Filenews 23 November 2023
The destruction and generally the alteration of traffic signs becomes a criminal offence, based on a proposal for a law submitted before the parliamentary Committee on Transport by DISY MP Nikos Georgiou and which is being discussed today.
It is noted that especially lately, some people are spray-altering traffic signs along roads and highways, which can endanger drivers or passers-by. Moreover, altering signs such as distances between cities, communities, localities causes inconvenience to drivers, including tourists, which creates a negative image of the island.
In addition, altering the speed limit may give rise to complaints from drivers who did not intend to break the law.
The explanatory memorandum states that the proposal for a law aims to amend the Road Safety Law in order to make it an offence to alter, in any way, traffic signals.
It is added that this amendment is necessary as the destruction of signs on the road network is a phenomenon that is taking on increasing dimensions with significantly dangerous consequences for citizens in general but especially for road users.
According to the proposal, a traffic sign means an object or means, sign, sign, symbol or line, with which the purpose is to inform drivers and/or to warn or prohibit it of any kind.
According to the proposed law, the inscription, engraving or drawing with dyes or in any other way words, letters, representations, shapes, numbers, images or slogans or causing damage to a traffic sign or an information-directional sign placed by the competent authority, as well as their movement, destruction, distortion or alteration, is considered an offence.
In the past, there have been allegations that fans of mainly football clubs are involved in the alteration of signs when arriving at or leaving some football stadiums.
In addition to the above, there is also a cost for the taxpayer. As "F" has already written, this year, only on the Kofinou-Larnaka road there is an offer for repair/replacement of signs for about €270,000 without VAT with which it rises to about €320,000.
