New law to tow cars is limited to licence plate offences

NEW LEGISLATION empowering police to confiscate cars from Monday will only apply to cars with unreadable or missing number plates police said yesterday.

Traffic police sergeant Tassos Ashikkis said that the new law does not have any provision for towing away cars that infringe other traffic laws, such as parking on double yellow lines. “Currently there are no bills regarding this, although preliminary discussions are taking place.” Ashikkis said.

“For the time being, the regulations provide police with the authority to confiscate cars which have no number plate or whose number plate is unrecognisable. Cars will be transferred to a place prescribed by the chief of traffic police.”

Owners will be required to produce documentation to show they are eligible to drive, and pay the tow truck’s fee.

Currently the police have only five tow-trucks for removing the vehicles and so in order to meet the expected demand they have drawn up a list of seven private firms and a list of individuals in each city who are equipped to tow the cars.

Road traffic department director Soteris Kolettas said yesterday that within six to nine months the department would be implementing further legislation to standardise the appearance licence plates.

This legislation will say that both the front and rear plates must be white, clearly visible and be produced by authorised license-plate manufacturers.

This will not apply to cars that are currently in circulation and in the car registrar’s database; however, if the licence-plates are lost or need replacing they will have to conform to the new criteria. Taxi drivers and motorcyclists are an exception to this, and will be required to change their plates within six months of the introduction of this legislation.

Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said the police leadership considers the new law on registration plates to be a “useful and effective tool in the hands of law enforcement agencies, which is why district commanders have been called on to ensure full implementation of its provisions”.

The new rules will help reduce traffic violations and by extension road accidents, while preventing and combating crime, he added.

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