Bahrain approves traffic licence plan for expats

PHOTO

Bahrain - The parliament has approved a proposal to force expats to renew all traffic licences and permits every two years.

The proposal aims to tie the renewal of driving licences, vehicle ownership deeds and other services provided by the Interior Ministry’s Traffic Directorate with the two-year residency permits.

Under existing legislation, Bahrainis and expatriates renew their driving licences every five years and only pay for a replacement if a car or ownership deed is lost.

The proposal to amend the 2014 Traffic Law was passed during parliament’s weekly session yesterday, despite the ministry urging MPs to reject the move because it would mean a new system would be necessary to deal with expatriates.

Parliament and Shura Council Affairs Minister Ghanim Al Buainain attempted to encourage MPs against the proposal – adding that they should consider Bahrain’s international image when debating such laws.

“We have a thorough vision on what should be done and what shouldn’t and MPs should bear in mind negativities of even putting the matter up for debate,” he said.

“MPs are saying that they are only coming up with legislation for Bahrainis, but they are wrong because they are here to serve the nation as a whole.”

However, the foreign affairs, defence and national security committee, which recommended MPs pass the amendment, said linking traffic services with residency permits would create a more organised system.

“There is no breach to the Constitution or any law here,” said acting committee chairman Khalifa Al Ghanim.

“The ministry is speaking about technicalities it needs to overcome regarding the existing system and any money spent here could be made up from the additional amounts collected from expats.

“Expatriates use their driving licences even when their residency expires to continue work in other GCC countries and the current system helps them jump over rules and with this amendment we will limit that.”

The proposal was passed by 14 MPs, rejected by six, and three abstained. The government will have a maximum of six months to draft it as a proper legislation to be presented to the newly-elected parliament later this year.

MPs also voted in favour of another amendment to the same law that will see traffic fines halved if people pay them within 15 days rather than the existing seven days.

MPs said the seven-day grace period was too short notice and many willing to pay half the amount were unable to do so.

The amendment also included increasing the timeframe for paying the fine to 45 days rather than the existing 30 days before being referred to the Public Prosecution.

However, the ministry also opposed this move, saying that the existing system was successful.

“Traffic violations have reduced by 48 per cent since the introduction of the law in 2014 and we have been ranked first in traffic regulations amongst the Middle East – (this will make) us go behind while we are progressing,” said traffic legal affairs head Captain Khalid Buqais.

The amendment has been referred to the Shura Council for review.

MPs also rejected a proposal to have expats, excluding GCC nationals, pay BD400 per child every academic year at government schools.