Police: List of Traffic Offences and Penalties

SPEED

Out of court
Speeding limit up to 30%: € 2 / km fine and 1-3 Penalty Points
Exceeding the speed limit up to 50%: € 3 / km fine and 2-4 Penalty Points
Speeding limit up to 75%: € 5 / km fine and 3–6 Penalty Points
Court
Failure to comply with the speed limits penalty 1 year and / or € 4,000 
Exceeding the limit> 75%: 4-8 Punishment Points
Driving ban following a court order. Rapid trial for driving in excess of 75% of the permitted speed limit, driving with an alcohol content in the exhalation ratio exceeding 70μg / 100ml or 55μg / 100ml for young and professional drivers, refusal or avoidance of the provision of expiration sample, driving with court suspension 
General note: Lower limits apply to those covered by Article 5 (2) (b) of the Road Safety Act (young drivers, professionals, motorcycles, mopeds, apprentices and those without a driving license)

Alcohol

Out of court
(i) Exhalation alcohol ratio 22-35μg / 100ml: € 125 fine and 1-3 penalty points

For young drivers, professionals and with 12 Penalty Points the limits are defined as follows:
(i) 9-22μg / 100ml (ii) 23-35μg / 100ml (iii) 36-55μg / 100ml

The out-of-court setting for the above category is introduced for the first time.
(ii) Exhalation alcohol ratio 36-55μg / 100ml: € 250 fine and 3-6 penalty points
(iii) Exhalation alcohol ratio 56-70μg / 100ml: € 500 fine and 4-8 penalty points
Court
(i) 22-35μg / 100ml: 1 month imprisonment and / or up to € 1,500 fine and deprivation of driving license up to 3 months

For young drivers, professionals and with 12 Penalty Points the limits are set as follows:
(i) 9-22μg / 100ml (ii) 23-35μg / 100ml (iii) 36-55μg / 100ml (iv)> 55μg / 100ml

For refusal of supply maximum penalties apply
(ii) 36-55μg / 100ml: 3 months imprisonment and / or up to € 3,000 fine and deprivation of driving license up to 3 months
(iii) 56-70μg / 100ml: 8 months imprisonment and / or up to € 5,000 fine and / or deprivation of leave for up to 2 years
(iv)> 70μg / 100ml: 2 years imprisonment and / or up to € 10,000 fine and / or deprivation of leave for up to 2 years
In case of recurrence of the offense within 3 years the court may impose double penalties.
(iv)> 70mg / 100ml: 5-10 penalty points
Refusal to Provide a Sample: 2 years imprisonment or € 10,000 fine or deprivation of the right to hold or obtain a driving license for a period not exceeding 2 years

Drugs

Court
Driving under the influence of Drugs: up to 3 years imprisonment and / or € 8,000 fine and / or deprivation of driving license for 3 years. The Court may, in addition to the above penalties and, provided that the person applies to the Court for a treatment order, issue a treatment order in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of the Treatment of Accused Users or Substance Addicts Act. 
Refusal to provide a sample: up to 3 years in prison and a € 10,000 fine
Any person who prevents a member of the Police from exercising the powers granted to him, regarding the movement of the offender’s vehicle and the relevant driving ban, is guilty of an offense and, in case of conviction, is subject to: imprisonment not exceeding 6 months or / and in a fine not exceeding € 2,000
Combinations of the above
Court
Conviction for combination: Speed ​​with alcohol and / or drugs: up to 4 years imprisonment and / or € 15,000 fine
Repeat conviction for combination within 3 years: Doubling sentences and deprivation of leave for at least 2 months

Reckless Dangerous Driving

Court
Reckless / Dangerous Driving: up to 2 years imprisonment and / or € 4,000 fine and 3-6 Penalty Points
Reckless / Dangerous Driving in combination with alcohol or drug use: Deprivation of license for at least 2 months

Negligent Driving

Court
Negligent Driving: up to 6 months imprisonment and / or € 1,500 fine and 3-6 Penalty Points
Negligent driving and causing damage to property: up to 1 year imprisonment and / or € 3,000 fine and 2-8 Penalty Points
Negligent driving and causing bodily harm: up to 2 years in prison and / or a € 6,000 fine
When careless driving is accompanied by alcohol consumption or drug use: Deprivation of a license for at least 2 months

