Knesset takes first step to slash public transit fines

Just before the Passover break, the Knesset gave a thumbs-up to a new bill that’s got a lot of public transit users breathing a sigh of relief. In its first reading, the plenum voted to cut down fines for people caught riding without activating their tickets. It’s a move that’s been a long time coming for anyone who’s ever fumbled with a Rav-Kav card or mobile app while scrambling onto a bus.

If you’ve ever taken a bus or train in Israel, you know the drill: you buy your ticket ahead of time; whether it’s a paper stub, a prepaid Rav Kav, or through an app, and then scan it when you hop on. Drivers don’t usually check, but those sneaky inspectors? They’re a different story. They’ll pop onto a bus or train, checking every passenger’s ticket like hawks. If you don’t have a valid one, you’re hit with a hefty fine. The system’s built to stop fare dodgers, people who hold onto their tickets to use later while riding for free. But it’s also snagged plenty of honest commuters who just forgot to tap in.

The bill, pushed by Knesset members Moshe Roth from United Torah Judaism, Avraham Betzalel from Shas, and Moshe Solomon from the Religious Zionist Party, wants to fix that. “We’re trying to draw a line between the real freeloaders and people who paid but didn’t activate their ticket,” Roth said. “It doesn’t make sense to slap the same huge fine on someone who shelled out for a pass but forgot to scan it as you would on someone who never paid a dime.”

The idea is pretty straightforward: if you’ve got a bus pass or you’re exempt from paying, like some seniors or soldiers, you’d face a smaller fine than someone who didn’t buy a ticket at all. Plus, the law would make it official that you’ve got to activate your ticket right when you start your trip, something that’s already a rule for trains but hasn’t been enforced the same way on buses.

Roth’s excited about what this could mean. “This is great news for anyone who rides public transport here,” he told the plenum. “There’s no reason to hammer law-abiding people with massive fines just because they spaced out on activating their ticket. These aren’t crook, they’re regular citizens who made a mistake.” He also gave a shoutout to Betzalel and Solomon for teaming up on this, calling it a big win for fairness.

This isn’t just about lighter penalties, it’s part of a broader push to overhaul how public transit enforcement works. Roth sees it as a way to make the system less punishing and more welcoming, maybe even convincing a few more people to ditch their cars. For now, it’s just passed the first hurdle, but if it clears the next readings, it could change the game for commuters across Israel.