Manama: Saudi Arabia’ Agency of Civil Affairs has dismissed reports that it would not register births or issue birth certificates for people who had failed to pay up traffic fines.
“Traffic violations do not hinder civil transactions, including registering births, deaths, marriages and divorces, and issuing certificates, for people who did not pay fines,” the agency said. “The agency tasks are not related to traffic violations and they are not suspended until traffic fines are paid.”
An official said the agency was keen on providing its services throughout the kingdom and urged people not to heed rumours.
“The claims are baseless and do not reflect the reality on the ground,” the official said. “People should continue to book their appointments electronically and the agency is keen on serving them rapidly and smoothly,: he said, quoted by local daily Okaz on Tuesday.
“The service processing is much faster than it was in the previous years and the transaction is completed much more quickly today,” he said.
The agency set up offices in some large malls and opened bureaus and women’s sections in several provinces to help with providing services. A mobile unit was also established to reach out to people in remote areas.
People who fail to register a case of birth, death, marriage or divorce will have to pay fines and could face legal measures in some cases, the official said.
Saudi authorities have launched a massive campaign to boost the culture of official affairs in the conservative society, particularly among Saudis living in remote places and with limited contact with the modern world.
Faced with one of the highest traffic accident rates in the Arab world, Saudi authorities have often launched campaigns to reduce the alarming figures of accidents and impose a safer driving culture.
A major component of the new traffic rules was Al Saher, the system launched to check chaotic driving and monitor violations that included mainly jumping red lights.
Under the system used mainly on highways and at junctions in large cities, drivers are immediately fined for breaking regulations with penalties increasing in case the fines are not paid within a specific period of time.
Some drivers have been resorting to cheating to avoid being caught, mainly by covering the licence plates, prompting the Grand Mufti to warn that drivers had to respect the traffic system.
“Cheating is not permitted in Islam and drivers have to avoid it,” Shaikh Abdul Aziz Bin Abdullah Al Shaikh said. “The system was set up to regulate traffic, help people and check reckless driving. It is not the nemesis of drivers and it exists to help make life easier, not to hinder people or worsen their conditions. We see it as a positive development, especially as it has imposed a speed limit.”
