In a bid to stop people from parking illegally the MOI have launched new “No Parking Vehicles” to drive around areas and ticket illegal parkers. The vehicles have cameras located on the outside to capture the license plate of violators automatically without having to leave the car making it really convenient.
Not sure how I feel about this, I think I preferred the previous method of removing license plates and towing cars since those were instant punishments that caused a lot of headache to the violators. I don’t think this new system will be as effective since violators will only know they got fined way after the incident.
In any case, not being pessimistic or anything but based on the history of MOI ideas, this won’t last long anyway before things go back to normal.
Thanks Meshari
21 replies on “No Parking Vehicles to Roam the Streets”
The license plate idea wasn’t that great because you had people driving around without them regardless, AND they didn’t have to worry about speeding, running ref lights, hit and run, etc..
The towing idea was by far and away the best. I hope they bring it back in the cooler months.
This is basically giving virtual tickets. So I hope they don’t mess this up and post the picture of the violation in the payment webpage, so that people won’t say there’s no proof
This is one example of the dumb decisions done by MOI. Sometimes it feels like they’re either not thinking further than the tip of their noses or whether they have terrible consultants who deliberately give bad advise to mess up the streets.
Here is what I am talking about…
1. Cars without plates: This problem started to emerge when the police began confiscating the plates. The penalties as I understand them as follow:
(a) ticket, you pay ticket and proceed with your life. you make the same violation, your points suffer.
(b) plate confiscation. This means you can continue to drive on the road, but not with this car. you should take your car home and keep it there. IF you drive without plates, there is another procedure for that.
(c) driving license confiscation. This means you are no longer allowed to operate a vehicle anymore.
In Kuwait, people assume that they can continue to drive their cars without plates or without their licenses simply by holding on to the ticket slip and showing it to an officer in case they get stopped!
Here is the sad bad part… MOI definitely noticed the terrible ‘side effect’ of confiscating the plates… what did they do? Did they stop confiscating them? Did they enforce more strengent measures on those who drive without them? did they spend any effort to hunt down those who committed even more traffic violations while driving without plates? The answer is probably NO. Why no? Are they understaffed? I’m pretty sure we have so many Kuwaitis looking for jobs. hire them. Basically all those violations are wasted revenue. So don’t argue that they can’t pay for the new staff.
Another “clever” thing MOI introduced to our roads is the disrespect for emergency lanes (both right and left lane). Prior to allowing driving on the left lanes during rush hours, it was extremely rare to see anyone driving on emergency lanes. Yeah sure every once in a while you’d see some jerk doing it but it was extremely rare. Now, driving on the left lane is almost a norm. Despite there is a speed limit of 45km/h and only certain hours to drive on those lanes… the fact that MOI is unable to enforce traffic law means that they will never make people drive on the left lane during the permission hours and they will never be able to keep the speed within the limit. If this is the case and this is EVIDENT for so many years now… why don’t they just back up to what it used to be? Why continue to allow people to speed on the left lane and creating more danger on the roads? People got so much used to driving on left lane, last time I came to Kuwait I noticed people are now driving on the right lanes too!
Something as simple as allowing people to drive over the speed limit in the emergency lanes enforces the disrespect for traffic law. This causes more accidents, more traffic congestion, more loss of life and so much more.
Traffic law and its enforcement is probably one of the most important laws in any country. We spend so much time on the road and if the “government” is unable to enforce the law on the road and unable to make people respect the law and each others then that is just sad. super sad.
Apologies for the rant.
There is something wrong or not clear with the video, What if someone was inside the car and something wrong with his/her health or car problem, the driver was not checking just taking photo and moving
Like someone parked on the side of the road because they were getting a heart attack? The chances of that happening as the No Parking car drives by are really slim and in any case if it did happen and you survived you’re not gonna care about the 5KD fine.
What if you had broken down and were awaiting assistance? Not sure how the “No Parking Vehicle” driving by would distinguish such a situation?
The chances of that happening right as a no parking car is passing by is also super rare.
I have never really understood the logic behind road traffic rules/laws here.
It’s a bizarre state of affairs when it appears illegal to park ON the street (even if there are signs/marking which do NOT prohibiting this) and yet it is perfectly legal to park ON TOP of the pavements thus hindering passers-by?
Although I accept that it is unacceptable to park in a disabled marked bay, to go to prison for such a “heinous” act – really?
Removing registered licence number plates for a minor parking violation – which genius thought up that one?
