Professor Yaron Zileha Threatens Legal Action Against Highway 6 Operator
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Professor Yaron Zileha, a potential future Finance Minister, has threatened to end the Highway 6 concession in 2032 and investigate its current fine collection practices, which he deems excessive and potentially illegal under competition law. He vowed to seek refunds for drivers if he takes office.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yaron Zileha threatens to end Highway 6 concession in 2032.
- He plans to investigate current fine collection practices.
- Zileha claims fines are exorbitant and violate competition law.
- He vowed to seek refunds for drivers if elected.
- The threats follow reports on Highway 6's collection methods.
Professor Yaron Zileha, who aims to serve as Finance Minister after the upcoming elections, has issued a strong warning to the concessionaire of Highway 6, Derech Eretz. Following a series of reports by C14 concerning fines and charges on the toll road, Zileha stated that if he assumes office, he will ensure the concession is not extended beyond its current term, which ends in 2032. He declared that the road would then be returned to the public to travel freely.
Zileha also threatened to investigate the charges under competition laws, asserting that the concessionaire, as a regional monopoly, cannot continue to charge exorbitant fines. He argued that the fines, approved nearly 30 years ago under different economic conditions and risk assessments, are no longer justified given the current success of the model and the low collection costs. "You cannot continue to rob the people of Israel with crazy fines," Zileha stated.
Furthermore, Zileha vowed to establish an inquiry committee to examine the excessive pricing if the current collection methods persist. He warned the concessionaire that they would be required to refund all illegally collected funds. "If you dare to collect such fines, I will establish an inquiry committee to examine the excessive prices under competition laws, and you will have to return all this money back to those you collected it from," he said.
These statements come in response to C14's investigative reports detailing the collection practices on Highway 6, including instances where drivers' debts ballooned due to charges described as "compensation and expense reimbursement." The reports have prompted numerous similar accounts from other drivers who have contacted C14.