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If you’ve been caught on camera for a traffic violation in Cyprus and haven’t received an out-of-court notice or seen your case brought to court within 12 months, your offence may no longer be valid. According to lawyer George Christofides, the Criminal Procedure Act sets a limitation period that could nullify tens of thousands of pending traffic fines captured by speed cameras, red-light cameras, and other systems.
Speaking on Omega TV’s Update Now program, Christofides challenged the Police's recent push for vehicle owners to check a website, discover any outstanding fines, and pay them before March 31 to avoid court proceedings.
A Legal Loophole?
Christofides explained that under the Criminal Procedure Act, cases must be resolved or taken to court within a specific timeframe, generally between six to twelve months. If this doesn’t happen, the offences are “barred,” meaning they cannot be prosecuted.
“This applies to offences dating back to 2022 or even 2023,” he said. “If the deadline has passed, those cases have effectively evaporated. They cannot be brought before a court.”
Police Response Raises Questions
The Police recently announced a new initiative encouraging drivers to take the lead in resolving their pending fines. Christofides criticized this approach, saying it places an undue burden on citizens.
“The Police should be serving out-of-court notices to trigger the legal process,” he said. “Instead, they’re asking people to investigate their own violations and pay the fines. It’s an operational shortcut that turns the roles upside down.”
Christofides also pointed out that inviting people to self-report and pay fines is an attempt to recover funds quickly but does little to address the broader legal and procedural issues at play.
Challenges to Enforcement
Beyond the question of expired offences, the lawyer highlighted logistical hurdles facing the Police. For court proceedings to move forward, bailiffs must serve summonses to alleged offenders.
“The Police would need to find an alternative way to deliver these summonses in time or rely on the courts to decide if the fines are valid,” he explained. This adds further complications, especially for offences where the statutory deadline has already passed.
What Happens Next?
While Christofides emphasized that fines could still be brought to court under certain conditions, he noted that these efforts might face significant challenges.
“For offences that are barred, the Police can either attempt to serve notices through costly alternative methods or let the courts determine whether these cases should proceed,” he said.
The Police’s approach may aim to ease administrative burdens, but it raises questions about the balance between operational efficiency and legal fairness.
What Should Drivers Do?
If you’re unsure whether you have pending fines, it may be worth checking the designated website before the March 31 deadline. However, Christofides’ statements suggest that in some cases, paying now might not even be necessary.
“It’s ultimately up to the courts to decide,” he said. “But for offences past the 12-month limit, it’s likely the issue has already been resolved — simply by running out of time.”
As the debate continues, many drivers will be left wondering whether to pay up or wait for further clarity from the legal system.
