A bill which will extend the deadline for the payment of fines from 30 days to 90 days will be voted upon by parliament next Thursday.

The bill was submitted by Disy MPs Fotini Tsiridou and Onoufrios Koullas, seeks to amend the out-of-court settlement of offences law.

Under the current system, fines increase by 50 per cent if unpaid within 15 days. The new bill, if passed, will set the starting point of the deadline at the date of notification rather than the date of issuance. If a fine remains unpaid beyond 90 days, the case will proceed to court 15 days later.

Tsiridou and Koullas argue that the existing 15-day deadline for early payment is excessively strict, especially given the financial realities many citizens face. They saod most people receive their salaries or benefits on a monthly basis, making it difficult to meet the current deadline without incurring penalties.

“The extension is necessary to offer citizens a fair chance to pay their fines without facing disproportionate penalties,” the MPs stated in their explanatory note.

In a separate motion, opposition parties Akel and Elam have proposed a law requiring countdown timers at traffic lights monitored by cameras. The timers would indicate how long the green light remains before switching to amber and red, aiming to prevent drivers from being unfairly fined for running a light at the last moment.

According to the proposal, authorities would have three months to install the timers once the law is published. If they fail to meet the deadline, fines for running red lights at those locations would be suspended until the timers are installed.

Akel MPs argue that the measure ensures transparency and fairness in traffic enforcement. 

“Drivers must have a clear indication of when the light will change to avoid unjust penalties,” they said.

However, the transport ministry has rejected the proposal, warning that installing timers would interfere with smart traffic lights, which adjust their timing based on real-time congestion levels.

“These advanced systems help improve traffic flow and reduce delays. Fixed countdown timers would prevent them from adapting to changing road conditions,” a ministry spokesperson said.