DIKO bill would jail newly qualified drivers over alcohol
Four proposals tabled in parliament would impose zero tolerance on alcohol for drivers licensed up to three years and for learners, with fines reaching €10,000 and prison terms of up to two years.
Cyprus MPs are considering a strict alcohol regime for novice motorists, as reported by Cyprus Mail. Four bills put forward on Friday by DIKO deputy Chrysanthos Savvides would apply zero tolerance to learner drivers and to anyone who has held a licence for no more than three years.
On-the-spot fines would start at €125 and reach €500, depending on the breath reading, while cases that go to court could bring a two-year sentence, a €10,000 fine and a two-year driving ban. Separate provisions target people behind the wheel without a valid licence who have any alcohol in their system, with up to three years in prison, and allow certain cases to be fast-tracked.
The texts now go to the House Transport Committee before any plenary vote.
What it means for residents
For families with young drivers, the practical effect is that even a single drink before driving stops being a minor risk and becomes a criminal one, with licence loss likely to follow a conviction. Anyone still on a learner permit falls under the same regime.
- Talk to new drivers at home. A designated driver arrangement or a taxi after one drink is now far cheaper than a court fine and a ban.
- Plan for licence loss. A ban hits work, school runs and rural commutes hardest, since public transport is thin outside the cities.
- Watch the committee stage. The tier thresholds and penalty points can still change before the vote, so the rules are not yet in force.
This text is written from the source article and is not a translation of it.
