Traffic violations committed in rental vehicles across Cyprus have accumulated over €7.4 million in unpaid fines and estimated penalties, with only a tiny fraction being successfully settled. Transport Minister Evanthia Tsolaki revealed the figures in response to parliamentary questions from Disy MP Prodromos Alambritis. According to official data from the island's traffic camera network, a mere 3,428 fines tied to rental cars have actually been paid, highlighting severe enforcement loopholes when dealing with visiting drivers and fleet vehicles.
The statistics expose major administrative hurdles in identifying the individuals behind the wheel. Authorities managed to pinpoint drivers in 8,501 instances, but failed to identify anyone in 15,118 cases. In a staggering 41,114 additional cases, identifying the driver proved completely impossible. Out of all recorded incidents, just 12 cases have ultimately reached court. Minister Tsolaki noted that precise collection figures can only be provided by the Cyprus Police, as payment tracking details are not recorded directly within the traffic camera system.
Geographically, Limassol accounted for the largest share of rental car violations at 33 per cent, followed by Paphos at 24 per cent and Larnaca at 22 per cent. Nicosia recorded 17 per cent of all infractions, while Famagusta registered just 4 per cent of the total, a low figure explained by the fact that the Famagusta district currently lacks fixed speed cameras.
To close these enforcement gaps, proposed legislative amendments are being prepared to modernize the system. The draft changes would allow traffic fines to be delivered electronically via text message or email, subject to strict data protection compliance. In addition, rental companies will be legally required to provide customer details directly to the police, ensuring that drivers responsible for traffic offences can be swiftly identified and held accountable.