Authorities arrest man smoking argileh while driving

AMMAN — Traffic department personnel on Thursday made numerous vehicle-related arrests, including that of a man in Sweileh who was smoking argileh while driving, according to the Public Security Department (PSD) spokesperson.

The PSD said that the man smoking argileh while driving did so without any consideration for public safety measures.

In a PSD statement carried by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, the spokesperson said that security personnel also arrested a bus driver, who ran a red light and made an illegal U-turn in the capital’s Bayader neighbourhood.

The bus driver was spotted in a video which went viral on social media outlets, where he jeopardised the lives of passengers and others, the spokesperson noted.

He added that both vehicles were sent to the impound yard, and that the drivers would face legal procedures.

The PSD official also commended citizens’ cooperation in detecting violations, in a way that can help traffic department personnel take legal measures against perpetrators and deter those who disregard public safety.

Meanwhile, authorities also arrested nine people accused of opening fire at a number of vehicles in two separate incidents.

The first incident, involving eight of the aforementioned arrestees, occurred in Fuheis last Thursday, whereby the perpetrators used a machine gun to open fire at two vehicles, reportedly belonging to a transport company employee.

Only two of the eight criminals were in the vehicle used to commit the crime, while the other six were arrested later for their involvement, Petra reported.

The ninth arrestee was detained separately on charges of opening fire at a vehicle in Karak.

The PSD spokesperson said that the PSD’s Preventive Security Department made the arrest after following up on a social media post warning people of a reckless driver who had been randomly shooting a firearm.