Defendants who jumped red light pay fines to evade imprisonment

The Traffic (Minor Criminal) Court recently rejected the appeals filed by two drivers, who separately jumped 14 red traffic signals, ordering them to pay BD100 fines for each time they violated the rule.

The two drivers were previously charged in two separate cases, as one of them was caught jumping six red lights, while the other man committed the same offence eight times. According to court files, the first defendant rejected to pay a total BD600 fine (BD100 for each offence), and the matter was later referred to the court.

The man claimed before the court that it was his sons who committed the offences and not him, requesting to reduce the fines. However, he had confessed in his previous statements in the files of the General Directorate of Traffic that he was driving during the time of the offence.

While requesting the reduction of the fines, the man told the judge that he was earlier trying to “bear the responsibility on behalf of his sons”. The judge rejected the man’s appeal and ordered to uphold the previously issued verdict as he had earlier confessed to committing the offence six times.

The man paid the full amount in order to avoid further legal procedures to be taken against him, including imprisonment, according to prosecutors.