A major new phase of Israel’s traffic enforcement reform has officially taken effect, significantly changing how many drivers can challenge speeding tickets and other moving violations. Under the expanded system, motorists cited for a broad range of offenses will no longer be able to automatically request a court hearing. Instead, they will first have to appeal through a newly established administrative traffic tribunal.

The latest stage of what has become known as the “Sa’ar Reform” went into effect over the weekend, extending the administrative process to traffic offenses carrying fines ranging from 750 to 1,500 shekels, as well as many speeding violations that previously qualified for an automatic court appearance.

The reform was originally introduced while Gideon Sa’ar served as justice minister in the Bennett-Lapid-Abbas government. Its goal was to move a substantial portion of traffic offenses out of the criminal court system and into an administrative framework, reducing the burden on Israel’s courts while handling most cases through a digital process. When promoting the initiative, Sa’ar said it reflected a policy of decriminalization and would spare drivers unnecessary criminal proceedings and court appearances.

The first phase of the reform took effect on February 8, 2026, covering violations carrying fines of between 100 and 500 shekels, excluding speeding offenses. As of August 8, the system now also includes qualifying speeding tickets and violations carrying fines between 750 and 1,500 shekels. During Knesset Economic Affairs Committee discussions, lawmakers noted that the expanded system covers several significant offenses, including using a cellphone while driving, running a red light, and certain speeding violations.

Under the new process, drivers who believe a citation was issued in error will no longer submit a request for a traditional traffic court hearing. Instead, they must file an appeal with the administrative traffic tribunal. In most cases, the matter will be decided based on written submissions and evidence filed electronically by both sides. The tribunal may hold a hearing only if it determines one is necessary to achieve justice, generally through remote technology and, in exceptional circumstances, in person.

One of the most significant changes involves sentencing authority. Unlike a criminal traffic court, the administrative tribunal cannot increase or reduce the statutory fine. It may uphold the citation, dismiss it, modify the decision, or even change the traffic offense attributed to the driver. As a result, while the tribunal reviews the facts and evidence independently, it does not have the discretion to tailor the amount of the fine based on individual circumstances if the violation itself is upheld.

Although some critics have claimed the new system leaves drivers with little opportunity to appeal, the law still provides judicial review. Final decisions by the administrative tribunal may be appealed to the Traffic Division of the Magistrate’s Court. Appeals of interim rulings require permission from the court, with additional review procedures available under the law. In other words, court oversight remains in place, but the courts are no longer the first stop for challenging most citations.

The reform has drawn criticism since it was first proposed. The Israel Bar Association’s Traffic Law Committee warned during the legislative process that the changes could weaken motorists’ legal protections by replacing traditional court proceedings with a more limited administrative process. Supporters countered that there is little justification for processing hundreds of thousands of routine traffic violations through the full criminal court system and argued that the new framework would resolve cases more efficiently.

Questions about the system intensified following its initial rollout. During a June meeting of the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee, the chairman of Israel’s Trucking and Transportation Council said that only nine of approximately 500 appeals filed under the new process had been accepted. At the same hearing, committee chairman MK David Bitan criticized the Transportation Ministry and called for greater flexibility for law-abiding drivers.

At the same time, the committee approved changes to Israel’s driver’s license point system to align with the reform. Under the revised rules, offenses carrying up to six penalty points will now be removed from a driver’s record after one year, while penalties have been increased for dangerous violations such as using a cellphone while driving, running red lights, and driving on road shoulders.

For many Israeli motorists, the practical effect is immediate. Drivers cited for speeding or other higher-value traffic offenses may now discover that the legal process has fundamentally changed. Rather than automatically requesting a hearing before a traffic judge, they must first pursue a digital appeal through the administrative tribunal, with the courts serving only as the appellate forum if necessary.