Newsroom
Cyprus lawmakers on Thursday unanimously passed a long-awaited amendment to the law governing professional driver’s licenses, ending the blanket lifetime ban for bus and taxi drivers with past drug-related convictions.
The change comes after years of pressure from professional drivers and MPs, who argued that the 2019 law was overly harsh, stripping long-time workers of their right to earn a living, even in cases where the offense occurred many years ago.
Under the new law, people previously convicted of illegal drug use or possession will no longer be automatically banned for life from holding a professional driver’s license. Instead, they will be eligible to apply under strict conditions designed to protect public safety.
New conditions for ex-offenders
To apply for or renew a license, individuals must now:
Wait seven years after release from prison or ten years after the conviction.
Undergo drug screening three times a year, without notice, conducted by the Road Transport Department (TOM).
Pass an initial drug test before receiving the license.
If an individual fails any future police drug or alcohol test, they will permanently lose the right to obtain or renew their professional license again.
Balancing public safety with second chances
Lawmakers across party lines said the amendment restores balance between public safety and the right to work and rehabilitate. Several MPs argued that the original law amounted to lifelong punishment, even for those who had committed minor offenses years ago and had since led law-abiding lives.
“This was not just harsh, it was inhumane,” said DIKO MP Panikos Leonidou, calling the amendment a long-overdue act of justice. Independent MP Andreas Themistocleous also criticized the old law as regressive and questioned whether heavy penalties always achieve the intended effect.
AKEL MP Aristos Damianou, whose party had previously attempted to amend the law twice, welcomed the outcome, saying the new system restores “the right to work and human dignity” while maintaining necessary safeguards.
Broader implications
Several MPs noted that the change would also benefit individuals punished for offenses committed as teenagers, who were effectively barred from professional driving for life. Some called for additional efforts to address other forms of legal exclusion stemming from past convictions.
While not everyone agreed on the level of screening required, most lawmakers agreed that strict monitoring, combined with a clear path to redemption, strikes a fair balance between justice, safety, and social reintegration.
The revised law is expected to bring relief to dozens of drivers who had been sidelined by the old legislation and could open the door for others seeking a second chance behind the wheel.
