Traffic Violations & Penalties in Saudi Arabia

Category I Violations and potential additional measures to be implemented.

Sanctions for such infractions include a monetary penalty ranging from a minimum of five hundred Riyals to a maximum of nine hundred Riyals (SAR 500 to SAR 900), or the impoundment of the vehicle in addition to the fine. The infractions are:

1. Operating a car without a valid driver’s license.
2. Operating a vehicle without license plates (the car will be impounded until the infraction is resolved).
3. Operating a car devoid of a rear license plate (the vehicle will be impounded until the offense is resolved)
4. The car will be impounded for utilizing counterfeit registration plates until the infraction is rectified.
5. Utilizing unauthorized license plates (the car will be impounded until the violation is resolved).
6. Repairing equipment on cars utilized in official and emergency services (the vehicle will be retained until the violation is resolved).
7. Concealing or attempting to obscure the distinctive characteristics of the vehicle (the car will remain in custody until the infraction is resolved).
8. Operating a vehicle when impaired by drink, narcotics, or medications that contraindicate driving.
9. Failing to halt at the red traffic signal.
10. Operating a vehicle in the contrary direction.
11. Navigating swiftly and dangerously among automobiles on public thoroughfares.
12. Surpassing the speed limit by over 25 km/h.
13. Passing automobiles on curves and inclines.
14. Halting on the railway tracks.
15. Revealing and unfastening transported cargo.
16. Executing road construction without informing the appropriate authorities.
17. Failing to come to a complete stop at the stop signal.
18. Failing to halt at the signal when driving on a priority road when vehicles are in motion on that road.
19. Granting no precedence to cars traveling on the right side at intersections with equal movement priorities in the absence of priority signals.
20. No vehicle on the main road must have priority of movement in the absence of priority signals.
21. Disregarding traffic police hand signals during traffic management and failing to prioritize hand signals over traffic lights.
22. Vehicles outside the roundabout shall have no precedence of movement in the absence of traffic signals or a traffic officer to regulate the flow.
23. Endangering life by operating a vehicle devoid of brakes or requisite equipment (the car will be retained in custody pending the resolution of the infraction).
24. Failure to utilize requisite lighting during nighttime or adverse weather circumstances when operating a vehicle.
25. Operating a vehicle within tunnels devoid of illumination.

Category II Violations: Additional measures that may be implemented accordingly:

Penalties for such offenses include a fine ranging from three hundred to five hundred Riyals (SAR 300 to SAR 500), or the impoundment of the vehicle, in addition to the punishment. The infractions are:

1. Implementing further modifications to the vehicle’s body without adhering to established protocols (the car will be retained in custody until the violation is resolved).
2. Operating public works vehicles (industrial, construction, or agricultural) on the road without implementing appropriate safeguards to mitigate their adverse impacts will result in the car being impounded until the infraction is resolved.
3. Operating a vehicle that contaminates the environment on public thoroughfares (the car will be impounded until the infraction is resolved).
4. Surpassing the speed limit by no more than 25 km/h.
5. Interfering with traffic control signage.
6. Failing to halt at designated checkpoints while a checkpoint sign is present.
7. Failure to adhere to traffic laws at road intersections.
8. Utilizing a vehicle for unauthorized reasons.
9. Transporting a greater number of passengers than permitted by the license.
10. Placing people in the vehicle in locations not designated for them.
11. Declining to provide driver’s or vehicle identification documents when requested by authorized individuals.
12. Failure to adhere to the designated road limitations indicated on the lanes.
13. Abandoning items on public thoroughfares that jeopardize public safety.
14. Granting no preferential mobility for VIP or emergency cars.
15. Passing school buses during their loading or unloading procedures.
16. Utilizing an expired license.

Category III Violations: Additional measures that may be implemented accordingly:

Sanctions for such infractions: a monetary penalty ranging from a minimum of one hundred and fifty Riyals to a maximum of three hundred Riyals (SAR 150 to SAR 300). The infractions are as follows:

1. Failure to equip trailers in accordance with regulatory requirements.
2. Failure to present the vehicle for the scheduled technical check.
3. Violating regulations by the use of intense illumination.
4. Failure to adhere to necessary safeguards when parking on public highways during emergencies.
5. Installing bars within the car that obstruct the driver’s visibility.
6. Operating a vehicle without possessing a driving license or a vehicle registration certificate.
7. Abandoning the car on an inclined roadway without implementing the requisite measures.
8. Transgressing regulations about roadway operation.
9. Failure to retain the vehicle’s license plate number.
10. Failure to complete the transfer of car ownership.
11. Incomplete utilization of the vehicle domain.
12. Failure to utilize seat belts.
13. Failure to utilize safety seats designated for youngsters.
14. Contravening priority regulations.
15. Surpassing the allowed time constraints for vehicle exportation.
16. Utilizing a mobile phone while operating a vehicle.
17. Improper use of the vehicle’s horn.
18. Failure to don a helmet when operating a motorcycle.
19. Operating a vehicle in lanes not designated for vehicular traffic.
20. When animal owners fail to restrain their animals from accessing the roadway.

Category IV Violations, additional measures that may be implemented accordingly:

Sanctions for such infractions include a fine ranging from a minimum of one hundred Riyals to a maximum of one hundred and fifty Riyals (SAR 100 to SAR 150). The infractions are as follows:

1. Utilizing unauthorized gadgets within the vehicle or affixing logos or posters in violation of public morality.
2. Illegally parking vehicles in prohibited zones on public highways.
3. Disposing of anything from the vehicle while in motion.
4. Operating a car devoid of front license plates.
5. Alighting from or boarding a vehicle in motion.
6. Pedestrians traversing roadways from locations not designated for such activity.
7. Pedestrians’ non-adherence to designated signals.
8. Reducing driving speed in a way that disrupts the seamless flow of traffic.
9. Parking in designated spaces for those with disabilities is available to those who do not belong to that category.
10. Parking in designated spaces for those with disabilities when you do not belong to that category.
11. Neglecting to concentrate on the roadway when operating a vehicle.
12. Lack of an insurance policy.

System of Points for Traffic Violations:

If the recorded points against him total 24, the driver’s license will be canceled as follows:

1. If the violation accumulates 24 points for the first time within a single Hijri year, the driving license will be suspended for 3 months.
2. If the violation accumulates 24 points for the second time within one Hijri year, the driving license will be revoked for six months.
3. If the violation accumulates 24 points for the third time within a single Hijri year, the driving license will be revoked for one year.
4. If the violation accumulates 24 points for the fourth time within a single Hijri year, the driving license will be canceled.

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