Thousands of tourists leave Cyprus without paying traffic camera fines

Cyprus is facing a serious issue with unpaid fines for traffic violations recorded by automated cameras. According to Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeiadis, thousands of tourists are leaving the island without settling their fines, as in most cases it is impossible to identify the drivers of rented vehicles.

Official data show that since the launch of the camera system in 2022, a total of 17,222 violations have been recorded involving rental cars. Of these, only around 800 fines have been paid, while another 1,400 have been issued to identified drivers. In 8,277 cases, the identification process is still ongoing, and for 6,745 vehicles the drivers have not been identified at all.

The problem stems from the lack of an effective data exchange system between car rental companies and the traffic police. Although rental agencies are required to provide client information, in practice this happens irregularly, leaving most offenders unpunished.

The Minister of Transport stated that the government is preparing legal amendments that will require rental companies to promptly transmit driver information to the electronic traffic fines system. Authorities are also considering integrating this data with border control services so that fines can be collected before tourists leave the island.

Road safety experts warn that unless the issue is resolved, the entire photo-enforcement system could be undermined. They call for stricter oversight of rental companies and better information for tourists about Cyprus’s traffic regulations and fines.