Filenews 5 April 2022 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
The next phase of the photo-labelling system, the well-known cameras, is in danger of being left in the air, since the pilot phase has actually been completed but the contracting authority has not yet given the green light to start the first phase.
The contractor Conduent State & Local Solutions, Inc. of American interests, has already sent a relevant letter to the Department of Electromechanical Services, which is the contracting authority, about when the next phase will proceed, without so far, as reported by "F", receiving a response. On the issue and the serious delays in the identification and delivery of extrajudicial documents, a meeting of the competent ministers of transport and justice is expected to take decisions this week.
According to the same information of "F", the delay observed in the processing of violations recorded by the cameras, do not allow at this stage, to start the first phase, since the system has already been "drowned" by complaints. Indicative of the situation that exists is that since 1/1/2022, when drivers from the four fixed cameras and four mobile phones began to be reported, about 50,000 driver violations have been recorded. More than three months later and at the moment, the data of only 10,000 drivers have been examined and cross-checked, while around 2,000 offenders have received an out-of-court case. The thoughts that are being made are that if not all the extrajudicials are gone, the next phase will not proceed.
It is noted that according to the legislation, the company that manages the system must within five days from the recording of the violation identify the offender and 180 days are given to serve him the out-of-court and another 45 days to pay it. Provided that the pilot phase started from October 25, 2021 and would last for three months, it is already over and should be planned for the next phase. According to the contract signed on 14/12/2020:
• The first phase that will be completed within 6 months from the completion of the pilot phase, i.e. in 15 months from the date of signing the contracts, will include the operation of another 16 mobile cameras and the installation and operation of 20 more fixed cameras.
• The second phase, which will be completed within one year of the completion of the first phase, includes the installation of an additional 66 fixed cameras.
According to information from "F", the new cameras were estimated to be installed by mid-2022, however, this will depend on when the 50,000 out-of-court violations are sent.
