31/08/2025
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31/08/2025
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KUWAIT CITY, Aug 31: Kuwait has taken a significant step toward reforming its traffic law enforcement system by introducing alternative penalties to replace certain prison sentences for traffic-related offenses. The move comes under Decision No. 1497 of 2025, issued by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahd Al-Youssef, and published in the Official Gazette Kuwait Alyoum.
The decision amends provisions of the executive regulations of the Traffic Law No. 67 of 1976, adding a new article—Article 212 bis—that formally defines and regulates alternative penalties, community service, awareness programs, and compensation measures.
Key Rules Under the New Law
According to Article 212 bis, the following terms have been formally introduced into traffic legislation:
- Alternative Penalties: Measures that judges may impose instead of prison time for traffic-related crimes.
- Concerned Department: Refers to the General Traffic Department.
- Community Service Work: Unpaid assignments that serve the public interest, tailored to suit the circumstances of the convict.
- Awareness, Rehabilitation, and Training Programs: Educational or behavioral correctional programs conducted by government, private institutions, or public associations in medical, psychological, social, educational, industrial, craft, or religious fields.
- Repairing Damage Caused by the Crime: Restoring or compensating for any damage caused by the violation, either by repairing it, returning property to its original state, or providing financial compensation.
The new regulation specifies a wide array of community service activities that offenders may be assigned to, depending on the nature of the crime and personal circumstances. These will be carried out under the supervision of the General Traffic Department and in coordination with relevant ministries and authorities.
Examples include:
- Ministry of Interior: Traffic awareness campaigns, support in reform institutions, civil defense work.
- Ministry of Health: Assistance in organizing health campaigns and patient service initiatives.
- Ministry of Education: Helping organize schools, assisting with student awareness campaigns, cleaning and support services.
- Ministry of Social Affairs: Distributing aid, supporting social welfare programs, assisting development centers and cooperatives.
- Ministry of Endowments & Islamic Affairs: Cleaning mosques, preparing Qur’an copies, and assisting with religious activities.
- Ministry of Electricity, Water & Renewable Energy: Documenting electricity meter data.
- Ministry of Public Works: Roadside maintenance, sidewalk painting, fieldwork.
- Ministry of Commerce & Industry: Consumer awareness campaigns, brochure distribution, and exhibitions.
- Public Environment Authority: Tree planting, waste removal, beach cleanups, and environmental campaigns.
- Kuwait Municipality: Cemetery organization, funeral affairs management, waste removal.
- Public Authority for Applied Education & Training: Teaching simple professions and vocational workshops.
- Public Authority for Manpower: Raising awareness among expatriate workers, translation services, and training programs.
- Public Authority for Agriculture & Fish Resources: Cleaning parks and tree planting.
- Public Authority for Roads & Land Transport: Road cleanups, sign organization, and painting work.
- NGOs: Charitable work, humanitarian aid, awareness campaigns, and administrative support.
- Ministry of Oil: Work assignments at gas stations.
Beyond physical community service, the decision also mandates participation in awareness and rehabilitation programs designed to address reckless driving behaviors. These include:
- Lectures and workshops on traffic safety.
- Behavioral and psychological programs aimed at correcting irresponsible driving habits.
- Training courses that raise awareness of road safety and traffic law compliance.
The General Traffic Department will coordinate the organization of these programs in cooperation with government agencies, private institutions, and public associations.
Compensation for DamagesFor offenses resulting in property damage, the law introduces structured measures for restitution and compensation:
- Restoration: Returning damaged property to its original state.
- Repair: Fixing the damage to restore its condition.
- Financial Compensation: Paying an amount equivalent to the damage if repair or restoration is impossible.
The value of compensation will be determined jointly by the General Traffic Department and the government agency that owns the affected property.
Oversight and Enforcement
- The General Department for the Implementation of Judgments will notify the General Traffic Department whenever an alternative penalty is issued.
- Implementing agencies must submit compliance reports to the Traffic Department.
- If a convict fails to fulfill the assigned alternative penalty, the case will be referred back to court, and the original prison sentence will be reinstated.
Effective Date
The decision assigns the Acting Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior to oversee its enforcement. It will officially come into effect one month after publication in the Official Gazette (Kuwait Alyoum).
