Filenews 11 February 2022 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
A 50% reduction in drivers' violations by the cameras is occurring now that the actual out-of-court trials have begun, compared to the period that was only the warnings, the Traffic Police records, hoping that there will be a similar reduction in fatal accidents.
Informing the Transport Committee of the Parliament yesterday, the assistant traffic police officer at the Police Headquarters, Haris Evripidou, said that when the system was operating on a pilot basis (from October 25 to December 31) 1,800 complaints were recorded daily by the eight cameras, now the violations recorded are around 900 per day. However, in 40 days of normal operation of the system the violations exceeded 30,000 and when more cameras come, then the complaints will skyrocket.
Members of Parliament have reservations about not making the photo-labelling system tax-cutting, but about making drivers aware in order to reduce accidents, and at the same time it was stressed that because there was a 40-day delay in sending the first out-of-court documents, some were denounced two and three times, with the result that they risk losing their licence. In fact, AKEL MP Yiannakis Gavriel asked that the violations recorded by the system should now be converted into warnings, something that was rejected by the Police and the deputies of DISY, because other messages would be sent than they should.
According to Mr. Evripidou, from the day before yesterday began the sending of the first registered letters to violating drivers recorded by the cameras and the efforts are, when the situation normalizes, within 10 days of the violation, to send the out-of-court order. There has been a lot of talk in the Commission about speed limits and the percentage that is being allocated. The Traffic Police, on the basis of a study it prepared, decided to apply the limit plus 10% plus two kilometres. For example, for 50km the tolerance is up to 57km. Beyond that, the violation is recorded. Members have said that many who do not have autopilot in their vehicles, do not control speed and are denounced, with Mr Evripidou replying that limits should be followed.
Regarding the points where the cameras are chosen to be placed, the assistant director of the Traffic Police said that this is done on the basis of statistics kept for the danger of a junction or a road, the accidents that occur and the complaints of the citizens. For the mobile cameras, he said that they are placed on the basis of a program prepared by the Traffic Police and handed over to the managing company which must, if there is no warning sign, place a portable one. He added that clear instructions were given not to set up cameras where the speed limit changes.
On the offences by drivers of rental vehicles, the Police officer said legislation is pending obliging owners of "Z" companies to declare the renter of the vehicle. For those leaving Cyprus (tourists or others) they will be notified either electronically or by post about the fine they owe. For companies that rent vehicles they will be asked to name the driver.
Mr. Evripidou rejected a request by the Driving Schools not to report that they are in training time, stressing that this cannot be done, because no one is exempt, except in exceptional cases such as ambulances and patrol cars that are proven to be in an emergency.
Fines to state coffers
MPs have asked to know where the revenue from the extrajudicials will go.
Iletromechanical Service spokesman Christos Messios said the company is paid based on the cameras' working hours plus installation costs. All fines from the cameras will go to the state coffers and the coffers of municipalities. In a remark by DISY MP Dimitris Demetriou that the company will have an incentive to work at full speed in order to be paid more, Mr. Messios said that the fixed cameras work on a 24-hour basis, while the mobile cameras each work eight hours daily.