Driving under fatigue

Court
Driving under fatigue: up to 1 year imprisonment and / or € 3,000 fine

Traffic lights

Out of court
Traffic light violation: € 300 fine and 3-6 penalty points

Helmet and Belt

Out of court
Seat belts – omission
(a) of installation
(b) use by drivers
(c) use by passengers
(d) use of a suitable child seat: € 150 fine and 3-6 penalty points
In case of recidivism within 3 years the penalty is doubled
Non-use of helmet: € 200 fine and 3-6 penalty points
In case of recidivism within 3 years the penalty is doubled
Court
Owner or owner of a motor vehicle who refuses or omits or neglects to install seat belts: up to 3 months imprisonment and a € 1,000 fine
Obligation to use a belt by driver and passengers: up to 6 months imprisonment and a € 2,000 fine
Driver tolerates or allows a child not to wear a seat belt: up to 6 months in prison and a € 2,000 fine

Abandonment of a vehicle

Out of court
Abandonment of a vehicle without the necessary precautions: € 85 fine and 1-2 penalty points 
Abandonment in a dangerous position: up to 3 months imprisonment and / or a € 1,000 fine

Overtaking

Out of court
Overtaking:
(i) Continuous white line
(ii) Other prohibition sign
(iii) Turn
(iv) Road junction
(v) Curved bridge
(vii) Ascending peak
(viii) Approximate shape of reverse: € 150 fine
Overtaking at a crosswalk: € 200 fine

Parking

Out of court
Parking on sidewalk: € 100 fine
Parking at a short distance from:
(i) Road junction
(ii) Traffic light: € 100 fine
Parking at a short distance from:
(i) Pedestrian Crossing
(ii) Bus Stop: € 150 fine
Parking for disabled parking: € 300 fine
Parking in double yellow line: € 100 fine
Parking on the opposite side of the road: € 100 fine and 1-2 penalty points

Driving

Out of court
Driving without third party liability insurance: € 200 fine and 3-6 Penalty Points
Driving with non-free hands (mobile phone): € 150 fine and 2-4 Penalty Points
In case of recurrence of the offense within 3 years: the penalties are doubled
Driving with non-free hands (other object): € 85 fine and 1-3 Penalty Points
Driving in violation of a condition imposed by the Superintendent on the driving license or driving with an expired driving license: € 50 fine
Driving without a certificate of suitability:
For buses or trucks of a heavy-duty motor vehicle: € 300 fine For
any other vehicle: € 150 fine
Driving a stationary vehicle: € 85
Court
Use of a motor vehicle on the road, without a valid third party liability insurance policy: imprisonment for up to one year and / or a fine not exceeding three thousand euros (€ 3,000). In the case of a second or subsequent conviction within a period of two years, imprisonment not exceeding two years and a fine not exceeding six thousand euros (€ 6,000) and further the
Court may order deprivation of the right to possess or acquire driving license.
Driving with non-free hands (mobile phone): up to 1 year imprisonment and / or up to € 3,000 fine. For professional drivers, a penalty of up to 2 years in prison and / or up to € 6,000 and / or deprivation of a driver’s license for up to one (1) year for young drivers.   
Without a Driver’s License
(a) The driver has not reached the minimum age required to obtain a driver’s license: up to 1 year in prison and / or a € 3,000 fine.
Police Officer Prohibits Continuing Driving

