After months of forced closure due to disputes over the implementation of the contract signed between the Traffic Management Authority and the committed company "Inkript," the Authority opened its doors last Tuesday, introducing surcharges added to the fees for services to the public at a maximum rate of 36 times, in order to finance the cost of the product that is paid in fresh dollars.

According to the regulations issued by the Authority, the surcharge amounts were set as follows: driving license: 1,800,000 LBP, traffic license: 1,400,000 LBP, registration plates: 1,800,000 LBP, electronic sticker: 1,000,000 LBP, driving license (renewal, replacement for loss or damage): 1,800,000 LBP, international driving license: 1,500,000 LBP, driving license for foreign countries: 500,000 LBP.

The decision of the Traffic Management Authority was based on the opinion of the Court of Auditors, which allowed it to do so.

The Court's opinion stated that "the Traffic Management Authority is an independent body and must finance itself. However, the legal fees are so low that they expose it to closure if not amended."

The dispute between the Traffic Management Authority and the company "Inkript" began when the company requested payment in dollars, which the Authority couldn't do due to budget constraints.

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi sought an expert opinion from the Court of Auditors, which suggested calculating costs based on Government Decision No. 13 of 2022, distinguishing between dollar payments for supply and Lira payments for operations in contracts.

However, this approach doesn't align with the terms of the contract between the company and the Authority, as the company's invoices are tied to the quantity of the final product provided to the public, such as market licenses, car books, plates, and electronic stickers.

"Al-Akhbar" newspaper reported that the outstanding issue of the company's previous dues, as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Judge Marwan Aboud, insists that the company's previous dues are estimated at 60 billion LBP for 2020 and 2021 (the company claims it's 8 million dollars), are still pending, awaiting legal resolution.

The newspaper pointed out that the dispute extends beyond financial matters, as the Authority's decision to introduce additional surcharges, paid by consumers, doesn't address billing, payment, or the relationship between the parties.

This instability affects the public car registration service and limits options between the Authority and the company.

This article was initially published in Arabic in Al-Akhbar, translated by Christina Rai.