Cyprus police are pushing back against the possibility of reducing the €300 fines imposed by recently installed traffic cameras.

The resistance comes in response to the transport minister’s suggestion that these fines are overly punitive.

Police spokesman said that the force does not want fines to be reduced.

Traffic enforcement authorities said that the fines issued by the cameras have played a pivotal role in achieving a significant 39 per cent reduction in fatal traffic accidents within a mere one and a half years.

The matter is set to be discussed on Thursday during a session of the House committee meeting on transport.

Dipa MP Marinos Moushouttas, who sits on the House transport committee, said the goal is to “rectify significant injustices that have led to numerous complaints from drivers.”

Moushouttas also spoke to news channel Ant1 on Tuesday, citing instances where drivers, while proceeding on a green light, encounter a sudden red signal along with the camera flash, “resulting in an unjust €300 fine and penalty points.

“One solution would be to install timers on traffic lights, allowing citizens to know how much time remains before the light turns red, enabling them to act pre-emptively and avoid fines,” he said.

“The cameras’ primary goal should not be to generate revenue for the state but to enhance road safety for citizens and reduce traffic violations.”

Official data from the end of July revealed that approximately 40,000 traffic fines, amounting to 40 per cent of the total issued, remain unpaid.

Cyprus has committed to meeting the European target of reducing road fatalities and serious injuries by 50 per cent by the year 2030.

In a recent parliamentary debate regarding existing traffic offences, traffic police representatives emphasised that the current fine structure resulted from research conducted by the University of Cyprus.

The research took into account the local traffic landscape and various contributing factors to accidents.

As a result of the discussion, it was decided that the initial proposal to introduce an additional €300 fine for seatbelt, helmet, and mobile phone violations would be revised.

The revised fines will be €150 for seatbelt and mobile phone infractions and €200 for helmet violations, with no changes anticipated for red light violations.

Moushouttas said he hopes for a productive cooperation between the House, the transport ministry and the police “to strike a balance where drivers can navigate safely without feeling unfairly targeted by camera flashes on the roads.”