(b) The driver has reached the minimum age required to obtain a driving license: up to 2 years in prison and / or a € 6,000 fine.
A police officer forbids the continuation of driving. 
2. The driver has a driving license or apprentice driving license which has been suspended or canceled under the provisions of Article 40 of the Law on Driving License: up to 2 years imprisonment and / or a fine of € 6,000.
A police officer forbids the continuation of driving  
3. A person who drives a motor vehicle or is in control of such a vehicle on any road or other public place, in violation of a condition imposed on him by the Superintendent (article 7): up to 6 months imprisonment and / or a fine of € 1,500.
A police officer forbids the continuation of driving  
4. A person drives a motor vehicle or has control of such a vehicle on any road or other public place, with a driving license or apprentice driving license whose validity has expired: up to 6 months imprisonment and / or a fine of € 1,500.
A police officer forbids the continuation of driving.
5. A person who employs or assigns, for a fee or not, to another person to drive a motor vehicle on any road or other public place without a driving license or with a suspended / canceled license, or in violation of a condition by the Superintendent or with an expired license: up to 3 years in prison and / or a € 10,000 fine.
6. A person allows or tolerates any other person falling under the above cases, to drive a motor vehicle or to have the control of a motor vehicle on any road or other public place: up to 3 years imprisonment and / or a fine of € 10,000
7. If the person driving or in control of a motor vehicle has not reached the minimum age required to obtain a driving license, the person under his / her guardianship or supervision at the material time shall be deemed to have allowed or tolerated to drive or have control of the vehicle, without the need to prove that the person was aware of the event. 

Leaving the scene of an accident

Court
1. Abandonment of the place of accident (death): up to 5 years and / or € 15000 and deprivation of the right to hold a driver’s license for a period not exceeding two years from the date of conviction.
2. Abandonment of the place of accident (bodily injury): up to 2 years and / or € 10,000 and deprivation of the right to hold a driver’s license for a period not exceeding two years from the date of conviction
3. Abandonment of the place of accident (damage to property): up to 1 month and / or € 3000 and deprivation of the right to hold a driver’s license for a period not exceeding two months from the date of conviction.
Special treatment for anyone deprived of their license or earning twelve penalty points or morePersons subject to the reduced alcohol limit of 9-22mg / 100ml of exhalation or 20mg / 100ml of blood, including persons who drive while deprived of the right to hold or obtain a driver’s license from a Court. The reduced limit will be valid for 3 years from the conviction.

General increase of penalties

Court
Increase of the general fine for the commission of the offenses contained in the Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulations from € 1,708 to € 3,000
Increase of the fine in the case of the first conviction of a person driving without insurance, from € 1708 to € 3000 and increase of the fine in the case of a second conviction from € 3417 to € 6000. The prison sentences provided for up to one and two years respectively, remain the same.

Introduction of a provision for a ban on the continued driving of the motor vehicle and detention of the vehicle until such insurance is issued for it, which concerns liability against a third party by a member of the Police or another person authorized by law.

– The vehicle that is being detained may be transported by an authorized person by a police officer or supervisor of the Road Transport Department or following their instructions, in a place suitable at the discretion of the Chief of Police
– The Vehicle is received by its owner or its owner or their representative, if such insurance is issued for liability to a third party, and if it is moved, paid by its owner or owner or their representative, before it is received by these, the actual costs of transporting and storing it.

– In case the actual costs are not paid or if the vehicle is not received within 2 months from the date the owner or holder is informed by the Chief of Police to receive it, this can be disposed of as unclaimed property in accordance with Article 32 of the Law on Police.

Vehicle Retention







A member of the Police or a person supervising by law prohibits the continuation of driving the motor vehicle and may detain the vehicle until it can be legally driven by the person, in case of:

– Driving under the influence of alcohol
– Refusal to provide an expiration sample for Alcohol control
– Refusal or avoidance of going to the place where the final alcohol test is performed.

A vehicle that is detained may be transported by a person authorized by a police officer or supervisor or, following his instructions, to a place suitable at the discretion of the Chief of Police.

Payment of actual travel and storage costs before the vehicle is picked up by the owner or their representative or agent

If the vehicle is not received within 2 months, it is available as unclaimed property.

Any person who prevents a member of the Police or another person authorized by law from exercising his powers is guilty of an offense and in case of conviction is subject to imprisonment of up to 6 months and / or a fine. up to € 2,000.

Vehicle movement

Moving a motor vehicle that is parked or abandoned on any road illegally and / or dangerously or in a way that obstructs traffic following the instruction of a member of the Police or a supervisor or other authorized person.

Possibility of moving the vehicle by a police officer or supervisor or another person authorized by them, in a place suitable at the discretion of the Chief of Police if its owner can not be found or refuses or fails to move it.

