New Qatar Traffic Law
Qatar Traffic Law
Decree No. 19 of 2007
Article No. # Violations Fines (QR)
1 Driving a vehicle in the opposite road direction. QR6,000
2 Parking outside the specified areas or returning the vehicle when using motorways. QR6,000
3 Jumping a light at intersections or disobeying a police who organises traffic. QR6,000
4 Driving an unregistered vehicle. QR3,000
5 Driving a vehicle with unlicensed number plates. QR3,000
6 Changing or replacing a vital part before obtaining a written permission. QR3,000
7 Car rental companies, car shows, and car repair workshops are not allowed to work before obtaining permissions from the licensing authorities. QR3,000
8 Establishment of new driving schools is not allowed unless obtaining permission from the licensing authorities. QR3,000
9 Overtaking and not complying with the right side of the road while driving passengers’ vehicles, inter alia, buses, trucks, trailers and other equipment. QR3,000
10 Using vehicles or allow others to use them for personal purposes other than the legitimate purposes stated in the registration or license. QR3,000
11 Driving with a driving license that is judicially or administratively confiscated. QR3,000
12 Driving a vehicle that produces smoke or bad smell or makes noises or emits flammable substances. QR3,000
13 Driving any kinds of vehicles on prohibited roads. QR3,000
14 Impermissible driving of a loaded vehicle higher than 4.2 meters or wider than 2.6 meters. QR3,000
15 Driving a vehicle with an expired vehicle license. QR1,500
16 Making any change in the shape or colour or information of the number plates or replacing or lending them. QR1,500
17 Driving a vehicle with an expired driving license. QR1,500
18 Returning a vehicle at junctions and public roads is prohibited unless it is a necessity and for short distances not far than 20 meters after using indictors and making sure that the road is vacant and if necessary the driver can seek the help and guidance of others. QR1,500
19 Driving manual or automatic motorbikes without tightly holding their handlebars by both hands is only permitted for applying the indicators and it is forbidden to catch at another vehicle while driving or lifting one tyre up from the ground or carrying or pushing or picking objects which could block off traffic or cause danger to vehicles or passengers. QR1,500
20 Driving with a vehicle’s license that is judicially or administratively confiscated. QR1,500
21 Loading a vehicle in a way that causes danger to the vehicle and the public. QR1,500
22 Fixing number plates or advertisements or other police-specific signs or devices on the vehicle, or an act of making the police-specific devices unclear or ineffective or perplexing. QR1,000
23 Not removing the vehicle from the accident’s site to the nearest parking after non-casualty accident if it is possible to move it and report to the police immediately. QR1,000
24 Applying police-specific warning devices or light alarms, inter alia, police vehicles, ambulances, or civil defence vehicles etc. QR1,000
25 Applying glass shade over the vehicle. QR1,000
26 Applying red lights at the front of the vehicle. QR1,000
27 Impermissible vehicle loading of more than one meter in the front or two meters in the rear. Red signs or lights must be fixed on both sides of the loaded items. QR1,000
28 Exceeding maximum speed limit except for those who transfer patients or casualties in a critical condition while precautionary and warning devices must be used, and the driver must slow down at junctions for safety. From QR500 to QR1,000
29 Not returning the vehicle’s number plates to the licensing authority in the case of cancellation, or not reporting immediately to the authority the missing or damage of one or both of the number plates. QR500
30 Using unlicensed commercial number plates. QR500
31 Using the commercial number plates for purposes other than their real purposes. QR500
32 Allowing someone other than the owner or an agent or whoever may be to drive the commercial or under-test number plate’s vehicle. QR500
33 Not returning the commercial or under-test or temporary entry number plates when cancelled. QR500
34 Applying drawings or writings on any parts of the vehicle or using the vehicle for advertisement with a microphone, or fixing boards or models. QR500
35 Not reporting to the licensing authorities in writing about property transfer within (3 days). QR500
36 Not reporting to the licensing authorities about any changes in the vehicle owner’s name, nationality, ID, place of residence, or address within (10 days). QR500
37 Not informing the Traffic Department in the case of missing or damage of the vehicle’s license. QR500
38 Not carrying the license while driving a vehicle or refraining from giving the license to the police. QR500
39 Impermissible transfer of the driving license from the owner to others, or using such license illegally for achieving personal interests. QR500
40 Not complying with the right side of the road’s lane in the following cases:
1- turning to enter another road on the right side.
