to November last year exceeded QR1.5 million (Dh1.5 million).
A new traffic law with tougher penalties for violations has come into effect in the peninsular country this year, making it more expensive to park illegally or to park in spaces allocated for people with special needs. It also toughens penalties for overtaking vehicles from the right lane. Booking a motorist for speeding means a QR500 fine, but the driver will also have to pay QR100 for every 10 kilometres above the speed limit.
The 50 per cent reduction announced last week by the ministry was appreciated online by those with pending fines as a helpful breakthrough, but triggered feelings of frustration by those who had paid their dues on time.
“Seriously, 50 per cent off ‘sale’ for violations? So the people who paid in a timely manner before will get angry for actually respecting the fines and their punishment. Next year more people will refrain from paying as they will wait in the hopes that another ‘sale’ will happen,” Misha, an online user, posted on Dohanews site. “At the very least, how about only giving first time offenders a discount?”
