Jerusalem police stop driver with eight-month-old baby on his lap

Jerusalem police say they caught a 38-year-old driver from the Beit Hanina neighborhood on Sunday while he was driving with an eight-month-old baby on his lap. The case was uncovered during covert enforcement activity in the area.

According to police, the infant was sitting beneath the steering wheel without a required child seat, placing the baby's life in immediate danger. Police also said the driver himself was not wearing a seat belt.

An order to appear in court was issued against the driver. Police described the incident as a serious traffic violation that endangered both the child and other road users.

Chief Warrant Officer Eli Matlub, commander of the Jerusalem District's traffic enforcement unit, said the behavior was “irresponsible” and created a real risk to the infant's life. He added that a baby of that age must be secured in a proper seat and that, in the event of sudden braking or a crash, the outcome could be fatal. Matlub said Israel Police treats life-threatening traffic offenses severely and will continue acting against drivers who disregard their children's safety and that of everyone on the road.