Speed cameras Key words – speeding, fines, registration Definitely worth to avoid setting off if you intend to live in Kuwait for any length of time as the penalties are 30KD for doing more than 20 kmph over the local limit and this increases with increased speed and 50KD for jumping a red light. (Note that a short-stay car rental fine may not catch up with you as long as you don’t return to Kuwait as it takes months for these to drop out of the system, however expect to be hammered if you return and you have the same name on your passport! If you paid by credit card (most likely) then you will probably get a bill some months later when then finally get around to processing the speed camera images. Speed cameras do not always work of course as you will see when you do 120 kmph and a blur comes past you at 160kmph without the camera flashing. The reasons for this can be that (a) the camera is not switched on; (b) the camera is not working; (c) the camera has no “film” in it or (d) it is the summer and the cameras don’t work in such high temperatures. Re-registering your (private) car is a fraught time when you see if you have any traffic fines. Company cars are dealt with separately and the company will probably pass on fines to you directly in the comfort of your own office. Private car drivers will receive the bad news in the traffic department and no re-registering will be completed without immediate payment irrespective of whether you always drive within the limit and/or you were out of the country at the time. This is known as the expat car tax because Kuwaitis who have wasta see to it that their speeding fines are passed over to someone with less wasta or put it another way, you have no recourse to dispute a fine unless you have some important friends who can lobby on your behalf. Pay it – the alternative does not bear thinking about. Speeding fines may not appear for a year or so depending how prompt the department is in dealing with the back log although if you have to reregister your car, have need to visit a police station for a traffic offence or try to leave the country (finally), unpaid fines will appear and they have to be paid before you are allowed out. home