قانوني لـ «عكاظ»: المادة 74 تشمل قيادة المركبة تحت تأثير المسكر وقطع الإشارة

The legal advisor Obaid Al-Ayafi revealed to "Okaz" that the text of Article 74 of the Traffic Law includes a number of violations that pose a threat to public safety. These include exceeding the speed limit by more than 30 km/h when the limit is set at 140 km/h, and exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h if the speed limit is 120 km/h or less. It also includes violations of driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or medications that warn against driving under their influence, and conducting road works without coordinating with the relevant authority, in addition to running a red traffic light.

Violations of Article 74

Al-Ayafi added that the article includes driving a vehicle in the opposite direction of traffic, exceeding the allowable dimensions of loads transported by heavy vehicles, overtaking in areas where overtaking is prohibited, such as curves and elevations, and violating the transportation of passengers in non-designated areas. The recurrence of the violation is counted on the second and third occasions from the date of the first violation.

Recurrence is considered if the repeated violation is the same as the violations committed previously, and in the case of repeating a violation that poses a threat to public safety for the second time within a year, it is raised to the maximum limit.

Recurrence of Violations for the Third Time

Attorney Al-Ayafi confirmed that the article stipulates that the violator shall be referred to the competent court if they repeat the violation for the third time within the same year. The referral to the competent court includes details of the violations affecting public safety in terms of type, date, place of occurrence, evidence of the recurrence of the violation, information about the driver, their contact details, and specifying the type of penalty to be applied.

The relevant authority shall notify the violator by means it deems appropriate that the case has been referred to the competent court with a request to intensify the penalty against them in preparation for their appearance before the court if necessary.

The Ministry of Interior had announced the issuance of a decree amending Article 74 of the Traffic Law, as part of efforts to enhance public safety on the roads. The General Directorate of Traffic confirmed that the amended article relates to traffic violations that pose a threat to public safety, and work is currently underway to amend the executive regulations of the article to align with the new amendments.

The Ministry of Interior announced the amendment of Article 74 of the Traffic Law, and the amendment stipulates imposing stricter penalties, which can reach up to one year in prison and deportation for residents.

When is a resident deported?

The amended article stipulates imposing the maximum fine when committing a violation that poses a threat to public safety for the second time within a year from the date of the first violation. If committed for the third time within the same year, the violator shall be referred to the competent court to consider applying a prison sentence not exceeding one year, unless the court sees fit to double the fine imposed for the violation on the second occasion.

The amendment grants the Ministry of Interior, regarding non-Saudis, that if a final judgment is issued convicting them of committing a violation that poses a threat to public safety, the person may be deported from the Kingdom and banned from re-entering, according to regulations set by the Ministry of Interior in coordination with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Justice, and the Public Prosecution.