The Ministry of Interior issued Resolution No. 1090 of 2026 outlining the smart home vehicle impoundment mechanism which defines the system as allowing impounded vehicles to remain at the owner’s home under electronic monitoring according to regulations set by the General Traffic Department. The resolution published in the official gazette Kuwait Al-Youm last month applies to violations listed under Article 207 of Ministerial Resolution No. 81 of 1976 and permits owners of already impounded vehicles to request transfer to the home-based system. Vehicle owners must pay an additional KD 10 fee if a traffic officer installs the monitoring device at their residence with the charge applied per vehicle when multiple are involved according to the ministry’s decision. The General Traffic Department will begin activating the system on September 6 with impoundment commencing at midnight on the day of violation and owners receiving notification through the Sahel application to complete release procedures at designated locations.
According to the ministerial resolution vehicle owners opting for the service face strict obligations that include refraining from tampering with or damaging the installed device and covering its full replacement cost if such damage occurs. Owners must also report any device malfunction immediately to the General Traffic Department and adhere to all movement restrictions specified during device installation with the unit returned the day after the impoundment period concludes. The resolution subjects violators of these rules to penalties under Article 34 of Decree-Law No. 67 of 1976 a framework the ministry established to maintain enforcement integrity while expanding technology-driven options.
The smart home impoundment builds on traffic law amendments introduced in 2025 that first authorized the minister to establish rules for home-based vehicle detention using modern technological means the ministry noted in related decisions. Those updates assigned the General Traffic Department responsibility for setting conditions storage expenses and procedures for impounded vehicles including potential external partnerships for transport and monitoring. Implementation of the new system follows months of preparation after the August publication of Resolution 1090 with the September 6 start date allowing time for motorists to familiarize themselves with the electronic device requirements and associated fees.
A daily charge of KD 2 will apply for each day the vehicle remains under smart home impoundment in addition to the one-time installation fee the ministry’s resolution specified. The system enables the transfer of vehicles already held at traffic facilities to owners’ homes upon approval and compliance with all technical and regulatory conditions outlined by the General Traffic Department. This approach aims to reduce physical storage demands at official impoundment sites while ensuring continued oversight through the approved monitoring technology.
The Ministry of Interior has urged motorists to comply fully with traffic regulations to avoid violations that could trigger the impoundment process and its associated costs. Data from previous years showed thousands of monthly traffic cases processed by the General Traffic Department many involving the categories now eligible for home monitoring under the updated rules. Officials have framed the service as part of ongoing efforts to streamline procedures through digital tools that maintain public safety standards across Kuwait’s road network.
