New vehicles to get registration permit for three years

New vehicles will be issued road permit for three years once a new law whose draft has been cleared by the State Cabinet after Advisory Council's approval sees the light of day.

The legislation is expected to be put in force soon since the Cabinet, at its routine weekly meeting yesterday, said it had taken necessary measures to see the law issued.

The new law amends some provisions of the Law No 19 of 2007 (traffic law), reports Qatar News Agency (QNA).

Under the new legislation, even buggies driven by youngsters for fun and people for dune bashing, will need to be licensed. The draft law says that only motorcycles of less than 50CC will not need a licence from the traffic department.

Such licences will be valid for one calendar year starting from the date of issue. However, the validity of road permit (licence) for vehicles of government, their agencies and public institutions, as also of cars of diplomats, international and regional organisations and sports clubs, will be for two years.

The Minister has the right, under the proposed law, to allow vehicles of other organisations as well to have road permits that are valid for two years.

All car rental companies, garages, motorcycle rental companies and car showrooms selling old and new cars will not be permitted to operate unless licensed by the traffic department.

Licensing conditions will be laid out in detail in the executive regulations or bye laws to be issued by the minister.

Permission will also be required from the traffic authorities to display vehicles for sale on the roadside or in open grounds, in parking lots or at any other public place. The condition will apply to both companies and individuals, it is understood.

Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani chaired the Cabinet meeting.

Following the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud gave details of the deliberations.

Talking about the amended traffic law, QNA said it says the licensing authority shall remove vehicles violating the rule. The draft law stipulates special provisions relating to seizure of vehicles.

The cabinet also took the necessary measures to issue a draft law amending some provisions of customs law issued by Law No 40 of 2002 after examining the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the draft law.

According to the bill, employees of the General Authority of Customs are considered judicial control personnel during their work and within their powers. [The Peninsula]