2- when another vehicle is coming from the opposite direction.
3- another vehicle is overtaking beside.
4- vision is unclear enough. QR500
41 Driving across or on road line(s) if the road is divided into two lanes marked by continued lines. QR500
42 Sudden change in road direction without using indicators or providing enough space in a dangerous way that may affects people and traffic. QR500
43 Driving a vehicle on a prohibited road unless obtaining a written permission. QR500
44 Not fastening the seat belt while driving on roads for both the driver and the front passenger. QR500
45 Talking over the mobile phone or applying other devices or getting involved in watching a vehicle’s TV. QR500
46 Getting busy with watching a TV inside the vehicle while driving. QR500
47 Placing infants under ten years old on the front seats. QR500
48 Non-compliance with road signs in the pedestrian walkways. QR500
49 Block off or not leaving the way to official convoys. QR500
50 Not leaving enough space, while driving, between the vehicle and other front vehicles. QR500
51 Overtaking another vehicle from the right side. QR500
52 Increasing speed while another vehicle is overtaking beside and not comply with the right side of the road to let other vehicles overtake smoothly. QR500
53 Not allowing on duty police, ambulances, or civil defence vehicles to pass; or an act of racing them. QR500
54 Refraining from providing the police traffic with the correct information in the case of accidents. QR500
55 Applying front or rear brighter lights during improper weather conditions. QR500
56 Leaving a vehicle without red lights or back reflectors on a dark road during night or bad weather that affects vision. QR500
57 Blocking off traffic by moving a vehicle at intersection even if having traffic priority. QR500
58 Prohibited parking at the disabled parking areas. QR500
59 Leaving the vehicle on the road without a driver and without taking safety precautions to avoid accidents and illegal use by others, or leaving the vehicle with the switch key inside. QR500
60 Leaving a vehicle on the road in a way that might causes traffic problems or accidents. QR500
61 Blocking roads off or causing danger to property and people by leaving vehicles, animals, or objects on the road. QR500
62 Transporting people in a vehicle that has no seats or not passengers-specific. QR500
63 Driving a vehicle without sticker for showing the license’s date of expiry at a clear place on the vehicle. QR300
64 Driving school’s teachers who violate article No. (33) QR300
65 Not reporting to the Traffic Department or its nearest branch the missing or damage of the driving license. QR300
66 Cyclists must drive on the right side of the road’s lane in a queue in the case that there is no bicycles-specific lanes while motorbikes must drive on vehicles-specific lanes. It is prohibited to transfer passengers by a motorbike unless it is equipped with another suitable vehicle. Both cyclists and motorcyclists must wear helmets while driving. QR300
67 Not slowing a vehicle down when driving near pedestrian crossings, populated places, or blocking off traffic by unjustifiable slowing down or applying a sudden brake. QR300
68 Driving a vehicle without a horn. QR300
69 Applying the vehicle’s horn unjustifiably. QR300
70 Applying musical or pneumatic horn. QR300
71 Driving a vehicle without front, rear or number plates’ lights between sunrise to sunset. QR300
72 Applying brighter lights closer to the front vehicle. QR300
73 Not giving priority to vehicles coming from the left side at roundabouts. QR300
74 Not giving priority to vehicles coming from the left side at intersections that have no traffic signals. QR300
75 Not giving priority to vehicles coming from paved road intersection with unpaved counterpart. QR300
76 Not making sure that the opposite main road is empty while entering from local road. QR300
77 Stopping at prohibited parking areas. QR300
78 Blocking off or causing traffic jam at the parking areas. QR500
79 Using a vehicle to transport more than the licensed number of passengers. QR300
80 Not writing weight or number of passengers on the 3-tons or more vehicles. QR300
81 Pedestrians who do not take precautionary measure while crossing the road. QR200
82 Applying unnecessary precautionary devices by emergency vehicles drivers. QR200
