Driver Loses Appeal to Reduce Traffic Ticket Under New Law

A driver in Rishon LeZion who received a NIS 1,200 fine for a traffic violation in April 2024 has been denied a reduction to NIS 100, despite a subsequent change in traffic law. The driver was initially charged with holding a phone while driving, but this was reduced to a lesser charge of not holding the steering wheel with two hands as part of a plea bargain, for which he agreed to the NIS 1,200 fine.

However, on February 8, 2026, a new law on administrative traffic violations took effect. Under this law, the offense of not holding the steering wheel with two hands became subject to a NIS 100 fine.

The driver appealed to the Central District Court, arguing that the new, more lenient penalty should apply to his case. Judge Ahikam Stoller acknowledged the principle that legal changes can sometimes justify applying lighter penalties. However, he ruled that a transitional clause in the new law stipulated that offenses committed before its enactment would be handled under the previous legal framework.

Since the violation occurred in 2024, before the new law's effective date, the driver was not eligible for the reduced fine. The court also noted that the NIS 1,200 fine was part of a plea agreement that also involved a reduction in the original charge, making it impossible to simply alter the fine amount in isolation. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the driver with the original, significantly higher fine.