Running a red will cost you.
Photo: Roee Zukerman
Run a red, pay NIS 1,500
Fines for traffic violations to increase next month, Knesset committee orders on the heels of 2016's 376 road deaths; riding an electric bicycle under the age of 16 will now cost offenders NIS 1,000.
The Knesset's Economic Affairs Committee approved an order on Tuesday to increase punishments for serious crimes. Under the increase in fines that is to take effect next month, drivers who run a red light will be fined NIS 1,500.
Israeli drivers regularly running red lights (צילום: עמית שאבי, גיל נחושתן, זהר שחר)
The committee's chairman, MK Eitan Cabel (Zionist Union), said, "Running a red light is one of the most serious crimes, and whoever runs a red needs to pay." He added that the committee intended to invite the relevant ministers to a special session following the increase in number of deaths from traffic accidents in 2016.
MK Ya'akov Asher (United Torah Judaism), one of the committee members, suggested that they consider putting the excess money collected from the increased fines towards the state's fight against traffic accidents.
Flouting the law (Photo: Amit Shabi)
The committee also raised the fine on driving without a valid car registration. If caught operating a vehicle whose registration's validity expired up to six months ago, motorists will now have to pay NIS 1,000 instead of NIS 750.
Driving with a license that expired between six months and two years prior will pay NIS 750. In addition, driving at speeds of 31–40 km/h over the limit on city streets and 41–50 km/h over on intercity streets will carry a fine of NIS 1,500.
Failing to yield to pedestrians will now cost drivers NIS 250.
For those on two wheels rather than four, riding an electric bicycle under the age of 16 will now carry a NIS 1,000 fine, and the other fines related to violations on electric bicycles will be raised from NIS 100 to 250.
Last year was the deadliest on Israel's roads in the past five. The total number of road deaths in 2016 was 376 if one takes into consideration the four persons who were succumbed to injuries in 2017 that were sustained in the preceding year.