Not having proper lifts to remove illegally parked cars, but dragging them onto a flatbed, irrespective to the car’s deployment of its handbrakes, automatic park position, and possible damage to tyres, chassis and transmissions generally.
Buildings being built without sufficient off-street parking. How do they get building permission to build in the first place?
And let’s not forget about changing the rules on an almost weekly basis without updating the general public properly or at all.
I could go on…
1. You don’t need signs to not park on the street, it’s common sense. Who said it’s legal to park on the pavement? They do fine them too
2. I’ve never seen anyone go to jail for that in Kuwait, just fines. They do threaten that, but it never happened
3. Agree here
4. Almost all countries in the world do this when towing
5. True, people want to maximize space without thinking
6. Ummm… ok
Please do, some points you mention are good
My responses below.
1. You don’t need signs to not park on the street, it’s common sense. Who said it’s legal to park on the pavement? They do fine them too
RESPONSE – “You don’t need signs to not park on the street, it’s common sense”.
Really?? So to confirm my understanding, I cannot park on the street? Ever? No off-street parking here in Kuwait? Not sure that’s entirely correct.
2. I’ve never seen anyone go to jail for that in Kuwait, just fines. They do threaten that, but it never happened
RESPONSE – nonetheless the threat is still present
3. Agree here
4. Almost all countries in the world do this when towing
RESPONSE – Really? I have never ever seen that take place in either the UK or France. I reckon that probably is correct for most of the European nations also. It’s logical to try to avoid damage to third party property. Dragging a vehicle cannot be good practice.
5. True, people want to maximize space without thinking
RESPONSE – There are building regulations that require a certain number of parking spaces for any particular building.
6. Ummm… ok
1. Yeah even if the sidewalk isn’t marked black and yellow and doesn’t have a No Parking sign, you’re still not legally allowed to park there. I found out about that by asking a cop once who was ticketing people on the street in front of my building. If its a road then you’re not allowed to park on the side of it unless it says you are.
Gosh and thanks for confirming this! Strange though as I once witnessed a police officer ticketing only those vehicles that were parked in the opposite direction of the traffic flow and left the others alone.
For point 1 I should have added it’s all about the coloring of the curb. if the curb color is faded play it safe and don’t park. I almost never park on the street, it’s not hard. As Mark even said I actually got ticketed for a parking on an unmarked street years ago, learned my lesson.
2. Chill
4. I typed that because I remember someone suing the police for incorrectly towing his sports car in London or somewhere in Europe! If u tow any car from a standstill thats off and without it’s owner, there’s many things that can go wrong (u mentioned this too)
5. I was agreeing with u here. People just don’t care and should get severe punishments for this
4. You can’t even use a lift and crane in almost every situation
did they just label their cars as “No Parking” and paint them like the yellow fine memos? hilarious 😂… so will the traffic cop cars get painted like traffic signals next?
lol I just noticed the yellow on the car is the parking ticket!!
Long live anarchy!
I don’t care where people park except when that asshole who parks and blocks your car to do something “urgent”.
Someones comment above was correct, bad urban planning regarding parking. This is a car, and big full size & suv car driving country, yet parking is not considered in design.
did they just label their cars as “No Parking” and paint them like the yellow fine memos? hilarious 😂… so will the traffic cop cars get painted like traffic signals next?
HAHAHA. LOOL
They still tow cars here in Hawally. I see not one but two long ass car haulers surrounded by traffic patrol cars parked on Tunis Street (near the clinic and Hawally Park) every single day on my way home from work. The cops will literally tow your car away if you don’t have your seatbelt fastened or if you’re caught texting and driving not just for parking illegally. Y’all better be careful.
LOL
Who designed this car?
the car is wrapped with a Fine Ticket/Receipt
Wohahahah
Hi…. just wanna ask something bout what happened to me today. There was a car that is about to leave his parking area and was signalling with his hazards lights on. Since i saw that as possible area where I could park after he leaves his place i moved slowly towards him and also turned my hazard lights on. After a few seconds maybe 5 seconds only, a police on my back stopped me and asked me to give him my license and car registration and told me to follow him in front of the lulu qurain where they tow the car. The policeman told me that i should not stop on that area coz there is no stopping lane there. I explained my situation to him that if that car was not leaving i woudnt have to bother taking his place, besides i turned my hazard lights on to make sure i will not cause any problem. But still he insisted of taking my car and claim it after 2 days. My question is did i violate the law? Is taking the parking area of someone who is leaving his parking area in a no stopping anytime has to be penalized just like that? Thank you so much
the other guy was probably parked in an illegal parking spot