Traffic fines may come down by 50pc
Manama : The House of Representatives will discuss this week a proposal to reduce fines for traffic violations by 50 per cent if paid within fifteen days of committing the offence.
The proposal also seeks to extend the period granted to pay the minimum fines for traffic offences to 45 days, instead of the 30 days stipulated in the existing law.
This comes after the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee in the House of Representatives passed a proposal on amending Law 23 of 2014 (Traffic Law).
Initially submitted by MP Khalid Al Shaer, the proposal seeks amending Article 56 of the law, with regards to fines and violations.
“The current life expenses and financial situations of individuals may not allow them to pay the fines within the periods mentioned in the existing law,” said Al Shaer, adding that extending the periods will improve the reconciliation strategy of the General Directorate of Traffic and benefit both sides.
The current text of the article mention’s that traffic fines should be reduced by 50 per cent if drivers paid them within the next seven days of committing certain offences. The amendment comes to grant violators an extra eight days to benefit from the reduction and adds 15 days to the period granted to pay the minimum amounts.
Traffic offences
The violations include transporting passengers in the exterior part of the vehicle, damaging public or private property and driving a vehicle without a helmet.
The other offences listed out in the proposal are: driving a vehicle without lights, careless driving, endangering the lives of others, posting stickers or advertisements or comments that violate public order and morals in any of the outer or inner parts of the vehicle, closing the road in front of public convoys, using dazzling lights, parking at night in dark places without turning on the lights.
The offences also include allowing children under the age of 10 to sit in the front seats, using the vehicle in private convoys without permission, not committing to the right lane in two-sided roads and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Driving a vehicle that makes noisy sounds or emits excessive exhaust smoke, using the vehicle for a purpose other than what’s mentioned in the driver’s licence, driving a vehicle without a registration certificate, driving an unlicensed vehicle are also offences mentioned.
Driving a vehicle without brakes or with brakes which are unfit to use, driving a vehicle without a driving license, deliberately blocking or obstructing a road, handing a vehicle to someone who does not hold a license to drive it, racing a vehicle, using hand-held mobile phones are the other major traffic violations that would invite fines.
Despite the Government opinion, which stated that the periods included in the existing law are sufficient, the committee agreed to extending the periods and will submit its report on the proposal for voting during the council’s weekly meeting on Tuesday.
Related Posts