Israel Police Roll Out New Speed Cameras, Ending Need for Real-Time Stops

Israel Police are implementing a new generation of speed enforcement technology that significantly reduces the need to stop drivers in real-time. The change allows officers to remain stationary, measure the speed of each passing vehicle, and issue tickets later. A key component of this shift is a new laser speed gun equipped with a camera. Unlike older laser devices, this system photographs the vehicle, eliminating the requirement for officers to pursue and stop drivers to establish evidence. This allows officers to measure and photograph multiple vehicles sequentially without interruption.

This technological upgrade enables police to enforce speed limits in locations previously difficult to monitor, such as elevated positions or areas where immediate stops are impractical. The new system is expected to increase the number of tickets issued by individual officers and make the assumption that one is not caught if not stopped less reliable. The police have also recently lowered the speed tolerance thresholds for some of the older, fixed "A-3" cameras, which will continue to operate until at least 2029. These cameras have already issued hundreds of thousands of tickets this year.

Further advancements are planned, including a system designed to measure average speed over entire road segments. This system will record a vehicle's license plate at the beginning and end of a designated stretch of road, calculating the average speed based on distance and time. This will render strategies like slowing down before a camera and then accelerating ineffective. While limitations exist, such as potential identification issues if multiple vehicles are in the frame and weather-related restrictions, the overall direction is a move towards automated, large-scale enforcement that captures thousands of vehicles without direct interaction.

Drivers have 30 days to appeal a ticket to the police prosecutor and an additional 30 days to request a court hearing if the appeal is denied. Fines and points vary based on the speed violation. For instance, exceeding the urban speed limit by 21-30 km/h results in a NIS 750 fine and 8 points, while exceeding it by 31-40 km/h leads to a NIS 1,500 fine and 10 points. Higher violations can result in a court summons.