MPs reject €146,000 request for traffic camera upgrades and photo radar list

Nicosia, Cyprus. MPs on Monday rejected the release of €146,000 to upgrade traffic camera systems and create a photo radar list that would allow authorities to pursue outstanding fines at crossing points. They described the requests as “just aspirin to a larger problem”.

Committee seeks details

The House finance committee requested information on the system, the legal basis for its procedures and the number of out-of-court fines issued.

Achilleas Pilias, speaking for the electromechanical services, said the existing contractor needed to modify the system and link it to the police, pending approval from the Law Office. He said the system had been operating in a test environment rather than in full operation.

Asked by Akel MP Aristos Damianou whether the data protection commissioner had approved the link, Pilias said approval had been obtained in 2022, when the contract came into force.

Crossing-point concerns

Damianou argued that serving fines at crossing points was “illegal” and would turn them into “hard borders”. A police representative said checking identification documents at crossing points was legal and that people served with a fine would have 90 days to pay it.

Akel MP Andreas Pasiourtides said the proposed change was essentially intended to cut costs for the contractor and questioned why it needed access to data. A contractor representative said a vehicle’s registration number had to be sent to the police so it could be stopped at a crossing point. The representative acknowledged that the initial contract did not provide for two-way communication between the systems.

Elam MP Marios Pelekanos said the traffic camera system functioned more as a way to collect fines than to prevent accidents. He said his party would not support releasing the requested funds.