The Qatar ID number of the motorist involved should be noted down while registering traffic violations, according to a circular issued by the Traffic Department at the Ministry of Interior.
In a report, local Arabic daily Arrayah has said the decision has been taken to ensure that the offender is the person driving the vehicle at the time of the violation, who may or may not be the owner of the car.
Vehicle owners often go to the Traffic Department with the complaint that they were issued violations even though they were not driving at the time of the offence or were outside the country, the report adds.
Some violations, though, have been excluded from the purview of the new rule on noting down ID numbers. These include unauthorised parking in slots meant for the handicapped and vehicles blocking public roads and being left without a motorist.
Meanwhile, the report also notes that expatriates holding driving licences issued in neighbouring GCC states will be allowed to take a direct driving test in Qatar to get a local licence.
Earlier, the Traffic Department had issued a decision to stop the conversion of licences issued to expatriates in other GCC states into Qatari ones. Only GCC citizens can avail of this facility, according to reports.
In a related development, holders of driving licences issued in a number of countries can no longer take direct driving tests to get a Qatar licence. They will have to enrol in a training course and clear the tests to get a licence.
These countries include Egypt, Mauritania, Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, India, China, the Philippines and Nepal, among others.