Record fine for dangerous incident on the Kinneret – details

The Tiberias Magistrate's Court fined a jet ski driver a record 15,000 shekels for dangerous racing on the Sea of Galilee. The violator ignored speed limits and crossed the 300-meter zone, endangering swimmers. If the fine is not paid, he faces 75 days in prison.

The Tiberias Magistrate's Court issued a harsh verdict against a jet ski driver who engaged in dangerous racing on the Sea of Galilee. The man was fined a record 15,000 shekels for gross violations of navigation rules, creating emergency situations, and ignoring basic safety norms. According to case materials, the incidents occurred over several days in June. The violator accelerated beyond five knots (about 10 km/h) and performed risky maneuvers just fifteen meters from the shoreline, crossing the permitted 300-meter zone. The court ordered a fine of 15,000 shekels, with an alternative of 75 days in prison. Additionally, the convicted individual committed to refraining from similar offenses for three years, under threat of activating a conditional monetary obligation of 5,000 shekels. The leadership of the Kinneret Cities Association welcomed the court's decision. Deputy head of the department Yitzhak Gavish cited season statistics, during which staff encountered hundreds of various safety violations and dozens of high-profile incidents. Authorities are actively using drones and surveillance cameras. Hundreds of fines of 730 shekels have already been issued for noise violations on official beaches.