Israeli Legislation.com
OrdinanceAdministrative Law

Traffic Ordinance [New Version]

פקודת התעבורה [נוסח חדש]

Published: 1961-08-01Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2026-06-14 · Last amended 2026-07-28✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-28
Premium
Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

This English text was translated from the official Hebrew using a range of translation tools, and it undergoes ongoing checks and updates. It is not a certified translation.

Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

This translation is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For use in legal proceedings, request a certified Expert Legal Opinion.

Chapter V: Arrest and Fine Offences

Power to Arrest without a Warrant§

28.

Any police officer may apprehend, without an arrest warrant, the driver of a vehicle who commits an offence under sections 62 and 63 in the officer's presence if the driver does not state the driver's name and address or does not present the driver's licence, as required to do so, or if the vehicle does not bear the prescribed identification mark.

Fine Offence in Aggravating Circumstances§

29.
(a)Where a police officer has grounds to believe that a person has committed a fine offence and that aggravating circumstances connected with that person or with the commission of the offence existed, the officer shall notify that person that a charge will be brought against the person and a summons to trial shall be served on the person pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Law, 5725-1965.
(b)"Aggravating circumstances", for the purposes of this section – as prescribed in instructions from the head of the traffic department of the Israel Police with the consent of the Minister of Justice and the Minister and published in the Reshumot (Official Gazette), in three daily newspapers one of which is published in the Arabic language, and on the Israel Police website.

Fine Offence (Amendment No. 15) 5740-1979 (Amendment No. 87) 5768-2008 Corr. 5768-2008§

30.
(a)The Minister, with the consent of the Minister of Justice and with the approval of the Economics Committee of the Knesset, may declare, by Order published in the Reshumot (Official Gazette), a traffic offence to be a fine offence; the provisions of section 221(d) of the Criminal Procedure Law [Consolidated Version], 5742-1982, shall not apply in respect of a declaration of a fine offence pursuant to this subsection.
(b)The Minister shall prescribe in the Order the rate of the fine for each fine offence and for each repeated or additional fine offence committed by the same person, provided that the rate of the fine shall not exceed NIS 2,900 in respect of a first offence and NIS 4,300 in respect of a repeated or additional offence, and the Minister may prescribe different rates for an offence having regard to the circumstances of its commission.
(c)Where a fine offence, other than a parking offence, has been committed in a vehicle and the owner of the vehicle or the person proved to be the possessor pursuant to section 27b is a corporation, the rate of the fine for the fine offence shall be four times the rate prescribed for that offence in the Order under subsection (b) or another rate prescribed under subsection (d), unless liability does not apply to a corporation as aforesaid pursuant to the provisions of section 27b; the provisions under this subsection shall not apply in respect of an autonomous vehicle that was operated, at the time of the commission of the offence, by means of an autonomous driving system.
(d)The Minister, with the consent of the Minister of Justice and after consultation with the Minister for National Security, and with the approval of the Economics Committee of the Knesset, may prescribe in respect of a light transport vehicle as defined under this Ordinance, cases or circumstances in which the rate of the fine referred to in subsection (c) shall be less than four times the fine prescribed for the offence.
31.§

(Repealed — תיקון מס' 12, 1975)

32.§

(Repealed — תיקון מס' 12, 1975)

33.§

(Repealed — תיקון מס' 12, 1975)

Police Officer's Powers in Traffic Offences or Violations Involving Bicycles§

34.

The Minister may prescribe in Regulations, in respect of a particular offence or traffic violation relating to bicycles and their riders, measures that a police officer, in whose presence the offence as aforesaid was committed or the violation as aforesaid was committed, may take on the spot to prevent the continuation of the offence or the violation, as the case may be.

Need to cite this law in a foreign court?

Eli Shimony Israeli Attorneys-at-Law provides certified Expert Legal Opinions on Israeli law within 24–48 hours, accepted by courts worldwide.

Contact Us →

Chapter VI: Disqualification of a Licence and Prohibition on Use of a Vehicle

Power of a Court to Disqualify a Driving Licence§

35.

Where a person has been convicted of a traffic offence or of an offence under another law connected with driving a vehicle, the court that convicted the person, or that issued, even without convicting the person, a service order pursuant to Section D-1 of Chapter VI of the Penal Law, 5737-1977 (hereinafter – a service order), or a probation order pursuant to the Probation Ordinance [New Version], 5729-1969 (hereinafter – a probation order), may, in addition to or in lieu of any other punishment, disqualify that person from obtaining or holding a driving licence, permanently or for a specified period or until the conditions prescribed by the court are fulfilled, and may require the person to receive instruction in proper driving as prescribed by the Minister with the approval of the Economics Committee of the Knesset; for the purposes of this section, a service order or a probation order shall be regarded as another punishment even if given without a conviction.

