A CAMERA BANDWAGON
The Cyprus traffic camera revolution, which has now extending its reach to the whole of the island, is now in full swing. The general feeling, however, amongst most drivers is that it has led to heightened driver insecurity. This is supported byvrecent figures revealing that the rate of minor accidents on the island has risen by 1 in 5 since traffic camera revolution began. This also enforces most drivers views that the Cyprus authorities have firmly jumped on to the traffic camera bandwagon to simply generate income. Despite these figures, authorities constantly maintain that the somewhat draconian measures in place are solely for road safety reasons.Â
RECORDED INCIDENTS
Fixed traffic cameras have now been installed at most main traffic light junctions all over the island. These cameras are mainly focused speeding and traffic violations that include illegal u-turn and red light violations. It seems, however, that their effect has become somewhat negated. There have been many recorded incidents of drivers slamming on their brakes or driving erratically when trying to avoid a fine. As a result, these actions have caused extended danger to all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. Several drivers have stated that they must now drive like this to avoid excessive fines for passing through a yellow signal or merely getting too close to a white traffic line.Â
ROAD SAFETY
Several accidents, recently reported, have involved otherwise safe drivers trying to negotiate stricter speed controls or stopping suddenly before the dreaded white traffic lines at junctions. This has become a main point of contention for many and this along with the fact that some drivers have been stopping at green lights in anticipation of being caught on a yellow signal has further compounded the risk of accidents occuring at these junctions. Most drivers have fully admitted that they would rather drive this way and risk a non-fault accident rather than pay Cyprus traffic camera fines of up to €300.Â
THE HIGHWAYSÂ
The highways continue to be monitored with mobile camera vans that can now check speeds of cars travelling in both directions. These vans are situated at various locations all over the island. The two-way technology however, has been brought in to question on roads where there is a dividing rail, parapet or island with greenery, that obviously obstructes the view of the camera.
CONTESTING FINES
Government officials are looking into ways of improving the system to reduce the backlog of unpaid and contested fines. The traffic management company along with the police have also noted that there is no formal appeal process in place for drivers that wish to contest their fines. This means that drivers either have to pay their fine or attend court to argue their case. Several of these fines, after lengthy court cases, have been revoked allowing drivers to escape penalties through legitimate shortfalls in the traffic camera system. In addition to this, a huge backlog exists at most post offices, and the late arrival of fines has become another valid reason for drivers to legally contest in court.
A FAIR PLAYING FIELDÂ
Authorities have begun to recognise some of the legitimate shortfalls in the current traffic camera system. These shortfalls have allowed drivers to successfully contest their fines in court. Drivers have stated for example that they did not receive ample warning of approaching traffic cameras, successfully argueing that the lack of proper signage is complicit to creating an environment conducive to entrapment. Drivers have also successfully revoked fines due to several other frailties in the current sysytem. As a direct response, the work of painting horizontal warning signs on the road surface and installing proper vertical markings are now fully underway. New white and yellow camera warning signs have also been painted on the road surface on approach to junctions that have cameras.Â
VANDALISM
The general bad sentiment toward cameras has also contributed to a rise in vandalism. Witnesses have stated that they have seen groups of hooded vandals destroying cameras. These individuals have also, on several occasions scaled traffic cameras, spray painting over their lenses. Â
DASHCAM FOOTAGEÂ
The rate of successful court appeals by drivers against fines remains high and on many occasions, drivers have successfully supplied evidence in the form of footage from dash cams proving this. Several drivers have successfully proved that some of the mobile vans have recorded alleged violations whilst hidden from view and some of the cases heard also proved that some of the automatic cameras were defective. In response, authorities have now implemented tighter regulations to bolster camera legitimacy, but the mobile van operators, who are civilian third-party contractors are still being found wanting. Government authorities are also now actively trying to hurry through legislation trying and ban dashcam footage as legitimate evidence in a court of law. Drivers, on the other hand, are installing WAZE a GPS navigation smartphone application that reveals traffic camera locations in Cyprus. Whilst this is not illegal, using a mobile device whilst driving is and many drivers believe that the recent clampdown on mobile phone usage is directly attributed to WAZE usage. Â
NEW PORPOSALSÂ
Exempting driving schools from fines and increasing the penalty points threshold from 12 to 20, are just some of the new proposals currently underway. It is thought that excempting driving schools will help to ease the backlog of traffic fines, whilst increasing the points threshold will make it harder for drivers to lose their driving license through a driving ban.
