Cyprus Police object to the possibility of the €300 fines issued by the recently installed traffic cameras to be lowered following the Transport Minister’s view that these are excessive.
Traffic police argue that the stiff camera fines have contributed to a significant 39% reduction in fatal traffic accidents within just one and a half years.
The issue is expected to be discussed on Thursday before the House Transport Committee of the House of Representatives, Philenews reports.
The €300 fine applies to a red light violation with a rising number of complaints over the fact that many drivers were caught when passing a yellow light.
At the end of July, official data showed that about 40,000 traffic fines – or 40 per cent of the total issued – remain unpaid.
Cyprus has adopted the European target of a 50% reduction in road fatalities and serious injuries by 2030.
Last week, there was a long debate in Parliament on the enactment of the existing traffic offences. Traffic Police representatives pointed out that their current form was achieved after research carried out by the University of Cyprus.
The research took into account the state of play in Cyprus and, in general, all the factors that contribute to an accident.
It was decided that the original proposal to introduce an extra fine of €300 for the belt, helmet and mobile phone would be changed and the fine would be reduced to €150 for the belt and mobile phone and €200 for the helmet. But no changes to the red light violation should take place.