Conditional Disqualification§

36.
(a)A court may, in the absence of another provision in this Ordinance, disqualify an accused on condition from obtaining or holding a driving licence, and the court may provide that part of the disqualification period shall be conditional.
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), if a legislative provision prescribes for an offence of which the accused has been convicted a minimum period of disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence (hereinafter in this section – the minimum period), the disqualification shall be in effect and the court shall not direct that the disqualification for the minimum period, in whole or in part, shall be conditional; however, if the court has been authorised by a legislative provision to direct disqualification for a period shorter than the minimum period, the court may direct that the period it has prescribed, or part thereof, shall be conditional.
(c)A person who has been conditionally disqualified shall be disqualified in effect if, within a period prescribed in the sentence, which shall not be less than one year and not more than three years, the person commits the same offence for which the person was convicted or one of the offences listed in the First Schedule or the Second Schedule, or another offence prescribed by the court in the sentence, and is convicted of the additional offence within or after that period; that period shall commence from the date of sentencing, and if the accused is at that time serving a sentence of imprisonment – from the date of release from imprisonment, all unless the court has directed otherwise.
(d)Where reference is made in the prescription of offences under subsection (c) to a legislative provision and it is subsequently repealed and replaced by another provision, the sentence shall be deemed to refer to the other provision.
(e)Where a person who has been conditionally disqualified has been convicted of an additional offence as aforesaid, the court shall order the activation of the conditional disqualification, and the court may direct in the order that the activation of the conditional disqualification shall be subject to the outcome of the appeal against the conviction for the additional offence; the order shall be given by the court that convicted the accused of the additional offence and it may be given by any court having jurisdiction to try that offence.
(f)A court that has convicted an accused of an additional offence may, instead of ordering the activation of the conditional disqualification, for reasons that shall be recorded, order the extension of the conditional disqualification period or its renewal for an additional period not exceeding two years, if satisfied that in the circumstances of the matter it would not be just to activate the conditional disqualification.
(g)The court shall not extend the conditional period as referred to in subsection (f) except in respect of the accused's first conviction for an additional offence.
(h)Where the court has extended the conditional period for an additional period before the expiry of the first conditional period, the additional conditional period shall commence at the expiry of the first conditional period; where the court has renewed the conditional period after the first conditional period has expired, the renewed conditional period shall commence from the date of the judgment, all unless the court has directed otherwise.

Disqualification for All Licence Categories§

36a.

Where a court has imposed a disqualification or a conditional disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence, it shall impose the disqualification as aforesaid in respect of driving a vehicle of any type whatsoever; however, the court may, in special circumstances to be specified in the judgment, direct that the disqualification shall not apply in respect of driving a particular vehicle, or in respect of a particular type of vehicle.

A Person Driving a Vehicle without the Owner's Permission§

36b.
(a)A person driving a vehicle without the permission of its owner or of the lawful possessor of the vehicle, and without the driver holding a valid driving licence for that type of vehicle, shall be disqualified in effect from holding or obtaining a driving licence for a period of not less than three years, in addition to any other punishment imposed by the court, provided that if the court has decided to impose a disqualification for a shorter period it shall specify its reasons in the judgment; the provisions of this subsection regarding a person who does not hold a driving licence shall not apply to a person whose licence expired within one year before the commission of the offence due to non-payment of the licence fee.
(b)Where the driver referred to in subsection (a) holds a valid driving licence for that type of vehicle, the driver shall be disqualified, in addition to any other punishment imposed by the court, in effect from holding a driving licence for a period of not less than six months, provided that if the court has decided to impose an effective disqualification for a shorter period it shall specify its reasons in the judgment.
(c)The owner of a vehicle or a person who has control over a vehicle, who permitted another person to drive it knowing that that person does not hold a driving licence for that type of vehicle – the penalty is three years' imprisonment in effect with or without a fine of 100,000 liras, and if that person was a minor who is not capable of obtaining a driving licence – imprisonment of five years with or without a fine of 100,000 liras, and in addition thereto disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence for a period of not less than three years; however, the court may in special circumstances to be specified in the judgment impose a suspended sentence.

Minimum Disqualification of Two Months§

37.

Where a person has been convicted of an offence listed in the Second Schedule, and within the two years preceding that offence was already convicted of one of the said offences or of one of the offences listed in the First Schedule, the punishment shall be, in addition to any other punishment, disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence for a period of not less than two months. However, the court may, in special circumstances set out in the judgment, order disqualification for a shorter period.

Minimum Disqualification of Three Months§

38.

Where a person has been convicted –

(1)of an offence listed in the First Schedule;
(2)of an offence listed in the Second Schedule that caused a road accident in which a person was injured or property was damaged;
(3)of a traffic offence or of another offence arising from the driving of a vehicle that caused a road accident in which a person sustained substantial bodily harm,

the punishment shall – in addition to any other punishment – be disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence for a period of not less than three months. However, the court may, in special circumstances set out in the judgment, order disqualification for a shorter period.

Minimum Disqualification of One Year§

39.

Notwithstanding the provisions of section 38, if a person has been convicted of an offence listed in the First or Second Schedule that caused a road accident in which a person sustained substantial bodily harm, and within the two years preceding that offence was already convicted as aforesaid, the punishment shall – in addition to any other punishment – be disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence for a period of not less than one year; however, the court may, in special circumstances set out in the judgment, order disqualification for a shorter period.

Minimum Disqualification for Drunk Driving§

39a.

Where a person has been convicted of an offence as referred to in section 62(3), the punishment shall – in addition to any other punishment – be disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence for a period of not less than two years, and if the person was already convicted of that offence in the year preceding that offence – disqualification for a period of not less than four years; however, the court may, in special circumstances set out in the judgment, order disqualification for a shorter period.

Minimum Disqualification of Three Years§

40.

