<![CDATA[Law enforcement against traffic accident crimes resulting in death based on Article 310 paragraph (4) of Law No. 22 of 2009 in Batam City is still dominated by a punitive-retributive approach. This condition triggers a gap phenomenon with the paradigm of restorative justice as mandated in the new sentencing objectives of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the National Criminal Code. This study aims to analyze the legal regulation of fatal traffic accidents, the actual implementation of restorative justice in Batam City, as well as the obstacles and efforts to address them. The research method used is normative-empirical law with statutory, conceptual, and empirical approaches. The research data are sourced from secondary legal materials as well as primary data obtained through in-depth interviews with investigators from Satlantas Polresta Barelang, prosecutors from Kejari Batam, judges from PN Batam, legal counsel, and members of the Lembaga Adat Melayu (LAM) Kota Batam board. Research findings indicate that the current legal framework has produced vertical normative tensions and a lack of operational laws at the statutory level. The implementation of restorative justice in Batam City has not been optimal, with only 37 out of a total of 275 fatal cases resolved between 2023–2025. Peace agreements and material compensation are generally reduced merely to mitigating factors in court. The main obstacles stem from ambiguous legal provisions, sectoral egos and structural fears among law enforcement officials of ethical sanctions, limited integrated mediation facilities, as well as a culture of transactional law. Efforts undertaken include drafting a regional Integrated Joint Decree (SKB) and involving traditional community leaders. It is recommended that lawmakers revise the UU LLAJ to synchronize with the New KUHP, that Forkopimda Batam immediately ratify a local Integrated SKB as a legal umbrella for officials' discretion, and that the institutionalization of LAM Batam’s role as a neutral mediator be pursued to prevent economic discrimination.]]>
