Authorities have registered just 110 complaints against illegal taxis in the eight months since implementing new legislation, despite widespread violations across the island, the House Transport Committee heard on Thursday.
The limited enforcement data, presented by the Department of Road Transport, highlights significant challenges in addressing unauthorised transport services that continue to operate extensively throughout Cyprus. Most complaints were recorded in Limassol and Paphos regions, with penalties ranging from €1,500 to €9,000 imposed on violators.
“This legislation has proven ineffective,” said AKEL MP Costas Costa during the committee session that examined regulatory gaps, enforcement capabilities, and concerning trends in specialised transport services.
The committee revealed a particularly troubling situation regarding transportation for mobility-impaired individuals, with Licensing Authority Chairperson Despina Amerikanos reporting that only 17 applications have been submitted nationwide since December’s licensing announcement.
“It’s disappointing that Nicosia received just one application, leaving the capital without any licensed taxis for mobility-impaired individuals,” Amerikanos stated, noting these services are critical for people who have recently undergone surgery, suffered injuries, or require regular medical treatments such as dialysis or cancer therapy.
The regulatory vacuum has allowed unlicensed operators to fill the gap, often at considerable cost to vulnerable patients. According to Amerikanos, physiotherapy centers and home care companies are advertising unauthorized transport services online, charging “unreasonable and prohibitive fees of approximately €50-60 to transport patients from clinics to their homes within Nicosia.”
“These operators have no license, we don’t know if their vehicles are suitable, or if the drivers are professionals,” she emphasized.
Law enforcement representatives acknowledged significant challenges in building cases against illegal operators, noting that many passengers are tourists who are unavailable to provide witness statements during subsequent investigations.
Market research presented by mobility company Bolt indicated substantial unmet demand, with only 20% of taxi requests received by the company successfully serviced. “The remaining 80% is being channeled somewhere, likely to unauthorized taxis,” said the company’s legal counsel, who criticized visible online advertising of illegal services with specified prices that violate metered fare regulations.
“The implementation of legislation has shortcomings and doesn’t address the root of the problem,” Bolt’s representative added, suggesting that “issuing new licenses or temporary licenses during summer periods when tourism increases” could help meet legitimate demand that currently overflows to illegal operators.
Road Transport Department officials confirmed they have notified several websites about illegal advertising, with some compliance achieved. However, they emphasised that “new incidents emerge daily, requiring continuous monitoring.”
Transportation policy analysts note that Cyprus faces challenges similar to other European jurisdictions in balancing traditional regulatory frameworks with evolving market demands and technological developments in the mobility sector.
The parliamentary discussion was adjourned and will continue at a later date with the Ministers of Transport, Justice, and representatives from the Law Office present.
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