Payment of actual travel expenses before the vehicle is picked up by the owner or their owner or their representative

If the vehicle is not picked up within 2 months it is available as unclaimed property

Any person preventing a member of the Police or another person authorized by law from exercising the delegated powers is guilty of an offense.

Document Offences

Registration Plate – Number plate infringements. Police have power to detain and remove vehicles not complying with the regulations.
Failing to notify change of ownership or sale of vehicle within 30 days. – fine.

Motorcycle Offences

Motorcycle / Moped – riding without dipped beam headlights illuminated – fine.
Motorcycle / Moped – pillion under 12 years old – fine .
Motorcycle / Moped – passenger being carried in front of driver – fine .
Motorcycle / Moped – pillion not sitting astride vehicle – fine.
Moped – driving on Highway – fine.

Driving Offences

Non-mechanical vehicle on motorways and high speed roads – fine.
Failing – to comply with directions given by a Police Officer – fine.
Failing – to comply with directions given by traffic signs – fine.
Failing – to stop or to conform to the signals of the traffic warden or Crossing Patrol at a school crossing – fine.
Failing – to stop and allow precedence to pedestrians on a pedestrian crossing – fine.
Driving the wrong way down a one way road. – fine.
Failing – to slow down to allow the safe passage of other vehicles or traffic – fine.
Driving of motor vehicles in a pedestrian street – fine .
Illegal entry of motor vehicles on the road with restrictions on the movement of motor vehicles – fine.
Priority – driver who does not give priority to vehicles coming from the right at junctions with main road or at controlled crossings or who drives into main road without stopping or slowing down – fine.
Unnecessary reversing – fine.
Unnecessary use of horn in built up areas – fine.

Construction and Use Offences

Cargo – passenger vehicle carrying bulky and hazardous cargo in a vehicle – fine.
Dangerous load or overhang. (More than 10% of vehicles length) – fine.
Shipments – which project or are hazardous – fine.
Driving a motor vehicle which has been modified,changed or adapted – fine.
Tyre (tire) – dangerous or defective. More Tyre Information (.pdf) – fine.
Silencers – or lack of silencer system – points – fine.
Using the vehicle with excessive smoke
Mirrors – infringement regarding reflex mirrors – fine.
Windows – windscreen washers / wipers non-existent or defective – fine.
Windows – glass windows with limited visibility – fine.

Learning to drive

Learner Driver – failing to display E plate – fine.
Learner Driver – driver of a vehicle carrying passengers other than the supervisor – fine.
Learner Driver – driver who is not accompanied by a licensed driver – fine.
Learner Driver – on highway not accompanied by a Cyprus Registered driving instructor – fine.
Learner Driver – motorcycle driver carrying passengers other than the supervisor – fine.
General Note: Lower limits apply to those covered by Article 5 (2) (b) of the Road Safety Act (young drivers, professionals, motorcycles, mopeds, apprentices and those without a driving license)

Other Offences

Not carrying a reflective warning triangle.
Smoking – in private motor vehicle, with a person under the age of sixteen in the vehicle – fine.
Smoking – in public vehicle – fine.
Smoking – in designated public places where smoking is prohibited – fine.
Obstruction – Heavy vehicles – a truck driver or bus does not stop and allow the other traffic to pass – fine.
Driver – who is in an irregular position inside the vehicle or raises his hand from the steering wheel unnecessarily – fine.
Passengers – not sitting in fixed seats, obstructs or interferes with the normal operation of the vehicle or is making signs or gestures could be seen as traffic signals – fine.
Doors – person who opens the door of a vehicle in a manner unsafe or disturbing for other vehicles or leaves the door open making another vehicles movement excessive – fine.
Lights – offences relating to parking lights and placing of a reflective warning triangle – fine.
Lights – offences relating to motor vehicle headlamps – fine.
Dropping litter – fine.
Taxi Fares – taxi driver fails have a table of charges in a prominent place in the taxi – fine.
The writing, attaching or displaying of any object, for example a tax disc, on the windscreen of a vehicle is prohibited – fine