Reckless Driving, Street Racing and Drunk Driving in Qatar: Penalties Under the Traffic Law

These are the offences that most often end in a court case, a long suspension or a lost vehicle. This guide is based on the English text of the Traffic Law (Decree-Law No. 19 of 2007, amended by Law No. 5 of 2010) on Al Meezan, which we read in October 2026. We did not read the Penal Code, which can add much heavier penalties after injury or death, nor any blood alcohol rules or testing procedure. It is general information, not legal advice.

What Article 57 prohibits

Article 57 bans these acts:

1. driving recklessly, or in a manner that puts the lives and property of people at risk;

2. driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any other psychotropic substance;

3. escaping or trying to escape the scene of an accident, or not stopping when ordered by Ministry of Interior police officers;

4. obtaining or trying to obtain a new driving licence while the original is suspended;

5. using a vehicle, or letting it be used, for a purpose other than the one in its registration certificate or licence;

6. driving with a licence suspended administratively or by a court;

7. driving with a licence a court or the authorities have decided to suspend.

Racing (Article 50)

Article 50 bans racing vehicles, bicycles or people on the roads except with written permission from the Licensing Authority and on its conditions. The permission does not make the authority liable for damage or injury, and it does not remove the organiser's own responsibility. Article 88 lists taking part in a road race without written permission, or in breach of the licence conditions, as a ground for impounding.

Obscene acts (Article 52)

Article 52 says no driver may commit an obscene act or allow anyone else to do so. Article 88 lists committing or allowing an obscene act in the vehicle as an impound ground.

The penalty

Article 94 lists Article 50 (first paragraph), Article 52 and Article 57 among the offences punishable, in court, by imprisonment of not less than one month and not more than three years, or a fine of QR 10,000 to QR 50,000, without prejudice to any severer penalty under another law. The English list of Article 57 items is compressed, and it appears to place items 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 in this top tier and items 4 and 6 in the lower tier of Article 95 (one week to one year, or QR 3,000 to QR 10,000). Check the exact items with a lawyer.

• **Repeat offences (Article 98):** the penalty is at least doubled if a similar offence is committed within one year of finishing the sentence.
• **No suspension of fines (Article 99):** there is no moratorium on carrying out a fine or a sentence for a repeat offence.
• **Other laws:** an accident causing injury or death can bring Penal Code liability and compensation, which we have not covered. See car accident in Qatar: what the law requires.

Impounding and licence measures

Article 88 lets the Traffic Department impound a vehicle for up to 90 days, on a written memorandum by the person who saw or investigated the incident, for reckless or negligent driving that risks life, road racing, obscene acts, traffic light offences, and finding the driver under the influence of alcohol, drugs or other psychotropic substances. See impounded vehicle in Qatar for the fees and the six-month auction deadline.

Articles 87 and 100 allow suspension of a driving licence or vehicle licence, by the Traffic Director for up to 90 days or by a court for one to six months, for the offences they list. We cannot tell from the English text which of the offences above are in those lists, and Article 100 refers to "Chapters III and V" without naming the Part, so ask a lawyer. See also the traffic violation points system.

Work and licences

Article 32 says that to get a public vehicle driving licence (taxi, limousine and similar) the applicant must not have been convicted of dishonesty or of driving under the influence of drugs or intoxicating substances. A conviction can therefore affect a driving career. See who can register or drive a taxi, limousine or truck.

If you are stopped or involved

1. Stop when ordered by the police. Article 57 treats refusing to stop as an offence.

2. Do not leave the scene of an accident.

3. Do not drive if you have taken alcohol, drugs or any substance that affects driving, including some prescription medicines. The law does not say how impairment is measured, so do not test the limit.

4. Get a Qatar-licensed lawyer early, especially after an injury or if your licence or employment depends on it.

What we could not verify

• Blood alcohol or drug testing rules, and how impairment is proved.
• Penal Code penalties for injury or death on the road, and any rules on alcohol in Qatar outside the Traffic Law.
• How the English list of Article 57 items maps to the penalty tiers, and which offences Articles 87 and 100 cover.
• Any amendment to these articles after the 2010 version.