Speeding Ticket Dismissed After Driver Proves Car's Limits

A traffic court in Bat Yam recently dismissed a speeding ticket issued to a driver accused of traveling at 211 kph (131 mph) in a 90 kph (56 mph) zone. The driver successfully proved that his car was incapable of reaching such speeds, leading the prosecution to admit the offense was committed by a motorcycle on a different lane. The incident occurred in May 2025 on Highway 44, captured by an A/3 camera. Although the vehicle's license plate was clearly visible in the scanned image, the driver argued the recorded speed belonged to a motorcycle in an adjacent lane.

To contest the charge, the driver presented documentation, including his car's technical specifications, which indicated a maximum speed of 190 kph (118 mph), significantly lower than the alleged speed. This was corroborated by data from a Pointer tracking system installed in his vehicle. Judge Shay Shalev reviewed the defense's evidence and noted that during the relevant time, the car was traveling between 79-89 kph (49-55 mph).

Following a review, the state withdrew the indictment. A prosecution representative explained that the A/3 system has sensors for each lane, and the relevant sensor was linked to lane 4, not lane 3. The motorcycle was not clearly discernible in the image, causing the operator to misidentify the vehicle. The court subsequently canceled the indictment and terminated the proceedings.

The judge emphasized that the driver did not commit the offense and commended the defense for effectively refuting the accusation. He also advised the police prosecution to carefully examine evidence and avoid hastily filing charges, especially for such high alleged speeds. However, the driver's request for reimbursement of defense expenses was denied, as the judge found no evidence of gross unreasonableness in the indictment's filing or undue delays in the proceedings.