Kuwait City: Kuwait has introduced a major reform to its traffic penalty system, allowing courts to impose community service instead of prison sentences for serious traffic offences under a new law approved by the Ministry of Interior.
The ministerial order, signed by First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah, authorises courts to sentence eligible offenders to community service in various government sectors as an alternative to imprisonment.
Under the new regulations, offenders may be assigned duties such as:
Cleaning mosques.
Planting trees and maintaining public green spaces.
Assisting with road maintenance projects.
Maintaining cemeteries.
Carrying out other public service tasks under government supervision.
Community service may be performed under the supervision of ministries including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs. The programme also includes awareness sessions and rehabilitation courses aimed at improving driving behaviour and promoting road safety.
The Ministry of Interior warned that offenders who refuse to perform the assigned community service or violate the court-imposed conditions could face imprisonment instead.
Officials said the new law aims to rehabilitate offenders, encourage responsible driving and improve road safety while enabling offenders to contribute positively to society.
The legislation came into effect upon its publication in Kuwait’s Official Gazette.
