A number of motorists have criticized some of the negative aspects in motor vehicle's periodic inspection. They said that one can notice run down cars on the Kingdom's streets with the motor vehicle periodic inspection (MVPI) stickers on them. The question is how these vehicles passed muster, and the answer that stares in one's face is by cheating. Car owners must have passed the inspection by cheating so as to renew the vehicle registration (istimarah). They stressed that inspection centers need amendment to guarantee their quality and requirements, amid the increasing number of cars. Namshan Al-Namshan said there are many people who deal with MVPI and obtain pass stickers for their vehicles in return for paying bribes. These vehicles were actually not inspected. Al-Namshan expressed astonishment at why the Traffic Department does not detect these violations. The department allows these cars to pass at checkpoints upon seeing the MVPI pass sticker. Why don't they ask for the MVPI certificate so as to confirm whether the car was inspected or not? He added that many youths carry out shameful practices when they take their vehicles for inspection. As some vehicles resemble one another, they ask their friends to lend them some parts like the tires, mirrors, lights and the like. They fix them in their cars so as to pass MVPI tests. After their car passes the tests, they return the spare parts. Ali Al-Abdullah criticized some of the negative aspects that occur in MVPI, like canceling the traffic signals at the centers that indicate whether the vehicle has passed the tests or not. He asked why internal parts like the engine, gear and effective parts in the car are not tested, so that the tests are more effective. He said the tests in the current form are just routine checks for the external parts including tires. They do not serve the internal parts, which are considered to be the major parts of the vehicle. The in-charge of the MVPI center in Dammam, an Arab national who requested anonymity, said there are a big number of motorists at the station. They face limitless problems daily. Forefront among these is the need for a car workshop adjacent to the station. Though they are there in large numbers, most of them are just quick fix garages. Many of them do not hold any qualifications or license to practice their work. They repair the car defects in a haphazard way. Some of the cars enter the workshops with a few simple defects, but come out with limitless other defects. He said many car owners have faced a host of problems with these workshops. Their cars were ruined by these workshops. Hani Al-Afaliq, chairman of the Vehicles Committee in Asharqiah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and an investor in this sector, said their recent meeting with the Director of Traffic Department in the Kingdom focused on many points. Most prominent among these is to lay down the final draft and a suitable mechanism concerning the decision issued by the Council of Ministers. The Council approved opening 300 workshops for car agents permitting them to carry out periodic inspection. He said this will be implemented soon. Al-Afaliq added that violating workshops are bad, as they carry out unacceptable practices. Many of these workshops toy with spare parts. They lend the spare parts to motorists so as to pass the MVPI tests and return them on completion of these tests. Al-Afaliq touched on beat-up or scrap cars. He said that a limited number of these are allowed on the streets and they do not undergo inspection. He said insurance companies should clarify this to users by placing stickers on these cars and writing the required information on this car on its sticker. Meanwhile, a spokesman of the Eastern Province Traffic Department Col. Ali Al-Zahrani said the workshops scattered near the MVPI station come under the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce issues them permits. He said they have written to these ministries several times. He further said they carry out inspection for any car that is repaired without a repair document. He added that the work of the MVPI station is restricted within the station. He said the existence of these workshops beside the MVPI station is important, but these workshops ought to be licensed and should work according to the regulations. Al-Zahrani said there is no life expectancy for cars so long as they have vehicle registrations, a valid MVPI certificate and do not affect traffic safety. However, there are cars that have a life expectancy. These are old model cars that have a history, but they are not allowed to be driven. Their “istimarah's” are renewed without MVPI tests. Other than this, traffic violation tickets are issued.
