Police in East Jerusalem stopped a 38-year-old Jerusalem resident yesterday in the neighborhood of Beit Hanina after spotting him driving with an 8-month-old baby on his lap. The infant was sitting under the steering wheel, without any legally required restraint, in a position police said posed an extreme danger to his life.
According to the police, the driver was also not wearing a seat belt. Officers from the Jerusalem Station found him during a covert enforcement operation and were stunned by what they saw. Police issued him a summons to court for the traffic offenses.
R/Sgt. Eli Matlov, commander of the Jerusalem District’s YaMAR etan unit, called it “reckless behavior that places an innocent baby in immediate danger.” He said an 8-month-old must be seated according to the law in a proper child restraint system. “In the event of sudden braking or a traffic accident, the results could be fatal,” he warned.
Matlov added that Israel Police treats life-threatening traffic violations seriously and will continue acting against drivers who show disregard for their children’s safety and for the safety of all road users.