Reporter Raviv Drucker Questioned by Police Over Driving While Using Phone Allegations

Israeli journalist Raviv Drucker was summoned for questioning by the Traffic Division of the Israel Police on Monday following a video that appears to show him holding a mobile phone while driving. The summons came after two complaints were filed with the police regarding the footage, which was broadcast as part of a report by Drucker himself.

One complaint was filed by Tomer Halperin, represented by attorney Ilan Bombach. The complaint alleges that the video shows Drucker driving with one hand on the wheel and the other holding and using a mobile phone. This is claimed to be a violation of traffic regulations prohibiting drivers from holding a phone while the vehicle is in motion, unless using a hands-free device. The complaint emphasizes that the prohibition extends to simply holding the phone, not just making calls, and that the public broadcast of the footage strengthens the need for an investigation.

A second complaint was lodged the previous week by social media personality Evgeny Zarubinsky. Zarubinsky stated that he contacted the police after seeing the footage, arguing that the apparent violation, coupled with Drucker's self-documentation and subsequent publication of the video, demonstrates a disregard for the law and sets a poor example. He urged the police to enforce the law equally for all citizens, highlighting the life-threatening nature of using a mobile phone while driving.

The video in question was featured in Drucker's investigative report on Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu. The image attached to the complaint shows Drucker in his vehicle, holding what appears to be a mobile device. Following the complaints and the review of the footage by relevant authorities, Drucker was called in for questioning.