Saudi TGA Cracks Down on Taxi Drivers with Fines, Deportation
Saudi Arabia’s Transport General Authority (TGA) has officially approved a significant new set of regulations and enforcement measures governing service providers operating in the public and airport taxi sectors. The updated framework, approved by TGA President Rumaih Al-Rumaih, introduces stricter penalties and safety standards to guarantee superior service quality and enhanced passenger protection.
Under the new rules, violations may result in fines reaching up to SR1,600, a penalty which officials can multiply up to five times for serious offenses. Furthermore, authorities can impose additional severe measures, including vehicle confiscation, license suspension for up to five months, and swift deportation for non-Saudi violators.
Consequently, the comprehensive, accompanying violations and penalties table now clearly classifies specific service offenses into categories labeled “major” or “minor.”
Defining Major and Minor Infractions
Major violations actively encompass any action that disrupts market entry or exit, negatively affects service quality or pricing, or ultimately poses a direct threat to immediate public safety. Examples of these severe infractions include operating services without possessing a valid professional driver card or utilizing an expired or officially canceled card.
Moreover, the list details refusing service, neglecting personal or vehicle cleanliness, and failing to charge fares according to the previously approved official rates or wear the official uniform.
Conversely, minor violations specifically include delays in renewing professional driver cards or failing to provide all required operational data to the Authority. However, this category also covers neglecting to display official documents, omitting the required “No Smoking” signs, and failing to return lost passenger belongings promptly or assist passengers with disabilities.
Therefore, the new comprehensive regulations establish a detailed violations table, presenting penalties ranging from a simple verbal warning to full vehicle confiscation and driver license suspension for one to five months.
Enforcement and Enhanced Sanctions
Fines range between SR50 and a maximum of SR1,600, and authorities can significantly double the amount up to five times for repeated offenses. In addition to these severe monetary fines, the measures also include suspension of vehicle operations and physical impoundment for periods ranging between 20 and 60 days.
The TGA will also suspend drivers for one to five months, depending entirely upon the specific nature and frequency of the service violation.
Generally, violators will receive a seven-day corrective grace period, allowing them time to fix the issue before authorities impose any fines, except in the mandatory case of major violations. Furthermore, the Authority can also apply daily fines for continued violations persisting after a final ruling, which will remain capped at 10% of the maximum penalty amount.
Crucially, the new regulations introduce significantly enhanced sanctions, notably including deportation for all non-Saudi offenders convicted of serious violations. Other severe sanctions include publishing violation rulings in local newspapers and potentially blocking non-compliant ride-hailing applications.
Finally, authorities can mandate the closure of offending establishments and execute vehicle confiscation under a valid court order, ensuring complete adherence to all standards.
