Is offering a meal to a traffic officer in exchange for retrieving car documents after a traffic violation considered a "bribe" or "assistance"?

Adhering to traffic signals is an Islamic obligation because they are put in place for the public interest. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen issued a fatwa stating that running a red light is impermissible, basing his ruling on the Almighty's words: "O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you." (An-Nisa 4:59).

As for compelling the violator to pay a financial fine, this is a discretionary financial penalty (ta'zeer bil-mal), which is permissible according to many scholars, including Ibn al-Qayyim, who mentioned numerous examples of this from the Prophetic Sunnah and the actions of the Companions, such as burning stolen goods and taking half the wealth of those who withheld zakat.

Based on this, it is not permissible to evade paying the fine, and paying a dinner to a police officer is considered a forbidden bribe to waive a rightful obligation. Permissible bribery, on the other hand, is when a person is forced to give it to repel an injustice that cannot be repelled except by it.