Israel’s Economic Committee on Monday approved regulations extending the traffic point system to administrative traffic offenses. The move resolves a technical gap that, since February, had prevented points from being assigned for a series of offenses carrying fines of 500 shekels, after the broader reform passed in the Knesset and created a digital tribunal for driver appeals while shifting many offenses from criminal to administrative status.
The compromise came after talks with the Transportation Ministry and pressure from committee chair MK David Bitan to reach agreed language. The original reform had included major relief for minor offenses, such as deleting points for offenses worth up to 4 points and cutting points in half if no new offense was committed within a year. The version approved today keeps some of that easing but adds tougher measures as well.
For private drivers, points for offenses worth up to 6 points will now remain valid for one year instead of two. Offenses worth 8 or 10 points will stay on the record for two years. If a driver is found committing several violations in one incident, only the points for the most serious offense will be recorded. The committee also approved point reductions for several minor violations, including driving with an invalid license, entering an intersection that cannot be cleared, blocking traffic, driving against road signs, and some cases of driving with an expired vehicle registration or an invalid driver’s license.
At the same time, the committee accepted the Transportation Ministry’s request to raise the score from 8 to 10 points for several serious offenses, including running a red light, failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, using a cellphone while driving, and driving on the shoulder. Some changes will take effect about 30 days after publication in the official gazette, while changes to the duration of points will take effect about a year later, because the system needs preparation, according to ministry lawyer Chava Raubani.
The committee also reviewed criticism of the reform. Transportation expert Dr. Moshe Becker called for a follow-up study on the impact of the administrative-offense shift and warned that automatic enforcement could weaken the educational effect of face-to-face encounters with police. Ministry of Justice representative Marganit Levi said the new administrative tribunal is functioning, but it is too early to draw conclusions after only four months. Gabi Ben Harosh of the Public Transport Operators Council and lawyer Kfir Dor of the Israel Bar Association said the amendment does not sufficiently address professional drivers or labor shortages in the transport and haulage sector.
