**MPs Say Traffic Demands Need a Better Solution**
On Monday, members of the House finance committee in Cyprus voted against the allocation of €146,000 intended for the enhancement of traffic camera systems and the establishment of a photo radar list. This funding was aimed at enabling authorities to collect outstanding fines at crossing points. However, MPs expressed concerns that these measures were merely "aspirin to a larger problem," indicating a belief that more comprehensive solutions are necessary to address traffic issues in the country.
During the discussions, Achilleas Pilias, a representative from the electromechanical services, informed the committee that the existing contractor would need to modify the current system and establish a connection to the police, pending approval from the Law Office. Pilias noted that the system has been operating in a test environment and has not yet been fully implemented.
The committee members sought further clarification on several points, including the legal basis for the proposed procedures and the number of out-of-court fines that have been issued. Akel MP Aristos Damianou raised concerns regarding the legality of serving fines at crossing points, suggesting that such actions could create "hard borders." In response, a police representative clarified that checking identification documents at these points is legal and that individuals issued fines would have a 90-day period to settle their payments.
Akel MP Andreas Pasiourtides criticized the proposed changes, suggesting they were primarily aimed at reducing costs for the contractor and questioned the necessity of granting the contractor access to sensitive data. A representative from the contractor explained that the vehicle registration numbers would need to be communicated to the police to facilitate enforcement at crossing points. However, they admitted that the initial contract did not account for two-way communication between the contractor's system and the police.
Elam MP Marios Pelekanos voiced his concerns that the traffic camera system functions more as a tool for collecting fines rather than preventing accidents. He stated that his party would not support the release of the requested funds under these circumstances. Alma president Odysseas Michaelides also criticized the amendment under discussion, stating that it seemed to be an attempt to "legalise an illegality."
Direct Democracy MP Yiannis Laouris questioned the appropriateness of the requested funds, arguing that the amount seemed disproportionately large for the task at hand. The police representative confirmed that the proposed changes could apply to all vehicles, including those with Turkish Cypriot number plates, as data collection would be necessary for all vehicles passing through the crossing points.
The contractor further elaborated that the proposed system changes would require more than just a software update, necessitating access to information, operational procedures, and the establishment of a call center.
Following the meeting, committee chairman Diko MP Chrysis Pantelides announced that the committee had unanimously rejected the funding request and the proposed fine delivery system for crossing points for a second time. Pantelides expressed that the MPs were not convinced of the necessity of the funds, highlighting the "impressively large" number of undelivered fines. He stated, "Until we are convinced that the executive power understands this problem or until it brings a legislative solution for this problem, we are unwilling to continuously release funds which are just aspirin to a larger problem."
Disy MP Fotini Tsiridou pointed out that there are approximately 180,000 undelivered fines and emphasized the need for the government to propose an amendment to modernize the system for serving fines. Meanwhile, Akel’s Damianou reiterated that the committee would not approve any funding for procedures that fall outside the legal framework.
The discussion reflects ongoing concerns regarding traffic management and enforcement in Cyprus, with MPs advocating for more effective and legally sound solutions rather than temporary fixes. The rejection of the funding request underscores the committee's commitment to addressing the underlying issues rather than merely managing the symptoms of the traffic enforcement challenges.