@ exiled : Not true, the same article about the American, also mentioned a Qatari who got sentenced to one month in jail and 40 lashes for being intoxicated and being a public nuisance by shouting in public. So it appears they will let a Western expat escape practically free of any serious charges for drunk driving and crashing, but will lash and imprison Qataris for being a nuisance in public while intoxicated.