Policeman was stunned: on bus from Betar a hundred people crowded

An Illite company bus was stopped on its way to Bnei Brak tonight (Tuesday), when it turned out that is was driving close to 100 passengers, double the limit.

Border Police officer noticed on the Shapirim interchange on Route 1, on a bus of Illite company driving erratically on the road. The police ordered the driver to stop and called the police national traffic police unit.

An examination revealed that the bus drove along the route between Betar Illit Bnei Brak with 95 passengers when it has only 50 places.

The bus was taken to the near by traffic wing to transfer the dozens of passengers transported illegally, to safe transport.

The 30 year old bus driver, resident of Beitar, was detained for questioning for transporting passengers over the limit and risking them.

One of the passengers told Behadrey HAredim that "treatment of the bus took about an hour and passengers were not allowed to leave by taxis.

"During the bus ride I did not feel the bus was abnormally swinging until detained by a man in civilian dress, and was taken by the police to a traffic department center nearby. After about 10 minutes the passengers were taken off, the police separated the men and women, and asked everyone for ID's.

"Some of the passengers grumbled and said that the attitude of the police to them seemed discriminatory and racist."

He added and said that Egged bus lines during Chol Hamoed days are even more packed and were never delayed.

Spokesman for the Israeli police traffic department, control Zivan Freidin, responded to a query by Behadrey Haredim that passengers were asked to get out and provide ID numbers in order to prove that the number of passengers is above the limit.

As to the claims of racism, he said: "No one can relate to subjective feelings and the passenger is invited to file a complaint at the officer Ombudsman. The traffic police is working on inter-urban roads, with no difference between such companies and others. In an event of a bus loaded with passengers, you can call the police and invite patrol officers .

A factor in 'Illit' told Behadrey Haredim that "less than a week ago, the Ministry of Transport published control data of public transport, the inspection found that residents of Beitar Illit get the best service from Illite company.

"During Hanukkah, Illit reinforced the buses by tens of percent, due to the great demand, but the driver can not count at each station how many passengers came on, especially when most of the passengers on the bus are small children, sitting three in one bench."

He further added that the Illit company is checking the details of the case in order to draw conclusions.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!