Where a person has been convicted of an offence as referred to in section 64 or under section 64a, the punishment shall – in addition to any other punishment – be disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence for a period of not less than three years; however, the court may, in special circumstances set out in the judgment, order disqualification for a shorter period.

Disqualification for Repeat Convictions§

40a.
(a)
(1)Where a person has been convicted of an offence as referred to in sections 62(3), 64, 64a, 65(a)(2) or (3) or 67, or of an offence under section 301c of the Penal Law, 5737-1977, involving the use of a vehicle, and within the ten years preceding the date of commission of that offence was already convicted at least twice of one of the said offences, the punishment shall – in addition to any other punishment – be disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence for a period of not less than ten years;
(2)Where a person has been disqualified from obtaining or holding a driving licence under paragraph (1), and was convicted of an offence from among the offences listed in that paragraph committed during the period from the date of disqualification of the licence until two years after it was renewed, the punishment shall – in addition to any other punishment – be permanent disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence.
(b)
(1)Where a person has been convicted of an offence listed in the Tenth Schedule, and within the five years preceding the date of commission of that offence was already convicted at least twice of one of the said offences, the punishment shall – in addition to any other punishment – be disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence for a period of not less than two years;
(2)Where a person has been disqualified from obtaining or holding a driving licence under paragraph (1), and was convicted three times of an offence from among the offences listed in the Tenth Schedule committed during the period from the date of disqualification of the licence until five years after it was renewed, the punishment shall – in addition to any other punishment – be disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence for a period of not less than five years;
(3)Where a person has been disqualified from obtaining or holding a driving licence under paragraph (2), and was convicted three times of an offence from among the offences listed in the Tenth Schedule committed during the period from the date of disqualification of the licence until five years after it was renewed, the punishment shall – in addition to any other punishment – be permanent disqualification from obtaining or holding a driving licence.
(c)The court may –
(1)in special circumstances set out in the judgment, order disqualification for periods shorter than the periods referred to in subsections (a) and (b), provided that it is satisfied that the continued driving by the accused does not constitute a danger to the public;
(2)determine that a disqualification imposed under another section of this Ordinance shall run concurrently with the disqualification under this section.
(d)For the purposes of this section, multiple offences arising from a single incident shall be regarded as one offence.
(e)In counting the prior convictions referred to in subsection (a) or (b), convictions that preceded the day of commencement of the Traffic Ordinance (Amendment No. 86) Law, 5768-2008 shall also be taken into account, except for convictions for fine offences.
(f)Nothing in the provisions of this section shall derogate from the provisions of any law with respect to a minimum disqualification of a driving licence.

Amendments to Schedules§

41.
(a)The Minister of Transport may, by Regulations and with the approval of the Economics Committee of the Knesset, amend the Schedules to this Ordinance, all or any of them, add to them and delete from them, provided that offences that are not fine offences shall not be added to the Eleventh Schedule; the provisions of this subsection shall not apply with respect to the Fourteenth Schedule.
(b)Regulations relating to amendment of the Eleventh Schedule shall be made with the consent of the Minister of Justice, the Minister for Internal Security and the Minister of the Interior, and with the approval of the Economics Committee of the Knesset.

Restrictions Regarding Military Driving Licence§

41a.
(a)Where a person has been disqualified by a court from obtaining or holding a driving licence under section 35, the disqualification shall not apply to a military driving licence unless the court has decided to disqualify that person from also holding the military licence; however, the disqualification shall apply to the military licence even without a court decision as aforesaid in the following cases:
(1)if the person was convicted of an offence that caused a road accident in which a person was killed;
(2)if the person was convicted of an offence under section 64a.
(b)Where a court has decided to disqualify a person from holding a military driving licence as referred to in subsection (a), the provisions of this Ordinance requiring disqualification for a minimum period shall not apply to such a disqualification, unless the accused was convicted of one of the offences listed in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (a).

Disqualification and Calculation of its Period§

42.
(a)A disqualification imposed by a court from obtaining or holding a driving licence under this Ordinance shall commence on the day the sentence is given, unless the court has ordered otherwise.
(b)Where a disqualification is imposed on a person who was sentenced to disqualification in a previous trial whose period has not yet ended, the disqualification so imposed shall be cumulative to the preceding one and its period shall commence upon the expiry of the preceding disqualification.
(c)In calculating the period of disqualification, the following shall not be counted –
(1)the period that elapsed until the licence was delivered to the authority designated for that purpose in the Regulations and in the manner prescribed;
(2)a period during which the holder of the licence served a sentence of imprisonment for the offence on account of which the person was disqualified as aforesaid.

One Who Uses a Vehicle to Commit a Misdemeanour or Felony§

43.

The holder of a driving licence or the holder of a vehicle licence who has been convicted of a misdemeanour or felony whose commission was made possible or facilitated by driving a vehicle or by use of the vehicle in respect of which that person holds a licence – the court that convicted that person may, in addition to any other punishment, disqualify that person from holding such a licence, permanently or for a specified period.

One Who Uses a Vehicle to Commit a Sexual Offence§

44.

Where the holder of a driving licence or the holder of a vehicle licence has been convicted of an offence under Section E of Chapter X of the Penal Law, 5737-1977, whose commission was made possible or facilitated by driving a vehicle or by use of the vehicle in respect of which that person holds a licence, the punishment shall – in addition to any other punishment – be disqualification from holding such a licence for a period of not less than three years; however, the court may, in special circumstances set out in the judgment, order disqualification for a shorter period.

