A contentious amendment to Bahrain’s Traffic Law could be effectively shelved when the Shura Council meets on Sunday, after its foreign affairs, defence and national security committee firmly recommended rejecting the proposal for a second time.
The legislation seeks to amend Article 56 of the Traffic Law (Law No 23 of 2014) by reducing the amount payable for traffic offence settlements to half the minimum fine – even if payment is delayed for up to 30 days. It was originally submitted by Parliament.
However, the Shura Council committee has advised maintaining the council’s earlier decision to reject the bill in principle, warning that it would contradict recently-adopted tougher penalties.
Committee chairman Dr Ali Al Rumaihi said the amendment conflicted with the core objectives of the Traffic Law, which prioritises public safety and the protection of lives and property.
“Any amendment must strengthen deterrence and consistency, not dilute their impact or send conflicting messages to motorists,” Dr Al Rumaihi said.
The bill has returned to the Shura Council under Article 84 of the Constitution after MPs insisted on approving it last month, despite the upper chamber’s earlier rejection in April.
Dr Al Rumaihi
In a detailed report, the Shura committee stressed that the existing settlement system already strikes a careful balance.
Current law allows offenders to benefit from a reduced settlement only if they pay within seven days, a mechanism designed to encourage swift compliance and ease pressure on courts and prosecutors.
“The proposed amendment removes the incentive for early payment and weakens the effectiveness of the settlement system,” Dr Al Rumaihi said. “It risks turning leniency into the norm rather than an exception.”
The committee also highlighted a direct contradiction between the proposal and Decree-Law No 30 of 2025, which recently increased traffic fines to enhance deterrence following serious and fatal road accidents.
“Legislative consistency is a constitutional necessity,” Dr Al Rumaihi noted. “You cannot tighten penalties with one law and simultaneously dilute their effect with another.”
According to the report, reducing settlement amounts would undermine the principle of proportionality between offence and punishment, a cornerstone of criminal justice policy. Financial penalties, the committee argued, are not merely administrative tools but serve an essential psychological and behavioural deterrent.
The committee warned that weakening this deterrent could embolden reckless driving behaviours, increasing the risk of serious injuries and fatalities on Bahrain’s roads.
While acknowledging MPs’ concerns about easing the financial burden on motorists, the committee said public safety must take precedence over convenience.
“This is not about punishing for punishment’s sake,” Dr Al Rumaihi said. “It is about preserving the effectiveness of traffic laws in protecting lives and maintaining public order.”
Also, the Shura Council is set to vote on amendments to the 2002 Parliament Bylaws Law to allow MPs to submit their closing financial statements for auditing after three months from the end of the year rather than just one.
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