Parliament raises penalty points for license suspension

The House of Representatives passed an amendment to the Motor Vehicles and Traffic Law, increasing the threshold for temporary driving license suspension from 12 to 16 penalty points. The new regulations are set to take effect on February 1, 2025.

The amendment received broad support, with 40 members voting in favor, while independent MP Alexandra Attalides cast the sole vote against.

DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvides, who introduced the bill, argued that the adjustment is necessary given the expanded and often problematic means now used for traffic control, which he said have contributed to an accumulation of penalty points on licenses. Savvides highlighted the camera enforcement system as a key example, noting its operational issues have frustrated drivers.

He added that the amendment provides drivers with a chance to avoid losing their licenses and facing significant social consequences. When the points system was first enacted, he noted, there was no breathalyzer or drug testing, and penalties accumulated more slowly.

Attalides, explaining her opposition, said she would have supported the measure if it included a transitional period to educate the public. She cautioned that Parliament should not send such a message amid high road fatalities and widespread speeding violations.