Driving student gets ticket for running stop sign during test

Policeman gives teen NIS 250 fine for failing to halt, despite instructor’s attempts to talk him out of it

There’s nothing like a traffic ticket to let you know you are probably not passing today’s driving test.

A 17-year-old driving student learned that the hard way last week when he was stopped by a policeman, while he was taking the test on a scooter in the Haifa suburb, Kiryat Bialik, the Ynet news site reported.

The officer gave Moshe Ben-Hamo a NIS 250 ($74) ticket after he failed to come to a complete stop at a stop sign.

“He waited for me at the corner and stopped me. He said ‘Why didn’t you stop?’ and started writing a ticket. I told him I was nervous, and he said ‘Some people learn the hard way.'”

Ben-Hamo said his driving instructor attempted to intervene on his behalf, but was rebuffed.

Ynet reported that the ticket was annulled after the paper contacted police.

“The ticket was given for an offense that did occur,” police said in a statement. However, “police have the authority to use discretion in enforcing the law and this instance is such a case.”

Officials wished the driver a “safe and law-abiding” driving experience in the future.