Newsroom
If you’ve ever circled a parking lot looking for a spot, you know how frustrating it can be. But imagine finally finding one, only to realize it’s meant for charging electric cars, and someone’s parked there with a diesel SUV just “for a minute.”
That’s exactly the kind of behavior the House Transport Committee is now looking to stop.
A new proposal from MP and Ecologists’ Party President Stavros Papadouris aims to make parking at an electric vehicle (EV) charging station without actually charging an offense that comes with a fine of up to €100.
The discussion kicked off Thursday, with Papadouris suggesting changes to the Extrajudicial Regulation of Offenses Law to introduce specific penalties for these “charging spot hogs.”
Speaking on SPORT FM 95.0’s “Diaspora Eidiseon”, Papadouris said the proposal came after multiple complaints from citizens who couldn’t find available charging stations because they were blocked by conventional cars, or even electric ones just sitting idle.
Under the proposal:
- Drivers of electric cars who park in a charging spot without plugging in could face a €50 fine.
- Drivers of petrol or diesel cars who take up EV charging spaces could be fined €85–€100.
Papadouris said the aim isn’t to punish but to make sure electric vehicle owners can actually charge their cars, something that’s becoming more important as Cyprus slowly shifts toward greener transport.
The measure still has to clear the legislative process, but if approved, it might finally give electric drivers a little peace of mind and push the rest of us to think twice before taking a “quick stop” in the wrong place.