83 Leaving the vehicle at a parking lane without adjusting the brighter light to the right side. QR200
84 Pedestrians who walk along the road or on bicycle-specific lanes while pedestrians’ walkways available but if such walkways are unavailable pedestrians must walk on the extreme left side of the road lane in the opposite direction. QR200
Traffic Violation Point System
Violators of traffic rules will be given negative points as follows:
No.# Violations Points
1 Jumping a light at intersections. 6
2 Driving in the opposite direction. 6
3 Driving under alcohol effects. 6
4 Exceeding the maximum speed limit. 4
5 Driving recklessly and dangerously. 4
6 Driving with defective brakes. 4
7 Driving with inappropriate license. 3
8 Driving with stripped or invalid license. 3
9 Violating norms of public morality. 3
10 Driving an unregistered vehicle. 3
11 Driving a vehicle without number plates. 3
12 Impermissible changing of number plates. 3
13 Providing wrong information to pass the technical inspection. 3
14 Using a vehicle or allow others to use it for personal purposes other than the legitimate purposes stated in the registration or the license. 3
15 Blocking traffic off deliberately. 3
16 Driving a vehicle without a proper silencer. 3
17 Driving a polluting vehicle. 3
18 Driving a vehicle that can make noises or emits massive smoke or bad smell or produces flammable substance. 3
19 Driving a vehicle which drops loads that can endanger the public safety 3
20 Driving on the embankment. 3
21 Making a wrong U-turn. 3
22 Changing a vital part of the vehicle without obtaining a written permission from the authorities. 3
23 Transferring the driving license to someone who has no driving license. 2
24 Driving a vehicle with unclear number plates. 2
25 Driving with only one number plate, or changing their shape or details. 1
26 Refraining from giving the driving license to the police traffic. 1
27 Trucks violating the load conditions. 1
28 Trucks violating the width, length or weight regulations. 1
29 Driving a technically unsafe vehicle. 1
30 Applying lights, horns, microphones or other machines illegally. 1
31 Disobeying traffic signals. 1
It is always the lost that need my guidance
47 Placing infants under ten years old on the front seats. QR500
It is always the lost that need my guidance
They have Traffic Laws here, when did that happen?
Bloody hell, at least let me know when things change!!!
___________________________________________________
I say what I like and I bloody well like what I say
...
Speaking of driving, I was about to get into two accidents yesterday! And it wasn't my fault (even though u think I'm a bad driver Gypo :P).
The first guy stopped abruptly on a highway and had I not pressed the brakes at the right time I would've crashed into him.
The second guy was at a roundabout and was getting too closer so I motioned for him to go ahead before me, he didn't move, so I flashed him, still didn't move so I thought ok he doesn't want to go so I'll go and the moment I decide to move, he moves!! I beeped him so hard, yelled at the top of my lungs but let him go cause I knew he would crash me otherwise.
Oh and both cars were those old outdated cars. I try to avoid them the most.
I went out last night and the police were at all the roundabouts stopping and checking liscenses. However once you left the roundabouts people were still driving like idiots.
"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco
on thursday i picked son up from school ... went through the corniche. It was pack and chaos ... as usual million of cars using the parking slip road to bypass the traffic in the main road to pushing in to the front.
few hundred metres down ... a policeman in the uniform drove pathfinder, blocked the exit of the slipped road ... and ask all the drivers to came out from the cars. Have a rough idea what he going to do next ... but by then i have passed them.
A Police Captain in todays Peninsula said:
"Violations have come down by an impressive 90 per cent since the introduction of the new traffic laws from October 2."
"He said on the first day the law came into effect, six drivers had been caught without licences and they had been referred to the Public Prosecution. There were also 122 violations related to seat-belts, which was a figure lower than before the law was introduced."
