An interesting and ironic piece in Arab News. Anyone who has lived in Saudi Arabia for any length of time, knows that traffic law enforcement is pretty far down on the list of things that appear to be done. Violations of vehicular law seem to be ignored by police and, as a consequence, there’s carnage on the roads. The number and severity of traffic accidents is an issue widely covered in the Saudi media.

Here, though, a writer for the Arabic daily Al-Madinah complains that the traffic police in Madinah—a city which for obvious reasons I’ve not visited–are too fierce in their application of the laws. While Saudi law provides for violators to be fined, jailed, or both if the violation is severe enough, the article states that in Medinah, everyone gets detained for at least 24 hours as well as fined, no matter how minor their errant ways.

The writer goes off the rails, in my opinion, when he starts complaining that the police should take into account the social circumstances of the law-breaker. No, law isn’t supposed to work that way. Laws should be applied equally, no matter how rich or poor, how connected or not connected. That is how laws are enforced professionally.

Why Madinah teens hate traffic police
Fouad Kabli | Al-Madinah

The Madinah Traffic Department knows how to treat members of the public, especially visitors to the city. Traffic police in this city are known to detain university teachers, doctors, engineers, businessmen and even city officials. They have deprived visitors the opportunity to see their relatives and shown inhospitality to outsiders.

Teenagers in the city now hate the Traffic Department, whose name is always associated with injustice and unfair treatment. The department is strict and known to apply rules and regulations stringently; this means violators will be jailed or fined on the spot without any leeway. It is also known not to accept excuses.

The Kingdom’s traffic law states that drivers caught speeding or running red lights should be fined or jailed, or, if the violation is severe, then fined and jailed. The Madinah Traffic Department, however, is the only department in the Kingdom, which issues both types of punishment at once. It is the only Traffic Department that flexes its muscles like this.

The traffic police are there to guide people, not to annoy them and cause further confusion.

We all know that all officials in Madinah are keen to ensure people live comfortable lives. However, if a citizen or a resident runs a red light or is caught speeding, the Traffic Department acts as if the person in question has committed the worst of all crimes. Violators are detained for 24 hours, and fined without any due consideration to their health, family circumstances and financial status. I feel there is a need to apply laws, but this should be done in a professional fashion.
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