Shura to vote on plan to halve traffic fines

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

A parliament-proposed amendment that would halve traffic fines for those who delay payment is heading to the Shura Council for a final vote on Sunday.

The proposal would allow drivers to settle for half the minimum penalty if they accept reconciliation within 30 days.

Currently, the law grants a reduced fine only to those who pay within seven days of the reconciliation offer.

After that, the full minimum amount must be paid within the month.

The proposed change would remove that staggered arrangement, offering the reduced amount throughout the full reconciliation window.

The amendment passed the elected chamber in February.

Supporters argue it would ease financial strain on drivers and reduce the number of minor traffic cases reaching court.

Opposition

The General Directorate of Traffic and the government have opposed the move.

They argue that the change would weaken the deterrent built into the current law.

If drivers face the same reduced payment whether they act quickly or wait, the urgency to settle fades and the penalty loses its sharpness.

The Shura Council’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee has examined the draft and recommended that it be dropped.

In its report, the committee said the existing structure rewards prompt payment and maintains a necessary balance between encouraging reconciliation and upholding road discipline.

The committee also noted that reconciliation is already permitted for specific offences.

The Traffic Directorate is authorised to resolve cases before they reach the Public Prosecution, and the current law provides a clear scale of penalties tied to how quickly the offender responds.

In the committee’s view, the amendment removes the incentive for early settlement and encourages delay.

Purpose

They suggest this undermines the purpose of the fine and weakens the overall effect of the law.

Although Bahrain’s traffic system is relatively well managed, it still grapples with rising vehicle numbers, congestion and reckless driving.

The committee concluded that easing the fine structure would do little to address those issues.

If the Shura Council accepts the recommendation, the amendment will be set aside and the existing law, with its timelinked penalties, will remain unchanged.