MK (Yahadut Hatorah) received numerous complaints during chol hamoed from travelers heading to and from Bnei Brak. They explained that inspectors boarded the bus at main intersections including the entrance of Bnei Brak and detained the bus while they inspected all passengers.
Eichler began to probe the matter with relevant agencies including the State Comptroller’s Office. He learned that in line with Regulation 428, bus stops are to permit passengers to get on and off buses exclusively, and there is no provision for stopping a bus at a non-designated bus stop.
This week Eichler received the response from the state ombudsman, with the latter explaining he was also in touch with Transportation Ministry officials. The response states clearly that inspectors may check passengers as a bus travels but they do not have the authority to detain a bus for inspection.
Eichler calls on bus companies to adhere to the law and to refrain from inspections that result in delays. He added inspectors would never dare to carry out such inspections on the Jerusalem –Tel Aviv line, and therefore they should stop harassing passengers on the Bnei Brak – Jerusalem line. He calls for treating chareidi passengers with the same respect given to passengers in other sectors of the country.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
Very confusing. What are they inspecting, the buses or the Chareidim? Are these safety inspections for buses which happen to be on routes with lots of Chareidi passengers or are they checking the Chareidim to be sure they are not disguised terrorists carrying bombs or other possible terrorist devices. In either case, why is everyone so upset since either type of inspection would appear to be in everyone’s interest.
They are inspecting that everyone on the bus paid for their ride.
If there is evidence that Chareidim, as a group, are more likely to evade the fare and try to cheat, would it be “racial profiling” to stop Chareidi buses more frequently than buses carrying predominantly Chilonim?
Gadolhadorah haha your out for lunch my friend
#3: The article wasn’t about the propriety of checking for farebeating, profiling-wise. It was rather whether inspectors are allowed to delay the bus in order to do so. I think we can all agree that, even if they should be allowed to delay buses to check for terrorists and mechanical defects, they shouldn’t be allowed to hold up a bus to check tickets.
True