Filenews 26 October 2024
The thousands of undeliverable extrajudicial cameras tend to invalidate the system that came with the aim of reducing road accidents, especially fatal ones.
The extrajudicial fines that remain unpaid are stacked and especially now with the full operation of the system with 108 devices working all over Cyprus, have caused headaches to the co-competent ministries of Transport and Justice. As established by the Traffic Police and other Departments dealing with road safety, the fact that someone is illegal, reported and has no consequences since he does not receive his extra, acts as a barrier to compliance with the Road Traffic Code.
This, it is estimated, is one of the factors that this year has increased fatal accidents, along with the human factor, the criminal mistakes made on the roads by drivers and the negligence shown by some, either because they do not wear their seat belts or drive with their mobile phone in hand. Indicative of the situation with extrajudicial documents that are either not received or could not be served, is that this year, out of the 188,000 issued after violations in front of the cameras, 100,000 remain undelivered. This is a huge number compared to the two years ago, since the photo-labelling system became operational.
As explained to "F" by the assistant director of the Traffic Department at the Police Headquarters and responsible for the camera system, Haris Evripidou, in the previous two years the complaints and consequently the extrajudicial documents that were not served, were fewer. This year the system is now operating almost in its entirety, which is why complaints are increased, although in recent months they have stabilized. It is noted that of the 188,000 out-of-court cases this year, 40,000 concerned a red violation and 5,000 a right turn.
e-troll for drivers
Regarding the problem that has been plaguing all involved for almost three years and concerns the service of extrajudicial notices to drivers of vehicles belonging to companies or renting, it seems that the solution has been found. As Mr. Evripidou explained, the electronic indication of the driver is now proceeding, through the e-troll system. That is, after arrangements, the person in charge of a company that receives an out-of-court notice for its vehicle, will be able to inform the contractor of the system electronically, about who was the driver on the specific day the complaint was made, so that the out-of-court document can be sent to him. Until now, this has been done through letters. The same will be done with car rental agencies. In other words, they will electronically declare the driver and the extrajudicial document will be sent to him in his country, if he is a tourist.
At the same time, the photoradar list, the list with the names of those who did not receive their extras from the cameras, is progressing. This list will be found on the computers of police officers who carry out checks at entrances and exits at airports and ports, as well as at barricades, as well as at police stations. When someone shows up to travel or move through the barricades, it will be checked whether an extrajudicial case is pending against them by cameras.
In this way, the extrajudicial proceedings will also be served on Turkish Cypriots, which have accumulated and amount to almost 20,000. It is expected that checks on this list will start in November.
€1.2 million It will cost to implement legislation
The cost to the citizen will be huge from the changes that will have to be made in order to implement the legislation passed by Parliament after a bill proposal last June, for staggered fines on traffic lights.
According to "F" information, changes to the contract with the contractor company are needed for the implementation of the legislation in order to upgrade its systems and at the same time, the cameras on traffic lights should be moved to better cover the points mentioned in the legislation.
According to the proposal of MP Marinos Musiouttas approved by the Parliament:
• If you cross the first white line the fine remains €25.
• If you violate the second line and then stop, the fine is €85, instead of €300 as is the case at pedestrian crossings where there are no traffic lights.
• After the square of the second line which is the rectangle of the crossing, when you pass the entire pedestrian crossing, the fine remains at €300.
• At €300 is the fine when someone does not even stop at the red light.
