Itamar Ben Gvir intends to challenge stricter speed enforcement
The Minister of National Security, who has 78 recorded traffic violations, criticized the police decision to lower the speed enforcement threshold. He announced plans to discuss the matter with the Police Commissioner.
A new opponent of the speed camera revolution: the decision by the police Traffic Division to lower the enforcement threshold and issue fines even for minimal deviations from the speed limit has drawn criticism, joined on Tuesday by Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir.
The chairman of Otzma Yehudit, who has an extensive history of dozens of traffic violations, responded to the decision:
"I do not like it, and I intend to hold a discussion with the Police Commissioner."
It remains unclear, however, what authority he has to reverse the decision. The police are implementing a legal amendment that shifts a significant portion of traffic offenses into the administrative domain, lowering enforcement thresholds for stationary (A-3) cameras.
Under the stricter enforcement regime, on roads with a 70 km/h limit, fines will be issued at 75 km/h instead of the previous 85 km/h threshold. The police will not disclose which roads will be subject to these adjusted thresholds.
Simultaneously, a legal amendment has taken effect, changing the adjudication mechanism. Most traffic offenses are now classified as "administrative violations" rather than criminal ones, streamlining the point accumulation system and replacing court appearances with written objections to an administrative tribunal.
Since obtaining his license, Ben Gvir has been caught 78 times for traffic violations over 23 years, including 19 counts of driving without a seatbelt, 11 counts of using a mobile phone while driving, and two instances of running a red light. In April 2024, the minister was involved in an accident when his 3.5-ton armored Skoda Superb ran a red light and collided with another vehicle, causing the armored car to overturn. Reports from Ynet at the time indicated that at least three passengers, including the minister and his daughter, were not wearing seatbelts.
