The General Traffic Department has seen 150 drivers select its newly launched smart home vehicle impoundment option in the days since the program began on September 6. This allows qualifying motorists to retain vehicles at approved private residences equipped with electronic monitoring devices instead of transferring them to government facilities. According to the department the initiative targets violations specified under Article 207 of Ministerial Resolution No. 81 of 1976 and excludes serious offenses such as reckless driving.
Brigadier General Khaled Al-Adwani the assistant director general for violations and licensing at the General Traffic Department explained the program’s parameters in a detailed briefing. The authority grants home impoundment primarily to drivers with favorable records who demonstrate reliability in observing restrictions while those with histories of infractions remain subject to yard placement. Al-Adwani noted that the impoundment duration varies by violation and can extend to a maximum of 60 days.
Motorists requesting the home option pay a 10-dinar fee for device installation by a traffic officer at the residence plus two dinars for each day of monitoring the General Traffic Department stated. The system activates at midnight following installation granting owners time to position the vehicle at a designated private site. Department procedures specify that public parking areas association lots or school grounds do not qualify for this accommodation.
The ministerial resolution underpinning the service forms part of the Ministry of Interior strategy to modernize enforcement simplify administrative steps and integrate technology across traffic operations the General Traffic Department indicated. Vehicles already held in official yards may transfer to home monitoring for the balance of their term upon meeting eligibility standards and securing approval. Completion of the period triggers an alert through the Sahel application directing owners to designated centers for final release processing.
Any interference with the monitoring device which constitutes damage to state property triggers penalties of up to two months imprisonment or fines ranging from 150 to 200 dinars the General Traffic Department warned. Offenders must also reimburse the full cost of the equipment after which the vehicle relocates to a ministry impoundment yard for the remaining duration. The department stressed that vehicles may leave the approved location solely in documented emergencies such as fires or medical crises supported by official reports.
The General Traffic Department has positioned the program as a means to reduce reliance on expansive impoundment facilities while upholding road safety standards. Brigadier General Al-Adwani highlighted that the approach provides flexibility for compliant motorists without compromising enforcement of traffic regulations. Department officials continue to monitor early implementation and have called on drivers to adhere strictly to all conditions to avoid escalation to traditional penalties.
