Filenews 14 December 2023
The debate on the draft law submitted to the Parliamentary Committee on Transport by DISY MP Nikos Georgiou, which provides for the imposition of a prison sentence and/or a fine for those who cause damage or alteration of road signs, was concluded today.
Mr. Georgiou, in his statements after the meeting of the Committee, expressed his satisfaction with the fact that all the relevant institutional bodies took a positive position on the proposal.
As Mr. Georgiou mentioned, criminalizing the indication, counterfeiting, or distortion of any road sign and any informative or guiding sign, entails for offenders a prison sentence of six months or a fine of €1,700 or both.
"It is positive that all the competent institutional bodies, the Police, the Public Works, the Legal Service have taken a positive position, not only agree, but support the adoption of the law," the MP said, pointing out that this will send the state's message that such behaviours are not tolerated, as well as the message of protection and safe use of the road network.
"The Cypriot state cannot spend millions every year, photographically arresting Cypriot drivers for the slightest violation of the highway code, these violations are punishable by penalties, penalty points, fines, some cases are brought before the courts, but the state itself does not ensure the cleanliness of the local network and users can use the road network safely," he said. underlined Mr. Georgiou.
Mr. Georgiou also noted during the discussion in the Committee that the Republic of Cyprus may be legally exposed in the event of a road accident at a point of the road network where the sign was altered.
Asked by a journalist how violators will be identified, Georgiou noted that the most important thing is the message of deterrence and disapproval that society must send, as he said. Asked if criminalization also includes tampering with walls, in addition to signs, the MP explained that this regulation covers only cases of road signs, clarifying that slogans on walls are an offence of the criminal code in the context of civil damage.
He was also asked what kind of interventions on the signs will be criminalized and clarified that the regulation concerns any interference, in any way, on the signs, even if the message of the sign is not altered.
CNA
