‘Do you know who I am?’: Ex-police chief gets out of speeding ticket

Former Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai was recently pulled over for speeding in southern Israel, but was let off without a ticket after asking the police officer if she knew who he was.

Shabtai, who served as the head of the force between 2021-2024, was pulled over while driving at a speed of 136 kph (84 mph) in a zone close to Ashdod where the speed limit is 90 kph (55 mph), Channel 12 reported.

Despite driving some nearly 50 kph over the speed limit, Shabtai was not issued a fine or given any points on his license.

Channel 12 said that after being stopped, Shabtai asked the police officer who pulled him over if she knew who he was.

After the officer confirmed that she knew he was the former chief of police, she let him go without any further action.

Speaking to Channel 12, Shabtai defended his actions, claiming that he was only speeding momentarily and that it was a “one-second distraction.”

“I drove at the legal limit for almost two hours,” he said. “It could happen to anyone.”

He asserted that he had asked the officer who pulled him over if she knew who he was, not because he wanted to avoid being given a ticket, but because she was “hesitating” over what to do.

“When a civilian is caught [speeding] for the first time, you tell them ‘tsk, tsk’ and release them,” he said. “I have never taken advantage of my position.”