Is he saying that before the new law came in to effect, the Police charged or warned more than 122 drivers for not wearing seat belts per day? Taking his 90% figure, it would mean that on average the police charged or cautioned 1220 people for not wearing seat belts PER DAY!!!
Talk about plucking figures out of the air!
"We have also observed that 95 per cent of the drivers are following the rules related to cell phone use while driving and of fastening seat-belts before hitting the road."
The vast majority of us never did use our mobiles when driving, it was always the minority that were the problem. And how can you measure the number of people using a mobile at 5%?
If 5% of all drivers are using a mobile phone at any one time thats a hugh amount!!!
Or does he mean that 5% of drivers have admitted to at some point driven whilst talking on a phone- which is a very small amount.
Both of these don't ring ( no pun intended) true so I presume he just made this figure up.
So, in 2 days the new laws have been in force, have you seen this miraculous change in law abiding driving?
Thought not.
I don't go to mythical places with strange men.
-- Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul.
Anyone knows where to pay for traffic violation?
thats why they have introduced the jail sentences though how many will be actually jailed remains to be seen.
do it right - the first time!
I don't think that raising the fines is the solution ! Qatari are very rich ! money don't bother them !
^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^
"This is where you lose your mind, And just let your heart on wind !"
aak...I have every sympathy with you but I would have stopped at the lights. If the idiot in the Land Cruiser had run into the back of you it would have been his fault. The chances of you being seriously injured in a rear-end shunt are not nearly as high as being hit at the front or side of your car in a mid-junction accident.
It's also more than likely that you would have been held responsible for any accident. Now, that means jail or a huge fine. Don't let these idiots intimidate you into putting your life or your liberty at risk.
If there's going to be an accident - make sure they don't get away with shouldering the responsibilty.
I know it's easy to for me to say this sitting here at home and again I sympathise with the frightening situation you found yourself in.
Stork.
what has happened ........forgot it.but next time any one flashing u behind the car near the signal, let him hit u coz he is at fault not u.though u have to face some difficulty but not more the the fine u have paid
This happened with me, I had to jump the Almana signals just because the Landcruiser behind me was flashing and speeding so fast.. If I would not have jumped the signal, he would have hit me from behind...Of course, after me he also jumped the signal.... still I paid the fine..
Do the law says anything about these things
...You can't mean what you say unless you can say what you mean...
just before Iftar time. The driver of the car must b penalized.
The list seems to be incomplete. There must be fine for the drivers who eat/drink while driving. What about those drivers who throw wastes and cigarette butts out of car window?
I don't drive here, but are there not yellow grids painted on the road at the intersections you describe?
In most countries the law is that you DO NOT, under any circumstances, enter that area unless you can see there is space the other side of it to move into.
So you would have to wait where you are until the lights change again - you would be first in line to move off across the road and no jam will have been caused.
There's some discussion here about "accidentally" or "unintentionally" driving through traffic signals on red.
If a driver is properly concentrating, it is not possible to run a red light by mistake. It's big, bright and red and it's right before your eyes (if you are looking).
Jumping red lights kills people - and not just the idiots who do it. So maybe the threat of the huge fine will concentrate the mind.
((NB: The traffic signals by the Asian Games athletes village (btwn Sports and Civil Defence roundabouts) are very badly designed. It is easy to mistake the "straight ahead" signal for the "turn left" signal. I have seen a number of serious accidents at this junction when drivers have run red lights whilst making a left turn. I don't think this undermines what I have said above - it's just an exception to the general rule.))
Not using phones and stopping kids leaping around inside the car should also minimise distractions.
I still wince every time I see a child not wearing a seatbelt, even in the rear seats. Years ago, my sister was badly injured when she was thrown through the windscreen from the back seat of the car.
I can't believe there's nothing in the new laws to enforce protecting children travelling in the back seats.
Slow down a bit, look where you are going, strap your kids in - then look forward to a long and happy future together.
Stork.
Just want your idea on this ..
