Thousands of tourists are leaving Cyprus without paying the out-of-court traffic fines issued by the island’s speed camera system, according to Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades.
In a letter to Parliament, Vafeades revealed that for 6,745 rental cars, no driver has been identified to receive or pay the fine. The information was provided in response to a question from DISY MP Prodromos Alambritis.
The data suggest that the majority of unpaid fines involve foreign drivers, mostly tourists, highlighting an ongoing problem that has repeatedly preoccupied both the authorities and Parliament. Despite discussions, the issue remains unresolved.
According to Vafeades, from 2022 to May 2025, speed cameras recorded 17,222 violations involving rental vehicles.
For 1,400 cars, a driver was identified, and fines for 800 of these have already been paid, while 8,277 cases are still being processed.
For 6,745 vehicles, no driver has been identified.
In cases involving rental cars, the owner (rental company) receives a letter requesting the driver’s details.
When rented to a Cyprus resident, the rental company can submit the driver’s details electronically, and the fine is then issued directly to that person.
When rented to a tourist, the rental company must electronically provide the customer’s details - name, passport number, and home address - so that the out-of-court fine can be issued to that individual.
However, Vafeades acknowledged that for fines to be properly issued, the driver’s full details must be entered into the police electronic system, a process that has not yet been fully implemented.