A motorist in Kuwait has been fined 57,575 dinars (Dh 699,021) for a total of 1,645 traffic violations. The vehicle had a GCC number plate, which apparently led the motorist assume he would not have to pay regular traffic fines in Kuwait.
The incident has led to a major crack down on all vehicles carrying GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) number plates in Kuwait. According to an MOI official, motorists who own or drive cars in Kuwait with license plates from any other GCC country have been given a one month deadline in which they must replace the license plates with Kuwaiti ones.
In a press statement Maj Gen Abdullah al-Muhanna was reported to have said that these drivers mistakenly think they are immune to Kuwaiti traffic rules, because they have foreign license plates and are guilty of very serious traffic infractions including running red lights and driving at recklessly high speeds.
Earlier in September, the General Traffic Department had announced that they were implementing a new system for collecting data of vehicles registered in other GCC countries. The aim was to monitor such vehicles and ensure that these motorists are also obliged to pay the same fines as everyone else for traffic violations.
MOI plans to keep updating their database of vehicles with GCC number plate and hopes that the new system will act to safeguard the drivers of the vehicles and other motorists, and contribute to road safety in Kuwait.