No camera fine if already past line, say authorites

The road traffic department on Thursday sought to clarify concerns as to what the exact procedures are when attempting to turn at junctions with newly installed traffic cameras.

A sergeant at the department, Tasos Ashikkis, explained what drivers can expect when they’re “stuck” passed the line but there is a delay in being able to turn.

“The camera system is activated once the traffic lights proceed to red, but we must clarify that a driver is not fined if they passed the line while it was green,” he told Alpha.

He explained that if the driver then gets “stuck” passed the line while trying to turn – but can’t due to continuous oncoming traffic – then there is no fine.

He added that for junctions where there is a green arrow to turn, the driver has three seconds in which to make the turn once the green arrow has elapsed.

“It’s the same period of time that is granted once yellow light is activated, three seconds,” he said.

Asked to clarify whether it is therefore permissible to turn once the light has turned yellow, and you’re still halfway up pass the line, he stated “that’s the exact purpose of the yellow light, for those who did not manage to turn while the oncoming traffic was in motion”.

“If someone is waiting while the light changed to red, then there won’t be a fine, and if a person manages to turn while it’s red but passed the light while it was green then – again – there is no fine,” Ashikkis said.

He concluded by saying that simply because the camera flashed does not necessarily mean that you have been fined, it may have been activated by another driver passing the line while it was red.