Disqualification from Holding a Vehicle Licence§

44a.
(a)Where a person has been convicted of an offence under a regulation made pursuant to this Ordinance that prohibits the carriage of passengers for reward in a private vehicle or in a commercial vehicle, or the rental of a private vehicle or a commercial vehicle for the purpose of such carriage, or the granting of authorisation for such carriage in a private vehicle or in a commercial vehicle (hereinafter – a carriage offence), the court may – in addition to any other punishment – disqualify the holder of the licence for the vehicle in which the carriage offence was committed from holding a licence for a particular type of vehicle or for a particular vehicle, permanently or for a specified period.
(b)Where the owner of a vehicle has been convicted of a carriage offence and within the two years preceding that offence was already convicted of it, the punishment shall – in addition to any other punishment – be disqualification from holding a licence for any vehicle or for a particular type of vehicle for a period of not less than twelve months; however, the court may, in special circumstances set out in the judgment, order such disqualification for a shorter period.

Disqualification of an Accused of a Misdemeanour or Felony from Holding a Licence§

45.
(a)Where charges or an indictment have been filed against the holder of a driving licence or the holder of a vehicle licence for a misdemeanour or felony whose commission was made possible or facilitated by driving a vehicle or by use of that person's vehicle, the court competent to try the offence may disqualify the licence holder from holding the licence, upon application by the Attorney General or the Attorney General's representative or a police officer, if the court is satisfied that the continued driving by the said accused or the continued use of that person's vehicle constitutes a danger to the public, and if the accused is not disqualified under section 46.
(b)Such disqualification shall be for 30 days; however, the court competent to try the offence may extend the disqualification until the conclusion of the trial or until a decision is given under section 43.
(c)A decision of the court under this section is subject to review in accordance with the provisions of section 49.

Disqualification of a Driving Licence Due to Disqualification of a Licence to Drive a Light Rail§

45a.

Where a person has been disqualified by a court under the provisions of this Chapter as applied in Section D of Chapter IV-A of the Railway Ordinance, from obtaining or holding a licence to drive a light rail, permanently, for a specified period or until conditions set out in the decision are fulfilled, or where a person has been conditionally disqualified by a court as aforesaid, the court may also disqualify that person from obtaining or holding a driving licence, permanently, for a specified period or until conditions that it sets out in the decision are fulfilled, or conditionally disqualify that person as aforesaid.

Disqualification Pending Conclusion of Trial§

46.

Where the Attorney General or the Attorney General's representative, or a police officer of a rank no lower than inspector, is satisfied that there are sufficient grounds to charge the holder of a driving licence or the holder of a vehicle licence with an offence to which sections 35 to 42 or 43, 44 and 44a apply, and has submitted to the court competent to try that offence an application to disqualify the licence holder from holding the licence – the court may disqualify that person from holding the licence until the conclusion of the trial, or until the disqualification is cancelled under sections 48–50.

Deferral of Disqualification§

46a.
(a)A court that has disqualified an accused from holding a driving licence may, for reasons that it shall set out, defer the disqualification to a date to be determined.
(b)A party shall be entitled to appeal within seven days from the day on which the court's decision regarding the deferral of execution of a disqualification as aforesaid was delivered to that party, and the appellate court may confirm the decision or annul it and substitute another decision in its place.

Disqualification for an Offence that Caused a Road Accident in Which a Person Was Killed§

46b.
(a)Where an indictment has been filed against the holder of a driving licence for an offence that caused a road accident in which a person was killed, the court shall order that person's disqualification from holding a driving licence until a judgment is given in the matter.
(b)Before ordering disqualification as referred to in subsection (a), the court shall give the accused an adequate opportunity to present arguments, and the court may refrain from ordering such disqualification if it is satisfied, for reasons that it shall set out, that the driving by the accused does not constitute a danger to the public.
(c)Where the court has ordered disqualification as referred to in subsection (a), it may defer the date of disqualification to a date to be determined.

