Making changes to vehicles without permission from the authorities is a violation in Qatar, as per the announcement made in the Webinar on 1 March 2022.
A General Directorate of Traffic official stated that it is punishable with a fine of QR1,500.
These include making any unauthorised change to a vehicle’s colour as well as to the shape of number plates, altering the details on them, or loaning or exchanging them.
Captain Mohamed Abdullah al-Kuwari, from the Traffic Awareness Department of the General Directorate of Traffic, stated this at a webinar. “Any kind of obstruction caused by illegal construction or destruction, or by making holes on roads that may obstruct traffic or cause harm to drivers, draws imprisonment of a minimum one month or a fine ranging from QR10,000-15,000,” Capt al-Kuwari stated.
The same penalty will apply for not putting up warning signs and cautionary boards, and for not following the rules and regulations of licensing authorities during the construction of roads.
He said that violating customs and the norms of public morality inside a vehicle or allowing someone to do will attract the same penalty and punishment.
“The punishment will be doubled by the minimum level in case of repeating the same violation,” he said.
Capt al-Kuwari urged drivers to be careful on roads and not to damage public infrastructure.
He noted that drivers are responsible and accountable for the damage caused and pointed out that some types of damage are not covered by insurance companies.
He also explained the fines and penalties imposed for different violations. He said that accidents have social and psychological impacts and that everyone should be careful while driving in order to ensure public safety.
Capt al-Kuwari added that the black points demerit system was introduced to prevent accidents and penalise irresponsible drivers.
He also urged people not to drive non-registered vehicles, drive without a valid licence and give their vehicles to people who will drive without a licence.
“Driving under the influence of alcohol, and running away, or trying to run away, in case of an accident, are offences that draw imprisonment and penalty,” Capt al-Kuwari warned. He also stated that some violations can be settled through reconciliation but a few cannot.
The official said that “obstructing traffic through illegal construction or the destruction of roads will result in stringent action.”
The webinar on Traffic Law was organised by the Ministry of Interior’s Public Relations Department in co-operation with the Traffic Awareness Department.
