Types of Driving License Offenses in Israel

This article will address various types of driving license offenses in Israel. In Israel, the Ministry of Transport and Road Safety oversees traffic and transport law.

5 Primary Types of Driving License Offenses in Israel

It is illegal to drive without a proper, valid license for the relevant type of vehicle being driven. However, there are actually multiple different offenses, some minor and some very grave. The offenses are listed here from the most to least severe:

Driving with a suspended driver’s license – If the courts or the police have suspended or revoked a person’s license due to a serious traffic offense and yet they are caught driving during the period of their suspension, they may face serious consequences including up to three years in prison (especially if it is a repeated offense) as well as a long, or even permanent, suspension of one’s driver’s license.
Driving without a license – Driving a vehicle without ever having been issued a driver’s license is also a serious offense in Israel. Its maximum penalty includes up to two years in prison and will always include a minimum of three months’ future suspension of one’s driver’s license (from the point in time at which the offender shall pass their driving test).
Driving with the wrong type of license – Driving a vehicle that is not covered by one’s driver’s license is a moderately serious offense that can result in a temporary suspension of one’s license. A less severe example of this violation is driving a manual-transmission vehicle when one is only licensed to drive automatic vehicles. A more severe offense, which can incur a more severe punishment, is driving a large truck, for example, when one is only licensed to drive private vehicles.
Driving unaccompanied during one’s accompaniment period – In Israel, every new driver under the age of 24 must be accompanied by an experienced older driver during the first several months after receiving their license. Being caught driving without a properly qualified companion during this mandatory accompaniment period will often result in a temporary suspension of one’s license among other consequences.
Driving with an expired driver’s license – The punishment for driving with an expired license depends on how much time has elapsed since the license has expired. The punishment can be as low as a 250 NIS fine with no requirement for a court appearance (if it has been less than half a year since the expiration of the license) to larger fines and a requirement to retake one’s driving test (if it has been over two years since the expiration date).

In all cases, the consequences may be less severe if the driver can persuasively argue that there were extenuating circumstances (such as a medical emergency) that affected their decision to drive.

On the other hand, if the violation is a repeated offense, if one is found to violate other traffic laws while driving, or if the individual is caught driving another person’s vehicle without the owner’s permission, or if they are involved in a traffic accident, then the punishment may be more severe.

Hiring a Lawyer

As you can see, there are various types of driving license offenses in Israel. If you have been accused of driving without a proper or valid driver’s license, you should contact an experienced traffic lawyer immediately who will be able to advise you how best to proceed, as well as represent your case in court, if necessary.