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Last update - 06:08 16/07/2008 People who drive on the beach could face 6-month jail sentence By Fadi Eyadat, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: israel People who drive on the beach could now face a six-month sentence, under a bill approved by the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee Monday. The bill, which passed unanimously in its first reading, doubles the fines for such offenses, which are currently NIS 500 to 1,000. This comes after a 24-year-old tourist from Sweden was run over and seriously injured by an all-terrain vehicle on a Haifa beach two weeks ago. Advertisement The bill, initiated by MK Dov Khenin (Hadash), expands the law to include not only the shore, but also adjacent areas such as streams and springs, and nature reserves. "Beaches are not alternative racetracks or highways. The beaches belong to people, not to vehicles, and this is our reminder for those who may have forgotten," committee chairman MK Ophir Pines-Paz said at the meeting. Khenin added, "The phenomenon of wild driving on the beaches seems to return every year, endangering the lives of visitors and damaging the beaches. We intend to deal with all the weaknesses of the current law, and to reinforce it." Enforcement currently lies with police and municipal authorities. Chief Superintendent Avihu Regev, head of the police's environmental protection department, said the current level of enforcement is not enough. Likewise, the Interior Ministry official charged with supervising beaches, Yosef Amar, said the problem is particularly serious at beaches that local governments do not designate for public use. Pines-Paz requested that the bill be given high priority, and said that during its second and third readings, the committee will have to "consider the fact that the municipalities are not taking responsibility for undesignated beaches, which take up most of the shoreline. It is unacceptable to enforce the law where it is comfortable and to ignore it where it is not. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Hezbollah's pleasure For Israelis, the release of Kuntar is a form of self-inflicted torture. Exchange timeline How the prisoner exchange with Hezbollah will be carried out.   1.   horses 07:26  |  EVH 16/07/08   2.   And about time to 07:41  |  SJ 16/07/08   3.   Its about time! 08:05  |  Candice 16/07/08

Read & React VIDEO: Olmert, Assad dodge unwanted handshake in Paris Responses: 66 Obama camp slams New Yorker cover of him in Muslim garb, wife as terrorist Responses: 220 Ahmadinejad: Direct U.S. talks possible in 'near future' Responses: 122 Cabinet okays Hezbollah prisoner swap, exchange set for Wednesday Responses: 138 Rosner's Domain The new 'Obama advisor' problem: Senator Chuck Hagel Attacking Iran to get the world's attention? U.S. pressures Israel: No bombing of Iran (WTR) Poll: The more religious the Jewish voter, the more pro-McCain More Headlines 08:13 Four Hezbollah militants, Kuntar moved to border base ahead of swap 04:29 ANALYSIS / In Lebanon, the prisoner swap is a Hezbollah victory 08:16 German mystery man to mediate prisoner exchange 08:11 Mother of Kuntar victim: How can you pardon him? 23:56 Lebanon declares state holiday marking return of prisoners 02:21 Olmert questioned over never-repaid $75,000 loan from Jewish-American businessman 01:24 Holocaust survivors in need of long-term hospital care strapped for funds 05:33 Hamas representatives delay talks on swap for Shalit 04:37 Israeli startup may have a cure for dyslexic typos 02:26 Joint secular-observant Jewish school system approved 03:00 TB's secret, hidden in ancient bones 23:37 Talansky: Olmert's lawyers won't break me in cross-questioning 06:08 People who drive on the beach could face 6-month jail sentence Previous Editions Select Day 15 jul 14 jul 13 jul 11 jul 10 jul 09 jul 08 jul 07 jul 06 jul 04 jul 03 jul 02 jul

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