Stricter Penalties for Drunk Driving Approved in Northern Cyprus – Hands-Free Phone Use Now Allowed

The TRNC Parliament has unanimously approved amendments to the "Unified Traffic Violations and Penalty Points Without Trial" bill, introducing harsher penalties for drunk driving and disobeying police orders while officially allowing hands-free phone use while driving.

Tougher Penalties for Drunk and Reckless Driving

Under the new regulations, drivers caught exceeding 150 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood will no longer receive on-the-spot fines. Instead, they will face criminal charges, and their cases will go directly to court.

The law also introduces new provisions on reckless driving:

• Drivers who ignore police orders to stop and attempt to flee will have their licenses revoked.

Bluetooth and Hands-Free Phone Use Now Legal

While holding and using a mobile phone while driving remains strictly prohibited, the new law now explicitly allows drivers to make calls using Bluetooth or wired earphones. Until now, hands-free phone use wasn’t clearly regulated, leading to inconsistent enforcement.

Authorities Emphasize the Importance of Road Safety

Minister of Public Works and Transport Erhan Arıklı thanked MPs for their contributions to road safety discussions, noting that fines alone are not enough to prevent accidents but remain an effective deterrent.

Given the urgency of these amendments, the bill's third reading is scheduled for the next parliamentary session.