The government will adopt a new policy to deter traffic violators and violent drivers - the confiscation of the offender's vehicle, Israel Hayom reported.
"There are traffic offenders who are not deterred by disqualification penalties and short months in prison," a senior official in the traffic department explained. "The time has come to hit them hard in the pocketbook, and what's more - to take away the vehicle with which they committed the crime."
Every police officer currently has the authority to impound the vehicle of a traffic offender who is the midst of committing a crime such as drunk driving or driving above the speed limit, for a period of 30 to 90 days. Afterwards the vehicle is returned to its owner.
In recent months, as part of the fight to restore safety to Israel's roads, the police's prosecution unit and the traffic division formulated a new procedure allowing the confiscation of repeat traffic offenders. Under the procedure, as part of the filing of an indictment against traffic offenders, the police may also submit a request to confiscate the offender's vehicle. If the court grants the request, the vehicle will be sold and the proceeds from the sale will be transferred to the State Treasury.
Recently, the police prosecution demanded that 50% of the vehicle of a person who was driving with a suspended license be permanently confiscated, a vehicle worth NIS 120,000. The court agreed to the request, and determined that the police will sell the vehicle and the amount will be transferred to the state treasury, or that the owner of the vehicle will pay half of the amount.