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Sunday, March 30, 2025
‘Do you know who I am?’: Ex-police chief pulled over for speeding but gets out of being ticketed
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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 was pulled over while driving at a speed of 84 mph (136 kph) in a zone close to Ashdod where the speed limit is 55 mph (90 kph), Channel 12 says.
Despite driving some 30 mph over the speed limit, Shabtai was never issued a fine or given any points on his license, as Channel 12 says he asked the police officer who pulled him over if she knew who he was.
After she confirmed that she knew he was the former chief of police, the officer let him go without any further action.
Speaking to Channel 12, Shabtai defends 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 says. “It can happen to anyone.”
He claims that he 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” about what to do.
“When a civilian is caught [speeding] for the first time, you tell them ‘no, no’ and release them,” he says. “I have never taken advantage of my position.”
The Times of Israel Community.