Drivers cheated out of traffic camera warnings

After a re-launch of traffic cameras in October in the Republic of Cyprus, police have still not succeeded in sending out warning citations to violators as promised during grace period.

In late October, law enforcement authorities re-launched a number of mobile and fixed cameras to monitor traffic, promising the public that fines would not start being issued until January 1 next year, essentially giving a two-month grace period for violators to get used to the system and receive proper warnings in the mail.

But to date no single warning citation has been sent out, with reports suggesting the controversial system had not been vetted properly through legal channels.

According to Kathimerini Cyprus, traffic officials said agreements between police and the contracting private company had been stalled due to procedural issues, adding the matter was expected to be resolved “in a matter of days.”

But Charis Evripidou, deputy chief at the police traffic department, says there are no plans to extend the grace period due to the procedural delays.

“Though a set of actions such as an awareness campaign online but also leaflets sent through the mail to thousands of households, information has reached people to an adequate level,” Evripidou said, adding that after an signing expected within days, there would be efforts to send out all warnings to violators.

Critics of the controversial system cried foul over legislation efforts, after members of parliament were still debating for years and days before the launch about several issues, including whether rental car company owners should be ultimately responsible for unpaid fines.

Some House members pointed out that multiple issues were being debated at the last moment because the government rushed a deal with a private company before there was even a vote on legislation.

But Evripidou insists the procedural delays emerged due to data privacy concerns and efforts to add additional safety provisions, saying it was a sensitive issue.

Fines are expected to begin on 1 January 2022.