Filenews 3 January 2022 - by Michalis Haztivasilis
The attention of drivers to strictly observe the Highway Code because now the mobile cameras are lurking, in addition to the fixed ones. This is particularly important as advised by the Traffic Police, after the inexorable recordings of the violations of the last 10 days of December.
According to the person in charge of the camera system on behalf of the Police, Assistant Traffic police officer Haris Evripidou, from December 23 to December 31 when the cameras began to record and officially the violations, the following complaints were made: The four fixed cameras installed at the intersection of Griva Digenis and Demosthenes Severis Avenues recorded 800 offences and at the same time, the four mobiles 6,500. It seems that, according to Mr Evripidou, the drivers have largely complied with the point where the fixed cameras are installed, but, because they do not know where the mobile cameras are, they are caught by these. That is why, he stressed, drivers should comply with the speed limit wherever they move, because there is now the possibility that they will be captured on camera and fined.
One detail that drivers need to know is that mobile cameras are essentially invisible. According to the legislation, the contractor company that will manage the mobile cameras (the Traffic Police will no longer have any involvement other than to give the points at which they will have to be placed), is obliged to place warning signs 100 meters before the mobile camera in cities and up to 5 km on motorways. Drivers will no longer see patrol cars and uniformed people on the streets that will manage the cameras, but a van on the side of the road in which the camera is mounted, or at most rigged on a tripod on the sidewalk. If the drivers are speeding, they will not have time from the moment they see the sign to reduce and the camera will record them.
As for the complaints from the cameras that began to be officially recorded from January 1, the assistant traffic director said that the data will be gathered around the end of the week or early at the start of next week. Warnings from those recorded by the cameras from December 23 to the end of the month also began to be sent. Mr. Evripidou explained that it takes at least 5-10 days for the driver to receive the letter for any violation and to be informed. "There's a process. The complaint cannot be made immediately because the details of the vehicle and then the owner will have to be located. By the end of the week we will have the number of first violations recorded by the cameras," he said.
As announced, the cameras will record, violations of the speed limit, violation of a red light and violation of the mandatory stopping line in photo-controlled contributions. However, in the event that the system detects any of the above violations, it will also record non-use of the seat belt, non-use of a helmet by motorcyclists and driving with non-free hands. Then, when an infringement is recorded, it will be sent registered by extrajudicial via the post office to the owner of the vehicle. If the owner is not located, the service will be made by an authorized dealer and if the owner is still not located, then, the Police will make a final attempt. If it is not detected either, the case will be registered in the electronic system of the Police and in case the specific citizen comes to the notice of the Police for any reason, then he will be located and served the violation.
In case the owner of the vehicle was not the driver of the vehicle, he will have the obligation to declare to the Police who the driver was, within 15 days. The owner must complete and submit to the contractor part B of the extrajudicial, with the full details of the offending driver. If the driver accepts, then he can pay the extrajudicial fine.
Another 36 fixed and mobile cameras are coming soon
In the meantime, we will not be able to familiarize ourselves with the eight cameras (4 fixed and 4 mobile) and if the Electromechanical Service turns on the green light around the end of January, another 36 cameras will arrive.
According to the contract, three months after the pilot phase begins, another 20 fixed cameras will have to be installed and another 16 mobile cameras will have to come - a total of 36. The pilot phase was officially put into operation from October 25, when on January 25, the Electromechanical Service, which is the contracting service to the contract, should request the implementation of phase A of the system.
It is noted that according to the contract, by 2023 90 fixed cameras and 20 mobile cameras will have to be installed.
As far as extrajudicial documents are concerned, they must be paid within 30 days otherwise the amount will be increased by half and can be paid within 45 days. After 45 days the case will be referred to the Court. Upon payment of the fine, the penalty points mentioned in the notice are deemed to have been accepted. The extrajudicial fine can be paid online.
There are offences for which no extrajudicial procedure will be issued and the offender will have to appear before a Court. These are when the number of penalty points exceeds the limit, the speed limit is exceeded is more than 75% of the allowed, the offender is not a holder of a driving licence or has been deprived of the right to hold or obtain a driving licence and the category of driver's license held by the offender does not comply with the category of driver's license required for driving the vehicle he was found to be driving.
