Al-Anba reported on Tuesday that a security source disclosed how a Kuwaiti woman in her forties was surprised during a routine security campaign when officers discovered dozens of unpaid traffic violations registered in her name. The violations, which included exceeding speed limits and running red lights among others, had mounted to thousands of Kuwaiti dinars, leaving security personnel taken aback by the scale of the record. The source told the newspaper that the woman was pulled over for verification as part of the campaign, at which point electronic checks revealed the full extent of the outstanding fines.
The woman explained to officers that she had remained unaware of the accumulating penalties because she does not know how to navigate the Sahl mobile application used by authorities to send violation notifications. According to Al-Anba, officials indicated they would investigate the precise circumstances that allowed the infractions to build up without her knowledge. The newspaper noted that the case underscores how easily records can escalate when notifications go unchecked.
A security source who spoke to Al-Anba stressed that the Ministry of Interior continues to urge all drivers to settle traffic fines promptly through available channels before cases are forwarded to the traffic court. Once referred, violators face not only the original fines but potential imprisonment and additional administrative sanctions that can include vehicle impoundment or license suspension. The source added that proactive payment helps avoid such escalations and keeps records clear.
Ministry of Interior figures show traffic violations across Kuwait have fallen sharply since the introduction of the new traffic law, dropping 83 percent to 28,464 cases in a recent month from 168,208 recorded a year earlier. Separate ministry data placed the number of violations detected in a single week at more than 35,000, accompanied by over 1,000 traffic accidents. These statistics reflect intensified enforcement efforts that include both fixed and mobile radar systems operating throughout the country.
Al-Anba highlighted that the woman’s case fits a pattern in which individuals discover long-overdue violations only during stops or campaigns, often linked to failure to monitor digital alerts or vehicle use by others. The security source recommended regular self-checks via the ministry’s online portals to prevent similar surprises. Drivers can access violation details and payment options directly through the General Department of Traffic website.
