Less than a quarter of Israelis who received fines for breaking coronavirus regulations have paid their penalties, the Enforcement and Collection Authority reported on Tuesday.
Data shows that as of September 7, 2020, 208,259 penalties were given to citizens for breaking coronavirus regulations - an average of about 1,000 fines a day totaling NIS 107.3 million.
The penalty for not wearing a protective face mask in public is NIS 500.
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Police handing fines breaking coronavirus regulations at Bat Yam beach
(Photo: Moshe Ben Ami)
So far, only 48,040 fines have been paid, totaling around NIS 19 million.
The head of the Fine Collection Center at the Enforcement and Collection Authority, Doron Tashtit, said that 24,704 citizens who paid their fines missed the 90-day payment deadline and had to pay 50% interest.
"From the interactions with the Fine Collection Center, we learn that after receiving payment demands that include interest for delay, many citizens apply to have it revoked and the main reason they give for not paying the fine on time is rumors that fines were canceled or a pardon to everyone who received fines," he said.
Tashtit urged citizens to pay their dues on time to avoid paying delay interests and collection proceedings such as liens on bank accounts.