Lawmakers criticised police today over their recent announcement regarding unpaid traffic camera fines, during a heated session of the House Legal Affairs Committee.
The controversy centres on a police announcement last week that directed citizens to check a private contractor’s platform to determine whether they had outstanding fines, warning of court prosecution for non-payment.
Members of Parliament raised concerns about potential legal issues and fundamental rights violations arising from the notification system for speed camera fines. AKEL MP Aristos Damianou called it “unprecedented worldwide” that citizens must check whether they have been reported for violations.
Police traffic department assistant chief Haris Evripidou explained that thousands of undelivered fines prompted the new approach. He cited three main reasons for failed deliveries: outdated Road Transport Department records, citizens avoiding registered mail collection, and people refusing to accept camera fine notices at post offices.
Evripidou disclosed that some postal workers had advised citizens against collecting registered letters, telling them “go away, it’s a camera fine”. He emphasised that the new system does not replace written notifications.
The Data Protection Commissioner informed the committee that requiring only identification documents and vehicle registration numbers for platform access was insufficient, as it could allow non-owners to access vehicle fine information. The office has submitted three proposals to address privacy concerns.
The meeting ended abruptly when MPs had to leave for another session, preventing the Law Office representative from responding to repeated claims about the platform’s questionable legal basis.
Whilst 15 department representatives were invited to the session, only two were given the opportunity to speak.
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