Filenews 9 September 2023
The issue of excessive fines from cameras reporting traffic violations is raised for the first time by the Minister of Transport, Alexis Vafeadis, who will have contacts with involved services and the Parliament in the near future.
As he revealed to "F", the Ministry of Transport is concerned about the issue of high fines from cameras and mainly that of 300 euros for violating the red light. As Mr. Vafeadis mentioned, there are pensioners on pensions of €750-900 who are unable to pay the fine of €300, since it is a matter of their survival. An alternative could be put on the table, he adds, so that out-of-court proceedings would be staggered and increase if the infringement is repeated. As it is now, he added, many people on the payroll find it difficult to pay 300 euros out of court, resulting in thousands of them remaining unpaid.
Mr. Vafeadis explained that the cameras have brought results and the Traffic Police, which manages the system, is satisfied with the results and the reduction of fatal and other road collisions. This was the philosophy of the decision to introduce the system, he stresses, adding that the time has come to discuss the extrajudicial proceedings. Denouncing the system is one, he said, not paying because people fail is another. That is why many out-of-court cases remain unpaid and we will be forced to send cases to court. A discussion on the amount of extrajudicial proceedings should begin, he concluded, in order to see the pros and cons of any reduction.
The Minister of Transport also referred to the issue of attacks on mobile camera operators and added that the bill criminalizing acts of harassment of system operators is almost ready. Not everyone can, he observed, stand in front of the camera, obstruct their operation with their vehicle or attack the operators and go unpunished.
Regarding the exhortations he receives for the operation of the cameras to be undertaken by the Police, Mr. Vafeadis was strongly opposed, saying that the police officers are in charge of other duties and that according to the contract, the responsibility for their handling belongs to the contractor company.
As "F" recently wrote, several out-of-court cameras are currently pending for delivery, but the problem concerns the undeliverables, because offending drivers refuse to pick them up. Also, one in three extrajudicial cases delivered was paid, while the rest were not, with the result that thousands of cases are now being prepared for registration in the Courts.
