Police are stepping up efforts to deliver tens of thousands of unpaid speed camera fines to drivers, some of whom have racked up between five and eight outstanding fines along with numerous penalty points, with delivery now taking place at roadblocks, police stations and soon from all patrol cars.
The matter of the so-called photoradar list, a list of drivers with outstanding fines from the camera enforcement system, was tabled in Parliament but not discussed, despite questions raised by MPs, due to time constraints.
Asked by Fileleftheros how many fines remain outstanding, the director of the Traffic Police Department at Police Headquarters, Haris Evripidou, said the company managing the system has around 160,000 undelivered fines it is still trying to serve, with police set to pursue a further 160,000 fines the company failed to deliver.
Evripidou said that in the 20 days since the photoradar list began operating, 13,000 fines have already been delivered.
On-the-spot fines
The list is currently applied at roadblocks and police stations, while soon, when a driver is stopped for a check by a traffic officer, they will also be checked for outstanding camera fines, which can then be issued on the spot via special handheld devices.
Regarding complaints that drivers’ identity cards are being withheld at roadblocks, the Traffic Police director said an officer checks a driver’s ID to see whether any warrants or fines are outstanding against them, and the fine is then delivered.
If a driver refuses to accept the fine, they will be considered as having been notified, and the legal process for payment within 90 days will begin. If payment is not made, the fine increases, and the case is ultimately referred to court.
MPs told the parliamentary committee that many people, fearing registered letters relate to fines, are not collecting them even when they concern unrelated matters, resulting in thousands of letters piling up at post offices.
Evripidou urged drivers to use the company’s online platform to check whether they have outstanding fines so they can pay them, warning that some drivers have accumulated so many fines they will be unable to pay, risking referral to court and the loss of their licence.
He clarified that under the legislation, the company managing the system is paid for each attempt to deliver a fine, while police are also legally entitled to deliver fines the company failed to serve by locating the offenders themselves.
Airports after Schengen entry
Asked whether the photoradar list also applies at airports, the Traffic Police director said that because Cyprus is set to join the Schengen zone and Cypriot citizens will no longer be checked, it was decided that fine checks could not be applied there. Passenger checks will instead be carried out by airlines once Cyprus enters the Schengen zone.