EXTRA REVENUE
With the cameras now fully in place, there are many observers with mixed feelings about traffic cameras and questions are now being raised as to whether they have made the roads safer or more dangerous. Questions have also arisen as to where the revenue generated by these excessive fines ends up.Â
STOP LINE & GREEN ARROW TURN VIOLATIONS
The white stop line and green arrow turn violations threshold has been adjusted yet again following further complaints and there is now a longer grace period given for drivers to move out of the violation zone once the lights change. It has been suggested however, that drivers are still being unfairly fined for being stuck in the violation zone and there have been cases where it has been argued that drivers turning right had no choice but to pass through red lights after securing a green light, due to oncoming traffic. Footage from traffic cameras showing mobile phone use and seat belt violations are also going to be used to issue fixed penalty fines and driving license points.
WHAT DO TRAFFIC CAMERAS ISSUE FINES FOR?
Cameras monitor nearly all traffic violations and they capture the following:
Speeding violations Red light violations Stop line violations Seatbelts violations Motorcycle helmet violations Using mobile phones or other devices while driving
There is no appeals process in place and each violation recorded by a camera incurs a fine that can only be contested in a Cyprus court of law!
A new online ‘fine checking system’ has been launched and police are urging the public to use it to check for any traffic violations recorded against them. Police have also stated that any outstanding fines should be settled before a March 31st deadline. This out-of-court settlement process aims to facilitate the Cypriot legal system by giving vehicle owners the option to avoid a court case, but it is still stressed that any unsettled fines after this date will lead to criminal prosecution.Â
The new website contains a database of all fines recorded by traffic cameras for violations that occurred between January 1st, 2022 and September 30th, 2024. Vehicle registration details and some personal information are needed to conduct a search. This will reveal any unpaid pending fines. Payment can then be made online directly through the Police website.Â
Vehicle owners that were not driving at the time of any recorded violations are able to electronically register the ‘actual driver’ of the vehicle at the time of the violation using the new system.
Traffic Camera Enquiries Tel: 80 008 009
Click here to check for any unpaid pending finesÂ
Click here to pay any outstanding pending finesÂ
A BACKLOG OF FINES
As the controversy surrounding Cyprus traffic cameras rumbles on, more than 100 island wide traffic cameras continue to record several violations daily. The non-payment of several of these fines has created a huge backlog of unpaid traffic camera fines. AS a result of this, police, looking to clear this backlog, have began issuing warnings to drivers. Police have stated that legal proceedings are set to begin after March 31st for those who have still failed to settle their fines.
AN INCREASE IN ONLINE PAYMENTS
The announcement of this deadline has forced a scramble by drivers rushing to try and settle fines. Several are using the recently introduced online payment system. Online payments account for approximately 1,000 payments a day, but since the announcement, the figure has risen to an estimated 5,000. This has placed a considerable strain on the system, which is struggling to cope with the surge in demand.Â
A SERIES OF STRICTER MEASURES
Although the majority of fined drivers seem to be complying, there are several others that remain defiant. These drivers claim that they intend to use their day in court to raise several issues that still surround fairness and transparency for all involved. They also state that the legal complications surrounding the issue of these fines, remain a point of controversy and that they fully intend to challenge each fine seperately in court. Several implications surrounding the enforcement of these fines has also created issues. Many drivers still claim that they have not personally received their notices. They state that because of this, they believe that their fines have not been served properly. In response, authorities have indicated that the new initiative, that allows individuals to check for unpaid fines via a website, provides a way for these people to check if they have been fined. If this new approach legally stands up, then it means that the onus is now firmly on drivers to check whether they have been fined or not. Those who may have missed or never received their notifications, now have the opportunity to settle their fines using the new system ahead of the March deadline.