Its a common scene now to see the traffic do get jammed up with vehicles and if its green and you are just crossing the signal on a busy road slowly there is a jam ahead and the traffic comes to a halt.
You have just passed the first line but not reached the other end, yet now you decide to stop as the other signals are through,
Now are you at fault for stopping like this.
If the cameras flash at this point how does one prove that its the traffic jam thats put in this.
Could somebody give a suggestion to escape such unpleasant fines.
Joe
Yes Maria.m, its real. It's acutally for real now. :(
This list was posted all over the newspapers yesterday.
how can you register your international license??
How much did the traffic department pay the "CONSULTANT" who came up with this law------->probably less than 50000. We know that the people working in the traffic police couldnt come up with this law just on their own.
Seriously I want to meet that hot shot who devised this law and came up with these innovative fines.
(And to all those drivers and employees if your company doesnt pay you much take out the car and break as many red signals as you can. This will do wonders. Trust me)
To be continued...
One thing is for sure. we are definitely going to have revison A, B, C to Z in this new traffic law. It is in the pipeline
who came up with 50000 riyal and 10000 riyal fines. It is easy for the super rich to pay these fines. whereas for the expatriates the best option is to leave...
Normally I try my level best not to break any traffic rules but I have to admit that a few times I might have crossed the signal on yellow light. So if one day accidentally on unintentionally I cross on red signal I would have to pay 50000 riyals. This is ludicrous.
Instead of paying the fines the Government should have only imposed the points system. This would have been enough to stop the speedsters and the traffic violators.
Guess its time to start packing.....
Whatever high are the fines still they cant prevent the accidents, its only money they are paying so some ppl wont care, yesterday i had a vey bad experience one Landcruiser was blocking the parking of The Family Clinic Center and we stayed about an hour waiting him to show up, the police came and he could only make a /200/- Qrs, fine , and waited with us till the gguy showed up and he was not even caring for who is waiting or if there is an urgent case, we started shouting he said , Khalass police is here he make th fine i will pay and thats allll....
Don't you think that the fees are so high ?!
^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^v^
"This is where you lose your mind, And just let your heart on wind !"
what scared trhe hell out of me is if you drive and haven't sorted your licence yet or registered your international one you go to jail for at a month and a QR 50,000 fine.
damn
That list is so nice.
I think we should request for traffic offence allowances. Otherwise we'll be wiping out our pays every month. The good thing is that the list will remain a list and just that. Nothing more.
The worst part of it is having police going round and cornering poor people and the speechless and leaving the real culprits killing themselves and others.
________________
Forgive & Forget.
Better dont make any accidents.......we dont know how will they interpret the law
23 Not removing the vehicle from the accident’s site to the nearest parking after non-casualty accident if it is possible to move it and report to the police immediately. QR1,000
and i thought you cant remove the vehicle unless the police comes??? Confused... what should I do after hitting someone
...You can't mean what you say unless you can say what you mean...
How old were you when you realised that concrete mixers were very big?
I was about 3 and had matchbox cars... my concrete mixer was my favourite.
It is the dinosaur of vehicles... moves slowly and big and strong.
Well yesterday at iftar there was a car impaled on some railings on C ring at Toys R Us... Pinned there by a concrete mixer.
It had obviously tried to shoot thru the side road onto C ring coming on the inside lane to the concrete mixer ...
So how many points will the driver get for being totally stupid and not realising that a concrete mixer is bigger than his car.
I wanted to take a picture so badly but then I thought I would look like a Japanese tourist.
What is the phone number citizens could call to report a bad driver? I remember calling it a long time ago but could not get the person to understand English. Does anyone have the number?
Good night & sweet dreams i think i also should hit the sack
If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.
but not so serious as on a signal junction i presume
If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.
a accident on a round about is just a fender dent but on a signal junction its a question of limbs or life so take your pick which one would u preffer
If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.
i still believe round abouts are much safer then signals
If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.
Nothing to do with luck all you need to do is observe the drivers around you ... be a defensive driver and all will be fine
My moto is ... if some one is in a hurry to go to hell give him way dont block his way
If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.
