Cyprus to Increase Penalty Points for License Suspension

Cyprus has amended the "Motor Vehicles and Road Traffic" law, increasing the number of penalty points required for a temporary suspension of driving licenses from 12 to 16. The new regulations will take effect on February 1, 2025.

During a parliamentary session, 40 members voted in favor of the amendment, while only one independent parliamentarian, Alexandra Attalides, opposed it.

The proposal was introduced by DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvidis, who explained that this change is deemed necessary due to the new and numerous tools currently used for traffic management, as well as the issues observed with their implementation, which have led to an accumulation of penalty points on driving licenses.

A key focus of the discussion was the photo enforcement system, which, according to Savvidis, "has caused outrage among drivers due to its numerous problems." He added that the amendment aims to alleviate the burden on drivers by reducing the likelihood of court proceedings and preventing license suspensions.

Savvidis also pointed out that when the points system was first established, there were no breathalyzers or drug tests in place, and the collection of fines was less efficient.

In response, Alexandra Attalides stated that if a transitional period for implementing this amendment had been proposed, she might have supported it. However, she expressed concern, stating, "Given the number of fatalities and speeding violations on our roads today, the parliament should not send such a message."