GTD collects KD 66,000 in traffic fines 24 hrs after decision issued

KUWAIT CITY, Aug 21: In just 24 hours after the decision was issued by the General Traffic Department has collected 66,000 dinars in traffic fines from dawn Saturday until the dawn of Sunday, reports Al-Rai daily. According to well-informed security sources, these fines were collected from expatriates and citizens of Gulf Cooperation Council countries which were collected at land, air, and sea ports. The daily added approximately 70 expats -- 50 men and 20 women – who had committed serious violations such as speeding, crossing the red traffic light and parking in places reserved for physically challenged people had to cancel their travel plans because such fines cannot be paid at border points. This is addition to people who had travel bans slapped on them and orders had been issued to impound their vehicles. The daily added a significant number of these violators were Asians.

Furthermore, the GTD has implemented a swift system for recording and issuing violations in a matter of 6 minutes from the moment the violations are identified. Notifications are then transmitted through the “Sahel” application to the respective violators. This approach is expected to enhance the collection of fines, whether during government transactions, travel preparations, or foreign resident permit renewals. The security sources also highlighted that the rapid issuance and recording of violations within the system will safeguard public funds and contribute to a reduction in careless behavior. This connection between the General Traffic Department and various government entities will serve to curtail the recurrence of violations and foster a greater sense of responsibility on the roads.

Violations
Meanwhile, the General Traffic Department at the Interior Ministry continues to collect fines for traffic violations from departing expatriates, including other Gulf nationals, in line with the decision to link departure with the payment of fines. According to the Ministry of Justice, a total of 33,569 travel ban orders were registered during the first half of 2023 — the largest among the procedures at the Execution Department. This is in addition to lifting the travel ban imposed on 21,954 people after paying a total of KD 4,427,000 through the airport office, so they could travel within the same period.

The semi-annual statistics issued by the Department of Statistics and Research revealed that the total number of procedures completed by the Execution Department reached 3,726,000 in the first half of the year. The procedures for requesting executive arrest of a debtor increased remarkably constituting 45 percent of the total, followed by the procedures for executive arrest of a debtor at 20.7 percent, while the procedures for opening the adjustment of alimony are the lowest at 0.1 percent.

On the travel ban, the statistics showed that the number of procedures in travel ban departments reached 72,758; the travel ban orders reached 33,569 or 46.1 percent, and the procedures for lifting the travel ban reached 30.2 percent. Meanwhile, security sources revealed that the General Traffic Department collected a total of about KD 10,000 traffic fines at Kuwait International Airport on the first day of implementing the decision to link travel and payment of fines. Sources disclosed that a female Gulf national canceled her trip due to unpaid traffic fines estimated at KD 7,000. She was directed to the Traffic Violations Investigation Department in the Capital to pay the accumulated fines. By Jaber Al-Hamoud, Munaif Nayef Al-Seyassah Staff and Agencies