Alexa --- No one can clean the Sh*ts unless they change the whole system of roundabouts to signals.
Sayed Ali Zakir
I think everyone has to go thru the legal age of 18 n above to get driving lic regardless the Nationality or Royalty ;-), those young (under 18 age) kids drive there parents or relatives or friends cars without driving lic. as illegal.
Sayed Ali Zakir
I doubt there will be any real police that enforce any of the above offences. They talk but never do anything. I would love to see if anyone drives differently on Tuesday. In the US still only 70% of the population use seat belts. But it would of been smarter here due to all the road deaths to just make it simple and say everyone should be seatbelted! I don't think I will live long enough to see real laws enforced fairly across the board. Its costing the govt. tons on health care but they don't seem to care, I guess until you lose enough of close relatives!
driving through a busy round about takes tallent which very few have
If you can't change your fate, change your attitude.
thats true.....I have also experienced this problem in roundabouts
What about some people driving at speed 30-40km/h in middle track is there any violations to that ,I dont understand why some people drive so slow in middle track,they should have some common sense if they want to drive slow they should drive in last track,this way they wont block the traffic during peak hours
No 42 is for me, I need to stop doing that before I get into trouble :/. Agrrrr
It's always the small things that make big differences.
I guess so, Nov, it wasn't so long ago (70s...and in some parts still!!!) in the UK and the US that people scoffed at wearing seatbelts and everybody bounced about in their cars...and that was after a hundred years of having automobiles!_______________________________________________________
Love is the answer...
i guess you have to start from somewhere ...
Enforcement is, of course, down to the police and that is something they are quite poor at for various reasons.
However they are improving albeit slowly.
_______________________________________________________
Love is the answer...
No offence, mir83, but expats are always carping on about the driving being so bad here (and rightly so!)..at least it is a step in the right direction. It's not going to solve the problem of reckless driving overnight but it may make many people calm down a bit on the roads.
Surely it is a good thing.
_______________________________________________________
Love is the answer...
"42 Sudden change in road direction without using indicators or providing enough space in a dangerous way that may affects people and traffic. QR500"
----> i wonder how you going to enforce this?
Hi Get more expats to drive taxis....Cmon' We r fed up First the RENTS then the driving...WE are all getting sick of this.......
10th floor, could that mean fixing your car after an accident without an accident report?_______________________________________________________
Love is the answer...
I think better not to drive the vehicle.
#6 Changing or replacing a vital part before obtaining a written permission. QR3,000 ?
hmmmmm.... Are tyres and brakes "vital parts?" Do you need written permission to put new tyres on?
CQM, thanks I'll do it.
Senti, ???????(You know my question).
yes maria if you like check the gulf times or peninsula online..do a search and you ll get the same thing.
came about a month back i believe...
gypsy that depends on the blood alcohol level to determine drunk driving.
do it right - the first time!
than u r the first runner up.u get 4 points
"Drink Beer Save Water"
Kikomodos, is it an authentic list ??? I have been checking on MOI but no update yet.
Scorpio - I think it means backing up into a road from a parking spot or driveway.
2 Parking outside the specified areas or returning the vehicle when using motorways. QR6,000
what does this mean?
returning the vehicle!?
Yes Jauntie, but it's 14 points till a suspended liscense and there is no fine for drunk driving. :?
"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco
3 Driving under alcohol effects. 6
Have you noticed that there is no fine for driving drunk?? Does that mean it's technically not illegal?
Also there is no fine for not wearing a seatbelt in the back seat, so your kids can still run around like maniacs in the back seat.
"I fight with love and I laugh with rage, you have to live light enough to see the humor and long enough to see some change." Ani Difranco
a question:
if the legal age in qatar to drive is 18 how come theres kids younger than that driving cars???? r they related to the royal family or something?
this a joke?
You r the best.6 point for u.
"Drink Beer Save Water"
Get me one of each.
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./`I don't wanna waste another day-Keepin it inside, it's killing me./`