Disqualification by a Police Officer§

47.
(a)In this section, "police officer" – a police officer of the rank of inspector and above.
(b)Where a police officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a driver committed in the officer's presence an offence listed in the Fourth Schedule, or that as a result of an offence committed by the driver a road accident occurred in which a person was killed or injured, or property was damaged, the police officer may demand that the driver accompany the officer to a police officer or take the driver's driving licence from the driver.
(c)
(1)Where the police officer has taken the driving licence as set out in subsection (b), the officer shall give the driver a receipt for the taking of the licence and a summons to appear, within three days at a time to be set, before a police officer, for the purpose of a decision regarding the disqualification of the driver's driving licence; a receipt given as aforesaid shall be regarded as the driving licence that was taken, until the time set for the summoning of the driver before the police officer;
(2)The summons referred to in paragraph (1) shall clarify the content of the provisions of subsections (f) and (g), and shall also set out the place and telephone number for obtaining the content of the police officer's decision.
(d)Where the police officer has not taken the driving licence as set out in subsection (b), the officer may give the driver a summons as referred to in subsection (c).
(e)Where a police officer has grounds to believe that an indictment will be filed against the driver who committed the offence under subsection (b), the officer shall act as follows, as the case may be:
(1)for an offence that caused a road accident in which a person was killed – the officer shall disqualify the driver from holding a driving licence for a period of 90 days;
(2)for an offence that caused a road accident in which a person was injured or property was damaged – the officer may disqualify the driver from holding a driving licence for a period of 60 days;
(3)for an offence listed in the Fourth Schedule – the officer may disqualify the driver from holding a driving licence for a period of 30 days.
(f)Where the driver has not appeared before the police officer at the time for which summoned as referred to in subsection (c), the police officer may disqualify the driver from holding the driving licence under subsection (e) even in the driver's absence, and from that time the driver shall be regarded as a person who has been notified of disqualification from holding a driving licence and the provisions of section 67 shall apply.
(f1)Where a person has been disqualified by a police officer under the provisions of subsection (b) as applied in Section D of Chapter IV-A of the Railway Ordinance, from holding a licence to drive a light rail, for a period, on account of an offence committed as set out below relating to a light rail, a police officer may also disqualify that person from holding a driving licence, during the period of validity of the disqualification from holding a licence to drive a light rail, in whole or in part:
(1)an offence under items (1), (3), (6), (8) or (11) of the Fourth Schedule, as applied in Section D of Chapter IV-A of the Railway Ordinance;
(2)an offence that caused a road accident in which a person was killed or injured.
(g)A disqualification imposed by a police officer on the driver from holding a driving licence shall commence from the giving of the decision.
(h)In calculating the period of disqualification, the period that elapsed until the licence was delivered to the authority designated for that purpose in the Regulations and in the manner prescribed shall not be counted.
(i)The court competent to try the offence on account of which the licence was disqualified under subsection (e) may extend the disqualification until the conclusion of the trial or cancel it, with or without conditions.
(j)Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (e)(2) and (3), the licensing authority on behalf of the Israel Defence Forces may grant a driving licence to a person disqualified as referred to in that subsection while serving in a military capacity only, if the authority is satisfied that this is required for an urgent and defined military need; the provision of this subsection shall not apply in the case of an accident in the circumstances referred to in section 64a.
(k)A police officer as aforesaid shall return a driving licence to a person disqualified from holding it under this section, if satisfied that no indictment will be filed against the licence holder.

Cancellation of Disqualification§

48.

A person disqualified by an order of a police officer as referred to in section 47 may apply to the court competent to try the offence to cancel the disqualification; and the court, after hearing the Attorney General or the Attorney General's representative or a police officer, may cancel the disqualification, with or without conditions, if satisfied that cancellation of the disqualification will not prejudice public safety.

Review and Appeal§

49.

A decision of the court under sections 46, 46b, 47, 48 or 50 is subject to review and appeal in the manner prescribed in the Criminal Procedure Law, 5725-1965, with respect to an order given on an application for release on bail, as if it were such an order; a judge reviewing such an application may uphold the prior decision, vary it or annul it, or substitute another decision in its place which the said court was competent to give, or remit the matter to the said court for the giving of another decision by it.

Cancellation of Disqualification§

50.
(a)If three months have passed from the day on which a licence holder was disqualified under sections 46 or 47 and no charge has been filed with the court against the licence holder in respect of the act or omission on account of which the holder was disqualified – the disqualification shall be cancelled, unless the court has directed, for special reasons recorded in writing, that the period of disqualification be extended for a period to be determined by it.
(b)If six months have passed from the day on which a licence holder was disqualified under sections 46 or 47 and no judgment has been given in respect of the act or omission on account of which the holder was disqualified – the disqualification shall lapse, unless the court has directed otherwise.

Disqualification on Grounds of Competence§

51.

The licensing authority may, by a reasoned decision, disqualify a person holding a driving licence, permanently, for a specified period, or until the fulfilment of conditions to be prescribed in the decision, if it is satisfied that the licence holder is unfit to drive by reason of impaired driving competence.

Disqualification of a Licence to Drive a Bus by Reason of Disqualification of a Licence to Drive a Local Train§

51a.
(a)Where a person has been disqualified by the Administrator appointed for the purposes of a local railway pursuant to section 2a of the Railways Ordinance from holding a licence to drive a local train, in accordance with the provisions of Section H of Chapter IV-A of the Railways Ordinance, or where the Administrator has decided to suspend that person's said licence, the licensing authority may disqualify that person from holding a licence to drive a bus permanently, for a specified period or until conditions set by it in its decision have been fulfilled, in accordance with the conditions and period set out in the Administrator's decision, unless circumstances exist that do not justify such disqualification; in this section, "bus" – excluding a private minibus within its meaning under this Ordinance.

Suspension of a Licence on Safety Grounds§

52.
(a)If the licensing authority is of the opinion that a person's manner of driving constitutes a danger to traffic safety, it may order the suspension of that person's driving licence until the person passes examinations and medical tests to be prescribed by it and is found fit to drive a vehicle, provided that the authority shall invite the person to the examinations and medical tests within six weeks from the day on which it decided to suspend the licence.
(b)(Repealed).

Re-examination§

52a.
(a)If the licensing authority has reasonable grounds to assume that there is prima facie evidence that a person obtained a driving licence unlawfully, the authority may, in special circumstances and for reasons to be recorded in writing, invite that person to a repeat driving test, provided that 18 months have not yet elapsed from the day on which the person received the driving licence.
(b)If a driving licence holder as referred to in subsection (a) fails the repeat driving test or does not appear for the repeat test, the licensing authority may revoke that person's driving licence until the person passes a driving test successfully.

