Traffic cameras in Cyprus have recorded nearly one million offences over five years, but authorities have failed to deliver more than 400,000 fines to drivers, according to police figures obtained by Phileleftheros.
Between the system’s pilot launch in 2022 and October 2026, the cameras recorded 982,509 offences. Of these, 506,953 fines have been paid, while 404,586 have not been delivered to the offending drivers.
The figures highlight a major enforcement problem, even as the camera system, alongside other road safety measures, has helped reduce road deaths.
The scale of the problem also echoes a warning issued in a 2020 report that authorities could become overwhelmed by fines unless motorists changed their driving habits.
The system currently operates with 90 mobile cameras and 20 fixed cameras. Speeding accounts for the largest share of offences, followed by traffic light violations.
The highest number of fines was recorded in 2025, while 2026 could become the first year to see a decline, potentially indicating that drivers are becoming more familiar with the system and exercising greater caution.
One of the biggest problems is drivers avoiding receipt of their fines and consequently failing to pay them. Authorities also continue to face difficulties identifying which employee was driving a company-owned vehicle when an offence occurred.
The Traffic Police, the Department of Electromechanical Services, which oversees the camera system contract, and the Transport Ministry are working to address the problem.
A draft bill has already been prepared to allow fines to be served by SMS or email.
The large backlog has resulted in some drivers accumulating three or four fines without receiving them. If they are eventually traced, they may struggle to pay the accumulated amounts.
Police figures show that 57,777 fines were paid in 2022, followed by 105,718 in 2023, 144,042 in 2024, 128,456 in 2025 and 74,960 in 2026.
The number of fines that could not be delivered, either by post or by police, rose from 14,947 in 2022 to 46,210 in 2023, 90,080 in 2024 and 130,097 in 2025. Another 123,252 remained undelivered in 2026.
Thousands of cases prepared for court
Police are also preparing criminal case files for potential court proceedings involving unpaid fines.
The number of files being prepared for prosecution rose from 449 in 2022 to 4,759 in 2023, 8,098 in 2024, 11,518 in 2025 and 14,191 in 2026.
Separately, cases already filed with the courts totalled 2,971 in 2022, 3,641 in 2023, 4,581 in 2024, 2,421 in 2025 and 48 so far in 2026.
The highest number of court filings was recorded in 2024, as authorities began working through unpaid fines that had already been served.
Under the law, a case cannot proceed to court unless the fine has first been served and the prescribed payment period has expired.
Police have also introduced a photoradar list at all police stations in recent months. It contains details of drivers and vehicles recorded by traffic cameras where fines have not yet been served, helping officers trace offenders.
However, the system has yet to be introduced at crossing points.
More than 204,000 red-light violations
Red-light violations remain a major concern for the Traffic Police, particularly because of the risk of serious or fatal collisions.
Over the five years, cameras recorded 204,108 red-light offences, despite motorists being aware that the junctions were monitored.
The annual breakdown shows 3,967 violations in 2022, 17,600 in 2023, 55,442 in 2024, 70,611 in 2025 and 56,488 in 2026.
Police are particularly concerned that drivers continue to run red lights even when they know cameras are likely to record the offence.
Cameras have also recorded thousands of violations involving vehicles crossing or stopping beyond the white stop line.
These offences numbered 12,588 in 2022, 14,704 in 2023, 31,085 in 2024, 37,750 in 2025 and 29,178 up to 30 October 2026.
A separate offence introduced by Parliament this year, covering vehicles stopping on pedestrian crossings at camera-monitored traffic lights, has resulted in 2,509 fines so far.
