Jerusalem traffic investigators stopped a 38-year-old resident of Beit Hanina on Sunday after spotting his car being driven dangerously during a covert enforcement operation. When officers pulled the vehicle over in the neighborhood, they found an 8-month-old baby sitting between the driver’s legs, directly under the steering wheel.
Police said the infant was not secured in any child restraint system, as required by law, and the driver was also not wearing a seat belt. Officers said the scene exposed the child to immediate danger, especially in the event of sudden braking or a crash, which they warned could have been fatal.
A summons was issued against the driver for several serious traffic offenses, including driving without a seat belt and transporting a child without proper restraint. The police did not report any injuries.
Chief Inspector Eli Matlov, commander of the Jerusalem district’s traffic enforcement unit, called it “reckless behavior that poses a real danger to the life of a helpless infant.” He added that an 8-month-old child must be seated according to the law in a seat with dedicated restraint systems, and said police will continue to act firmly against drivers who endanger children and other road users.
