Cyprus traffic authorities are facing a legal loophole that prevents officers from confiscating electric scooters when riders break the law, leaving police able only to issue fines before letting offenders ride away. Inspector Tasos Ashikkis of the Traffic Department at police headquarters confirmed that while officers can stop non-compliant riders and issue out-of-court citations, they lack the legal authority to seize personal mobility devices until a pending ministerial decree takes effect. The enforcement gap comes as viral social media videos highlight reckless behavior across Nicosia. Groups of young riders have been filmed performing wheelies and traveling in dark conditions without reflective gear along major corridors including Aglantzia Avenue, Makarios Avenue, the Aglantzia bridge near the University of Cyprus, and the narrow streets of old Nicosia.
Once the decree receives final legal vetting and approval from the Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, officers will gain full powers to impound scooters under specific statutory conditions. Ground for seizure will include use by children under 17, riding in prohibited areas, or operating devices capable of exceeding 25 kilometres per hour. Under current Cyprus law, e-scooters are permitted only on roads with a posted speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour, on designated cycle paths, or within signposted shared spaces that extend a cycle lane. They are strictly banned from roads with speed limits of 50 kilometres per hour or higher. In pedestrian zones and public squares, riding requires explicit municipal authorization and is capped at a maximum speed of 10 kilometres per hour, though no local councils have formally published such decisions yet.
The scale of the enforcement challenge is underscored by official police data showing 7,635 out-of-court fines issued to scooter users. Among these citations, 2,423 were for riding in illegal locations, 1,951 for failing to wear an approved safety helmet, and 1,419 for lacking appropriate reflective markings. Transport safety concerns have heightened following two fatal crashes involving riders aged 24 and 26, alongside five serious injuries recorded between January and August 2026, two of which involved minors under 18. Inspector Ashikkis warned that parents and legal guardians face severe penalties if they allow children under 17 to operate e-scooters, with potential fines up to 1,000 euros, up to three months in prison, or both. Furthermore, riders who perform stunts or engage in reckless driving face the exact same legal charges and criminal consequences as motorists.