No need to keep the original
Sheikh Fawaz al-Khalid, deputy director general of the traffic department, said that drivers must have the original driving license and that a photocopy, scanned copy or digital driving license on the My Identity app will not suffice. It is an offense to drive a vehicle without possessing an original license. This is an offense that can even result in the license being revoked. He was fined 15 dinars. This decision has now been reversed by the Home Ministry.
A digital driving license will suffice
The ministry has come up with the new statement in the wake of confusion among the people as to whether it is sufficient to show the digital driving license in the My Identity app during the vehicle inspection. One week ago, the My Identity mobile app was updated by authorities to include information on driving licenses, birth certificates and the third dose of Kovid wax. The move is part of a further digitalisation of government services. With the advent of digital mobile ID, there was no need to carry a civil ID card. However, the traffic department official’s statement that the driver’s license is still available on the My ID app but must have the original license while driving has caused confusion.
License verification will be tightened
But with the new statement clarifying the matter, the decision will come as a huge relief to vehicle users in the country. The vehicle registration certificate will soon be included in the Kuwait Mobile ID, the Communications Minister said. Rana al-Faris had made it clear. Authorities have stepped up checks and restrictions on the growing number of road accidents in the country and the sharp rise in the number of people using illegal driving licenses. Authorities in Kuwait have found that more than 100,000 people have illegal driving licenses. The traffic department is taking necessary steps to find and cancel them. As part of this, the ministry had yesterday directed that holders of driving licenses should produce the visa when renewing it.
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