Councils deadlock sends traffic ‘half-fine’ bill to National Assembly

TDT | Manama

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Councils reached a deadlock yesterday over a proposed tweak to traffic settlement rules, sending the draft to a joint National Assembly sitting after the Shura Council held to its earlier refusal.

The bill, tabled by the Council of Representatives, would amend Article 56 of the Traffic Law (Law No. 23 of 2014) by rewriting the third paragraph. Under the proposed text, an accused person who accepts reconciliation would pay a sum equal to half the minimum fine for the offence, within 30 days from the date the offer is made.

Rejection

Shura’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee again urged the chamber to reject the change, saying it sits at odds with Decree-Law No. 30 of 2025, which increased traffic fines.

The committee’s rapporteur, Ali Al Aradi, said the earlier recommendation still stood because the 2025 changes were brought in to strengthen deterrence and the legal text should pull in the same direction.

“Legislative consistency requires legal texts to complement one another in their aims and results,” he told members.

The committee also pointed to the rule of proportionality between offence and penalty, describing it as a constitutional principle in criminal policy.

Violations

It said the tougher financial penalties introduced this year were a direct response to dangerous violations and the harm they cause to lives, property and public order.

The Shura Council voted to stick with its position of not accepting the bill in principle, which means the two chambers cannot settle it through their usual exchange and the matter must go to the National Assembly.