Filenews 27 October 2021 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
The cameras of the Traffic Police were literally set on fire, two 24 hours after the on was lit, while the complaints of citizens have already begun despite the fact that the offenders are escaping it with a warning. At the same time, the Traffic Department has requested and received the files from various state agencies, in order to more easily identify the offenders.
The numbers during the total 12 hours of operation of the eight cameras (four fixed and four mobile) have shown the necessity of the photo-labelling system. Especially in the city of Nicosia, 80% of the offences were recorded, a fact that confirms the statistics according to which 80% of accidents occur within the cities. As stated in "F" the assistant director of the Traffic Department and responsible for the photo-labelling system Haris Evripidou, from Monday when the pilot phase of the cameras was implemented until yesterday morning, the following were recorded:
> 550 violations of the red light.
> 390 speed limit violations.
Indicative of the illegalities on the streets, is that only one mobile camera used the day before yesterday evening in Nicosia, recorded 300 violations, most of which related to speed. The other mobile camera that was placed on the Nicosia - Limassol highway, recorded far fewer violations that also related to speeding.
Mr. Evripidou mentioned that within the next few days the first letters of warning will start to be sent to offenders, while he revealed that the first complaints of citizens because they were reported began. A driver who realized that his illegality was recorded by a camera, phoned the company that manages the system and asked not to be reported because he has children. As explained by the assistant director of the Traffic Police, no one can interfere with the system and it was explained to the citizen that he must drive in accordance with the Highway Code.
However, with the cameras, the Traffic Police will escape the murmur of the drivers, which will now focus on alcohol and drug controls, which are among the most serious illegalities of drivers that cost lives.
It is noted that for the points where the mobile cameras will be placed, the Traffic Police will decide and will give a list to the contractor company. According to the legislation, the company that will operate the system is obliged to place warning signs for the existence of mobile cameras at a distance from 100 meters away up to five kilometres.
In the meantime, the Traffic Police, for the purpose of better locating the offenders, has secured, with the permission of the Commissioner for the Protection of Personal Data, the files of social insurance, income tax and the Department of Road Transport. From the registered data will be cross-checked with the registration numbers of the vehicle, the driver or its owner. There will be a problem with vehicles that illegally do not carry registration numbers or are tampered with, or with motorcycles that also do not bear numbers or that are hidden. The Traffic Police has the ways to identify which vehicle is committing the violation and in addition to the extrajudicial will be reported for the registration plates.
There are no collectors
Once again, the Association of Owners of Rental Cars rejects the responsibility for the collection of extrajudicial offences by tourists. In its announcement, the Association states that its firm position is that under no circumstances can the owner of a rental car company bear the responsibility in case, despite any auxiliary actions it is ready to offer, no extrajudicial amount is finally collected. Not every employee of the company can know all the languages to explain to each customer that there was a "hidden" camera that recorded him, the moment he delivers the car to the hotel or airport and is probably in a hurry to leave. "Our industry is not and will not become the scapegoat, when it is proven that there are a total of €25 million uncollected extrajudicially. Our association has expressed its willingness to help the authorities to collect as much money as possible. The ways have existed for years abroad and will not be invented by the state in Cyprus, by awarding the responsibility for collection to third parties", he concludes.
The 30 points where the 90 cameras will be placed
At 30 main intersections controlled by traffic lights, the 90 fixed cameras will be installed nationwide, when the photo-labelling system will be fully operational in 2023.
In Nicosia:
- At the junction of Grivas Digenis - Demosthenes Severis Avenues (they have already been placed).
- At the junction of Spyros Kyprianou - Troodos and Constantinople Avenues (french ambassador's house) two cameras in the first phase.
- Makariou Avenue – Spyrou Kyprianou and Digenis Akrita (Lycabettus lights) two cameras first phase.
- L. Griva Digenis with L. Prodromou, four cameras first phase.
- Limassol Avenue and Athalassa Avenue (Kalispera lights) three cameras second phase.
- Limassol Avenue and Armenian Avenue, two cameras first phase.
In Limassol, cameras will be placed in 10 locations, as follows:
- L. Archbishop Makarios – L. Nikos Pattichis – L. Arch. Leontiou I, four cameras will be placed in the first phase.
- Ayia Fylacheos Avenue and Gladstonos Avenue, two cameras in the first phase.
- L. Nikos Pattichis and Spyrou Kyprianou, four cameras in the second phase.
- 28th October Avenue and Iakovou Tombazi Avenue, three cameras in the second phase.
- Kolonaki Avenue – Agios Athanasios Avenue – Griva Digenis Avenue, three cameras in the second phase.
- L. Vasileos Georgiou I – L. Christaki Kranou, three cameras in the second phase.
- L. Arch. Makariou III – Agias Zoni Avenue, four cameras in the second phase.
- L. Arch. Makariou – 28th October Avenue, two cameras only on October 28th.
- Amathus Avenue behind the Arsinoe Hotel, two cameras in the second phase.
- Amathus Avenue with Ariadnis Street, two cameras in the second phase.
In Larnaca, the cameras will be placed in four contributions:
- L. Spyrou Kyprianou – Alexandros Panagoulis Avenue, four cameras in the second phase.
- L. Arch. Makariou – L. Arch. Kyprianou, two cameras in the second phase.
- L. Artemis – Faneromeni Avenue, four cameras in the second phase.
- Spyrou Avenue Kyprianou with Luther King and Pavlou Valdaseridis streets, four cameras in the second phase.
Cameras will be placed in Larnaca at the following points:
- On the road Larnaca – Dhekelia between 3-6 km. two cameras in the second phase.
- On the road Larnaka – Dhekelia between 6-9 km. two cameras in the second phase.
In Paphos the cameras will be placed in the following contributions:
- Europe Avenue – Giannou Kranidiotis – Georgiou Savvas, four cameras in the second phase.
- L. Elladas – Dimokratias Avenue – L. T. Papadopoulos, four cameras in the second phase.
- Athinon Avenue – Christodoulos Sozou Avenue, two cameras in the second phase.
- Agioi Anargyroi Avenue – Spyrou L. Kyprianou – Agapenoros Avenue, four cameras in the second phase.
- L. Chlorakas – L. Griva Digenis – Aghios Georgiou Avenue, two cameras in the second phase.
In the Morphou apartment, cameras will be placed in three places, but not in residential areas:
- Nicosia - Troodos road between the 24th and 27th km, two cameras in the second phase.
- Nicosia – Troodos road between the 39th and 42nd km, two cameras in the second phase.
- Atsa – Marathasa road between the 3th and 6th km, two cameras in the second phase.
It is noted that in the area of Famagusta there will be no fixed cameras, but there will be mobile cameras.