Imposition of Conditions on Grounds of Competence§

53.

The licensing authority may, by a reasoned decision, impose conditions on a driving licence if it is of the opinion that conditions are necessary by reason of the impaired driving competence of the licence holder.

Obligation to Undergo Instruction§

54.

The licensing authority may, by written direction, require a driving licence holder to receive driving instruction on its behalf.

Administrative Appeal§

55.
(a)(Repealed).
(a1)An appeal against a decision of the licensing authority under section 51, given on grounds of medical fitness after a decision of a medical appeals committee as referred to in section 55a(b) has been given, shall lie before the Administrative Affairs Court; such an appeal shall be on a question of law only.
(b)(Repealed).
(c)(Repealed).
(d)(Repealed).

Appeal in Respect of Medical Approval for Driving§

55a.
(a)The licensing authority shall, by notice in the Reshumot (Official Gazette), appoint authorised physicians for the purpose of granting medical approval for driving.
(b)An applicant for a driving licence or a driving licence holder who considers themselves aggrieved by a decision of an authorised physician may appeal, within the time to be prescribed in Regulations, before a medical appeals committee of three physicians drawn from a list approved by the Minister in consultation with the Minister of Health.
(c)The panel and the chairperson of each medical appeals committee shall be determined in the manner to be prescribed in Regulations.
(d)An appeal under section 55 against a decision of the licensing authority under section 51 given on grounds of medical fitness shall not be filed unless a decision of a medical appeals committee has been given on an appeal against the decision of the authorised physician; for this purpose, the time for filing the appeal shall be reckoned from the day on which the decision of the medical appeals committee was notified to the licence holder.

Authority's Power to Disqualify Dangerous Drivers§

56.

If the licensing authority is satisfied, on the basis of evidence brought before it, that a driving licence holder's manner of driving constitutes a danger to road users, or that the driving licence holder is unruly or disturbed, it may, by a reasoned decision and after the person has been given an opportunity to present arguments before it, disqualify that person from holding a driving licence.

Cancellation, Lapse and Confirmation of Disqualification§

57.
(a)A driving licence holder who has been disqualified from holding it as referred to in section 56 may apply to a traffic judge for the cancellation of the disqualification.
(b)A disqualification under section 56 shall lapse upon the expiry of 30 days from the day of the disqualification decision, if an application for its confirmation has not been submitted to a traffic judge before the expiry of that period or if it has not been cancelled by the judge before then.
(c)A traffic judge may confirm the disqualification, permanently, for a specified period or until the fulfilment of conditions to be determined, modify it or cancel it.

Administrative Prohibition on Use of a Vehicle§

57a.
(a)
(1)If a police officer, after weighing a commercial vehicle, finds that a person has transported cargo in the vehicle when the total weight of the vehicle and the cargo carried in it exceeds the maximum total weight permitted under the vehicle licence, the officer may deliver to the driver, and in respect of such a vehicle that is an autonomous vehicle – to the owner of the vehicle, a notice prohibiting the use of the vehicle (hereinafter – use prohibition notice) for a period of 30 days, or if during the preceding three years a use prohibition notice in respect of the same vehicle was delivered under this section, or a use prohibition order in respect of it was made under section 57c – for a period of 60 days, and to take the vehicle licence;
(2)If a police officer has grounds to assume that a driver committed in the officer's presence an offence listed in the Seventh Schedule, the officer may require the driver to accompany the officer to a police officer of higher rank or to take the vehicle licence from the driver, and the provisions of section 47(c), (d) and (f) shall apply, with the necessary modifications; if a police officer of higher rank has grounds to assume that a charge sheet will be filed against the driver, the officer may deliver to the driver a use prohibition notice in respect of the vehicle in which the offence was committed for a period of 30 days, or if during the preceding three years a use prohibition notice in respect of the same vehicle was delivered under this section, or a use prohibition order in respect of it was made under section 57c – for a period of 60 days, and to take the vehicle licence;
(3)The provisions of this subsection shall not apply in respect of fine offences.
(b)A use prohibition notice shall specify the following:
(1)The place where the cargo carried in the vehicle is to be unloaded or where passengers being carried in the vehicle are to be alighted, as the case may be, including directions regarding the unloading of the excess cargo if its unloading at the place where the vehicle is situated is not possible in the circumstances of the case, and directions regarding the alighting of passengers being carried unlawfully if their alighting at the place where the vehicle is situated is not possible in the circumstances of the case; for this purpose, "excess cargo" – cargo whose weight equals the difference between the maximum total weight permitted under the vehicle licence and the total weight of the vehicle and the cargo carried in it;
(2)The lot in which the vehicle is to be parked during the period of the use prohibition, to be selected having regard to the proposal of the driver, and in respect of such a vehicle that is an autonomous vehicle – to the proposal of the owner of the vehicle, from among the lots designated for this purpose; the Minister for Public Security, with the consent of the Minister and with the approval of the Economy Committee of the Knesset, shall prescribe provisions in this regard, including in respect of the manner of designating lots for the parking of vehicles during a use prohibition period and the competent authority to designate them, the number, location and size of such lots and the manner of guarding and supervising vehicles to be parked in them, as well as in respect of the rate of expenses for transporting vehicles to the lots designated under this paragraph and for parking them therein;
(3)The final date for carrying out the actions referred to in paragraphs (1) and (2).
(c)No person shall use a vehicle in respect of which a use prohibition notice has been given except for the purpose of travelling in order to carry out the actions referred to in subsection (b), at the places and on the dates specified in the notice, and shall not move it from the place designated for parking the vehicle except after receiving written approval from a police officer of higher rank.
(d)
(1)The police shall notify the licensing authority of the issuance of a use prohibition notice under this section; a copy of the use prohibition notice shall be sent to the owner of the vehicle if it was not delivered to the owner at the time of delivery of the use prohibition notice;
(2)If a use prohibition notice has been given under this section and the vehicle licence has not been taken, the owner of the vehicle shall deliver the vehicle licence to the authority prescribed in Regulations, at the time prescribed in Regulations, after the issuance of the use prohibition notice has been brought to the owner's knowledge.
(e)A police officer of higher rank shall cancel the use prohibition notice and shall notify the licensing authority thereof immediately, in any of the following:
(1)The owner of the vehicle has proved that the vehicle was taken from the owner without the owner's knowledge and without the owner's consent;
(2)The officer was satisfied that a charge sheet will not be filed in respect of the offence as referred to in subsection (a).
(f)If the charge sheet is struck out, the use prohibition notice shall lapse, and the prosecutor shall notify the licensing authority thereof immediately.

