A traffic camera fine that parliament members introduced for stopping on pedestrian crossings has led to just 2,500 bookings so far this year, Phileleftheros understands. Bringing the fine in cost the state 1.2 million euros.
The 85-euro fine covers stopping on a pedestrian crossing at traffic lights fitted with cameras. It was brought in through a law proposal passed in 2025, and it replaced a 300-euro fine for driving slightly past the crossing.
Very few drivers in fact stop on pedestrian crossings, which is why bookings have been limited. Most offences recorded at camera-controlled traffic lights are for running a red light.
To implement the change, the contract with the company that runs the traffic camera system had to be amended. Decisions were also needed from the Departmental Committee for Changes and Claims (TEAA) and the Central Committee for Changes and Claims (KEAA).
Once police had secured the necessary funds, which came to more than one million euros, the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department instructed the contractor in a letter dated 26 May 2025 to modify the system.
The law was not enforced for about 10 months, until the necessary changes had been made to both the central system and the camera-controlled crossings. Equipment at the crossings had to be moved so that the cameras could record the new offence.
A pilot scheme began in late November 2025, and the updated system was rolled out at all junctions with traffic cameras and pedestrian crossings in early 2026.
Checkpoint list rejected
Separately, parliament has twice rejected a police plan to install at the crossing points a list of people with outstanding traffic camera fines, so that Turkish Cypriot drivers could be checked.
No Turkish Cypriot has yet paid one of these fines, because there is no way to serve them unless the driver is stopped at a random roadside check. Thousands of fines remain unserved. Installing the list at the crossing points would cost 100,000 euros.
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