Immediate arrest and hefty fines for 12 traffic violations from April 22 onwards

Ministry of Interior announced on 1 April that the new traffic law will come into effect from 22 April, and stressed on the public of the need to adhere to all traffic regulations aon April 22, stressing the importance of adhering to traffic regulations and instructions or face heavy fines and severe penalties.

The announcement underlined 12 traffic violations that would allow any member of the police force to arrest the perpetrator in accordance with Decree-Law No. 5 of 2025 amending some provisions of Decree-Law No. 67 of 1976 regarding traffic. They are as follows:

• Driving a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs or psychotropic substances.
• Committing a traffic accident that resulted in injury or death to a person.
• Participating in a motor vehicle race on the roads without a permit or in violation of the permit.
• Attempting to escape in the event of an accident that harms the safety of an individual or in the event of failure to respond to an order issued by members of the police force to stop.
• Exceeding the speed limit by more than 50 km/h.
• Driving buggies in places not designated for them.
• Running a red light.
• Using the vehicle for a purpose other than that for which it was intended.
• Using the vehicle to transport passengers for a fee without a permit.
• Driving a motor vehicle recklessly or negligently, or using it in a manner that exposes the driver or others to danger to their lives or property.
• Driving a motor vehicle without a driver’s license, or one that has been withdrawn or suspended, or with a license that does not permit driving such a vehicle, or without a permit required by this law or its executive regulations.
• Driving a vehicle without the plates issued by the General Traffic Department.

The ministry republished the awareness campaign on traffic violations and the new fines that will be applied. It also announced that “the court may sentence the convict to one or more alternative penalties instead of the original penalty for the crime committed.”

The Ministry stated that the alternative penalties were:

• Working in community service: The convict shall be assigned to perform good work for one of the entities without compensation. The work shall be appropriate to the convict’s profession, if possible, for a period not exceeding one year, and not exceeding eight hours per day.
• Redressing the damage resulting from the crime, by obligating the convict to restore the property to its original state, redress it, or compensate it.”
• Attending awareness, rehabilitation, and training programs and lectures: The convict shall be subject to one or more of these programs, and the implementation procedures shall be determined by a ministerial decision in coordination with the relevant authorities.