The uncontrolled use of scooters on Cypriot roads is causing a “headache.”
The decree is currently before the Ministry of Transport, and according to statements made on the Alpha News program by Sergeant Tassos Asiekkis of the Traffic Division at Police Headquarters, it will be forwarded to the Attorney General for the necessary legal review, so that it can then be approved by the Minister and published in the Official Gazette of the Republic.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
“The consultation period has ended. We, as the Police, have expressed our views. We hope that, following the legal review, the decree will be published and implemented. The offenses that will constitute grounds for impounding these vehicles are clearly defined. They are set forth with complete clarity in the legislation. The situation is clear to us.”
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According to Mr. Asiekkis’s explanation, the user must be over 17 years of age. Whether the device will be returned depends on the fees paid by the device’s owner or the person responsible for it. It also depends on whether they are entitled to get the device back; if it is illegally manufactured, the Traffic Police may destroy it.
“The impoundment of the device, as clearly provided for in the relevant legislation, may take place when the person is the owner of the device or the parent of a minor who has not taken the necessary measures to prevent that minor from using the device. Furthermore, when a person uses the device in a prohibited area or uses it on a roadway where a traffic sign is posted specifying a maximum speed limit exceeding 30 kilometers per hour—except, for example, when crossing a road that connects permitted traffic areas. Likewise, a person may not use this personal mobility scooter on any highway or expressway, or if the device, due to its design, is capable of reaching speeds exceeding 25 kilometers per hour.”
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What the police are saying about the mass scooter ride by young people in Nicosia on Halloween
Commenting on the mass ride planned by groups of young people on “modified” scooters on the streets of Nicosia on Halloween, Mr. Asiekkis referred to the role of parents.
“We are aware of this event. First of all, let’s not forget the role of parents, which is extremely important, since they serve as the primary role models for their children and set an example that, one might say, encourages imitative behavior. And the reason is clear. Children tend to copy their parents’ behavior on the street and unconsciously replicate it. Therefore, it is clear that parents and those responsible for children serve as the primary and most powerful role models. At the same time, they bear both moral and criminal responsibility for protecting their children on the road and beyond. Children are a high-risk group on the road, and it goes without saying that the development of road safety awareness begins with the family.”
At the same time, the Sergeant of the Traffic Division at Police Headquarters emphasized that both high school and elementary school teachers play a particularly important role in fostering a strong sense of road safety awareness among teenagers and young adults.
“A decision will be made regarding how we will proceed with policing this protest. Children over the age of 14, of course, are subject to criminal liability, and the necessary measures will certainly be taken with due care. Decisions will be made within the Police Department regarding how we will proceed with caution in handling this event.”
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