New enforcement unit goes after ‘traffic thugs’ in Dimona

Force comprised of police, municipal inspectors with new powers issues 94 tickets to drivers parking on sidewalk, committing dangerous road offenses.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
VOLUNTEER CYCLISTS prepare to police streets of Yeroham 311 (photo credit: Courtesy: Israel Police)
VOLUNTEER CYCLISTS prepare to police streets of Yeroham 311
(photo credit: Courtesy: Israel Police)
A new Urban Police team in Dimona has begun tackling “thuggish driving” and disruptive parking behavior this week, police spokesman Tamir Abatavi said on Sunday.
The force, made up of policemen and municipal inspectors with new powers, issued 94 tickets to drivers who parked on the sidewalk or committed dangerous offenses on the road, Abatavi added.
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The unit is part of a police reform introduced by Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, which involves giving municipal inspectors increased powers following a period of training, and joining them up with police officers.
The new force has also focused on teenage binge drinking, and poured out alcoholic beverages taken from young men found drinking in public in violation of a new law on five occasions in recent days.
Meanwhile, in Yeroham, a new unit of police volunteers on bicycles had begun operating in conjunction with the local station’s community police department.
“The unit has 10 volunteers and we aim to increase it,” Abatavi said.