Application to the Court§

57b.
(a)The owner of a vehicle in respect of which a use prohibition notice has been given under section 57a, and also the driver who received the notice, may apply to the court competent to hear traffic offences for the cancellation of the use prohibition notice; the court shall decide on the application after having heard the Attorney General or the Attorney General's representative or a police officer.
(b)The court shall cancel the use prohibition notice if it finds that one of the following has occurred:
(1)The vehicle was taken from its owner without the owner's knowledge and without the owner's consent;
(2)The person who drove the vehicle acted contrary to the instructions of the owner of the vehicle, and the owner of the vehicle did everything within the owner's power to prevent the offence as referred to in section 57a(a).
(c)The court may cancel the use prohibition notice, or set a shorter period for the use prohibition, with or without conditions, if other circumstances exist beyond those referred to in subsection (b) that justify doing so, and for this purpose the court may take into account, inter alia, the connection between the owner of the vehicle and the person who drove the vehicle.

Judicial Prohibition on Use of a Vehicle§

57c.
(a)Where a person has been convicted of a traffic offence, the court may, in addition to any other penalty, order by Order a prohibition on use of the vehicle in which the offence was committed (hereinafter – use prohibition order) for a period of up to 120 days; in the use prohibition order the court shall designate the lot in which the vehicle is to be parked during the use prohibition period, from among the lots designated for this purpose under section 57a(b)(2).
(a1)Where a person has been convicted of an offence of failing to obey a traffic light showing red, committed in a vehicle, and aggravating circumstances exist within their meaning in section 29, the court shall, in addition to any other penalty, make a use prohibition order in respect of the vehicle for a period of not less than 60 days; however, the court may, in special circumstances to be set out in the verdict, make a use prohibition order for a shorter period to be determined by it.
(b)The court shall not make a use prohibition order in respect of a vehicle before the owner of the vehicle has been given an opportunity to present arguments in respect of the use prohibition.
(c)The court shall not make a use prohibition order in respect of a vehicle if its owner has proved one of the following:
(1)The vehicle was taken from the owner without the owner's knowledge and without the owner's consent;
(2)The person who drove the vehicle acted contrary to the owner's instructions, and the owner did everything within the owner's power to prevent the commission of an offence as referred to in subsection (a).
(c1)The court, in coming to decide on the period of the use prohibition, may take into account, inter alia, the connection between the owner of the vehicle and the person who drove the vehicle.
(d)
(1)Where a use prohibition order in respect of a vehicle has been made under this section, the owner of the vehicle shall deliver the vehicle licence to the authority prescribed in Regulations, within the period prescribed therein;
(2)The use prohibition shall commence on the date on which the Order is made, unless the court has set another date; however, in calculating the period specified in the use prohibition order, the period that elapsed until delivery of the vehicle licence as referred to in paragraph (1) shall not be counted.
(e)If the owner of the vehicle wishes to change the place of parking of the vehicle during the use prohibition period, the owner shall not do so except after receiving written approval from a police officer of higher rank.
(f)If the owner of the vehicle was not given an opportunity to present arguments as referred to in subsection (b), the owner may apply to the court for a reconsideration of its decision.

Expenses for Transporting a Vehicle to a Lot and Parking It Therein§

57d.

Expenses for transporting a vehicle to the lot in which it is to be parked during a use prohibition period under sections 57a to 57c and for parking it in the lot as aforesaid, at the rate prescribed under section 57a(b)(2), shall be paid by the owner of the vehicle, and the vehicle may be detained until they are paid; the court competent to hear traffic offences may, upon an application submitted to it, give any direction that appears to it to be appropriate in the matters referred to in this section, provided that it has given an opportunity to a person who may be affected by its decision to present arguments.

Appeal§

57e.

An appeal against a decision of the court under sections 57b to 57d may be brought before the District Court, which shall hear the appeal by a single judge.

