SR300 fine for playing Pokemon Go in Saudi Arabia

Riyadh : Pokémon Go players in Saudi Arabia will be fined for playing the game while driving, the Traffic Department has warned.

Playing the popular mobile game while driving will incur a fine of Saudi Riyals 300 on motorists, according to Major General Abdullah Al-Zahrani, director general of the Eastern Province Traffic Department, Saudi Gazette reported.

However no driver has so far been caught playing Pokemon Go, but tickets for this violation will soon be issued

"Playing Pokemon will distract the driver who may hurt himself, other motorists and pedestrians."

Other security agencies have also been authorised to issue the fine.

The game has become a worldwide phenomenon since it launched two weeks ago, including in the the Middle East, particularly in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

The game has been blamed for a wave of crimes, traffic violations and even a death in cities around the globe.

In Baltimore a driver playing Pokemon Go was caught on a body-camera crashing into a police car on Monday. The driver, who was out of the vehicle, showed his phone to the officers, which appeared to show he was playing Pokemon Go, and he stated, "That's what I get for playing this dumb game."