90 car drifters arrested

RIYADH: Police have arrested 90 car drifters and impounded 79 vehicles that posed threat to life as well as possibly damaging people’s property.
Col. Fawaz bin Jameel Al-Maiman, the police spokesman, said on Sunday that the unruly behavior of certain motorists have disturbed the peace and tranquility which is the right of the public.
He said the police had formed a special team to apprehend wrong-doers and impound cars during the ongoing inspection campaign.
During their search operations, the police also apprehended some 678 criminals who were wanted by the police for various other offenses.
Al-Maiman said the police are keen on charging these criminals since their activities may harm innocent pedestrians and also damage property.
On completion of formal inquiries, he said the suspects will be sent to the court of law for necessary punishment.
The Riyadh police stressed that they would deal sternly with such cases and that severe punishments would be imposed on offenders in accordance with the law.
Riyadh traffic police and research and investigation teams have been attempting to eradicate the phenomenon of drifting, which involves modifying vehicles to make their motors more powerful, and racing other cars in the streets. Efforts by authorities have resulted in the reduction of accidents and a decrease in incidents of drifting.
In June, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif upheld a sentence given to a drifter who was sentenced to a jail term of six years and 600 lashes.