The Qatari Ministry of Interior has announced the implementation of a new decision that prohibits individuals with traffic violations from leaving the country through various exits until they have paid the outstanding fines. The Ministry stated this in a tweet on its social media platforms, indicating that the decision will be effective starting from September 1, 2024.
As a result, individuals with traffic violations should be aware that Article 90 of the Traffic Law No. 19 of 2007 will be enforced. This article states, “Fines or amounts due under this law must be paid within sixty days from the date the violator is notified. Suppose payment is not made within the specified period. In that case, the licensing authority shall not renew the driver’s license or the vehicle registration until the fines and amounts due are paid, in addition to a penalty of one riyal for each day of delay. The licensing authority may also prevent the violator from travelling outside the country if the fines and amounts due under this law, which they have been previously notified about, are not paid.”
Therefore, individuals will not be allowed to travel outside the country until all outstanding violations are settled. The Ministry clarified that violators can pay their fines through the Metrash2 app or the Ministry of Interior website.
The Ministry also added that the 50% discount on traffic fines for all vehicles will continue until August 31, 2024, providing violators with an opportunity to regularize their legal status before the new decision takes effect.
In a related matter, Captain Khalid Abdullah Al-Kuwari, a traffic investigation officer at the General Directorate of Traffic, emphasized the importance of refraining from photographing traffic accidents by unauthorized individuals to protect others’ privacy and avoid legal consequences. He made this statement during an interview on Qatar Television, where he explained that the law only permits those involved in a traffic accident to photograph it to document the incident and record it via the Metrash app.
Captain Al-Kuwari also pointed out the penalty for unauthorized photographing of traffic accidents, as stipulated in Article 333 of Law No. 4 of 2017, amending some provisions of the Penal Code issued by Law No. 11 of 2004. The article states, “Anyone who violates the privacy of individuals without their consent in situations not legally authorized shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, a fine not exceeding 10,000 Qatari riyals, or both.”
The same article outlines the acts subject to this penalty, including “taking or transmitting photos or videos of an individual or individuals in a private place, using any device, and the same penalty shall apply to anyone who takes or transmits photos or videos of an individual or individuals in a public place, using any device, with the intent to harm or defame or anyone who takes or transmits photos or videos of injured or deceased individuals in accidents, using any device, in situations not legally authorized.”
Captain Al-Kuwari emphasized that even good-faith photographing of accidents for awareness purposes can expose individuals to legal liability, as such photos may cause harm to victims due to injuries or deaths, even if the intention behind the photography was educational. He noted that specialized entities responsible for awareness, such as the Public Relations Department of the Ministry of Interior and the Traffic Awareness and Safety Department of the General Directorate of Traffic, are responsible for publishing awareness materials.
Captain Al-Kuwari concluded by noting that reporting a traffic violation through the Metrash2 app does not require photographing individuals, as it is sufficient to photograph the vehicle’s license plate and the damages, after which traffic investigators will contact the reporter to understand the causes of the accident.
The Ministry of Interior’s emphasis on these procedures is part of its efforts to enhance safety, reduce traffic violations, protect individuals’ privacy, and strictly enforce the law to ensure compliance with traffic regulations by all.