Prohibition on Use of a Vehicle – Implementation and Supervision§

57f.
(a)The Minister for Public Security, in consultation with the Minister, may prescribe methods for the implementation of a use prohibition notice or a use prohibition order under the provisions of sections 57a to 57c, including the towing of the vehicle, its storage or the locking of its wheels as referred to in section 70a.
(b)For the purpose of supervising the implementation of a use prohibition notice or a use prohibition order made under the provisions of sections 57a to 57c, a police officer shall have the power to enter any place where the vehicle is supposed to be found or where the officer has reasonable grounds to assume the vehicle is located.

Return of the Vehicle Licence§

57g.

The vehicle licence shall be returned to the owner of the vehicle upon the expiry of the use prohibition period, or after the cancellation of the use prohibition, or if the accused is acquitted of the offence on account of which the use prohibition notice or the use prohibition order was given, as shall be prescribed in Regulations.

Procedure§

58.

The Minister of Justice shall prescribe the procedure for proceedings before a traffic judge on applications under section 57.

Suspension of Disqualification§

59.

If a traffic judge's decision has not been given within 60 days from the day of the licensing authority's decision on the disqualification and the judge has not directed otherwise, the disqualification shall be suspended until the judge's decision is given.

Appeal to the District Court§

60.

A decision of the traffic judge under section 57 is subject to appeal before the District Court within 10 days from the day on which it was notified to the holder of the driving licence.

Duty to Produce Driving Licence§

61.
(a)A holder of a driving licence who has been convicted of a traffic offence or of an offence under another law arising from the driving of a vehicle, or who has been disqualified from holding a licence or who has had conditions imposed on him under this Ordinance, is required to produce the licence to the authority specified in the Regulations within the period prescribed therein.
(b)The procedure for the registration and handling of a licence as referred to in subsection (a) shall be prescribed by Regulations.
(c)The provisions of this section shall apply also to the holder of a vehicle licence who has been disqualified from holding it, and to such a licence.

Database – Drivers Disqualified from Holding a Driving Licence§

61a.
(a)The Israel Police shall maintain a database containing the particulars detailed in subsection (b) in respect of every person who has been convicted of a traffic offence or of an offence under another law connected with the driving of a vehicle, and the court has disqualified that person, in a single judgment, from holding a driving licence for a period exceeding 60 days (in this section – disqualification).
(b)The database shall include the following particulars:
(1)the person's given name, family name and identity number;
(2)the duration of the disqualification period, as well as the calculated dates of its commencement and termination in accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance;
(3)conditions and qualifications in respect of the application of the disqualification, including conditions and qualifications under sections 36a and 41a.
(c)Where the court has determined that the disqualification shall be suspended pursuant to the provisions of section 36, no particulars in respect of that disqualification shall be included in the database, so long as the condition has not been activated.
(d)Where the disqualification has been cancelled or the disqualification period has ended, the information relating to that disqualification shall be deleted from the database.
(e)The database shall be open for public inspection on the Israel Police website and in any additional manner prescribed by the Minister for Public Security.
(f)
(1)A person who has inspected information about himself and found it to be incorrect, incomplete, unclear or not up to date, may apply to the Israel Police with a request to correct the information or to delete it (in this section – request).
(2)The Israel Police shall notify the applicant of its decision on the request; where the Israel Police has decided to grant the request, it shall make the required changes in the database within a period of time prescribed by Regulations.
(g)The provisions of this section shall apply notwithstanding the provisions of section 3 of the Criminal Register and Rehabilitation of Offenders Law, 5741-1981.
(h)
(1)The Minister for Public Security is responsible for the implementation of this section, and may, after consulting the Minister and with the approval of the Economics Committee of the Knesset, make Regulations for its implementation, including provisions in respect of –
(a)updating the information contained in the database, including methods of receiving information from the Administrator of Courts;
(b)methods of submitting a request;
(c)the content of the notice of the Israel Police's decision on the request and the methods of its delivery.
(2)Regulations under paragraph (1)(a) that concern methods of receiving information from the Administrator of Courts also require the consent of the Minister of Justice.

Transfer of Information to the Administrator for Local Railway Matters, Regarding Disqualified Driving Licences§

61a1.

The licensing authority shall transmit to the administrator appointed for matters of a local railway under section 2a of the Railways Ordinance, the following information, for the purpose of exercising his powers:

(1)a notice delivered by the Israel Police to the licensing authority in respect of a driving licence holder whom the administrator has notified, under section 46aa of the Railways Ordinance, is also the holder of a licence to drive a local train, and in respect of whom a police officer has decided, pursuant to the provisions of this Ordinance, to disqualify him from holding a driving licence, and regarding the period of validity of that decision;
(2)a notice in respect of a driving licence holder who is also the holder of a licence to drive a local train as referred to in paragraph (1), whom the licensing authority has decided, pursuant to the provisions of this Ordinance, to disqualify from holding a driving licence, permanently, for a specified period or until conditions set out in the decision have been fulfilled, and regarding the period of validity of that decision;
(3)a notice of a decision as referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) that has been cancelled or amended by the court.

Need to cite this law in a foreign court?

Eli Shimony Israeli Attorneys-at-Law provides certified Expert Legal Opinions on Israeli law within 24–48 hours, accepted by courts worldwide.

Contact Us →
← 1…456…10 →

Page 5 of 10

Read the entire law on one page — continuous text, no page breaks, plus PDF downloads.