Court begins hearing on president’s objection to traffic light timer law

The Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus began hearing a case on Wednesday over a disputed law requiring countdown timers at junctions monitored by traffic cameras. At the centre of the legal battle is a law passed by the House of Representatives on March 13, making it mandatory to install digital timers alongside red-light enforcement cameras. The aim was to help drivers comply more easily with traffic signals.

The law included a clause stating that, if the devices were not installed within six months of the law taking effect, current penalties for running red lights would be suspended. President Nikos Christodoulides sent the law back to Parliament, arguing it was unenforceable for technical reasons. MPs rejected the referral in early April, prompting the president to escalate the issue to the Constitutional Court through a formal objection, listed as reference 1/25.



The court on Wednesday granted the House’s legal adviser two weeks to file an objection to the president’s referral. Ten days after that, the attorney-general’s office is expected to present its position. A week later, the House’s legal team will be allowed to respond.

In his referral, the president warned that the law could interfere with the ongoing implementation of Cyprus’ photo-enforcement system. He also raised concerns about the financial burden on the state’s fixed fund, claiming it would increase public spending without proper planning. Furthermore, the president said the legislation risks breaching the constitutional principle of separation of powers by directing how executive functions are carried out.

The referral also mentioned that Cyprus’ traffic light system is due to be upgraded to “smart lights”, capable of adjusting signal durations based on real-time traffic flow. This development, the president argued, makes the use of fixed countdown timers technically impossible. The court’s decision could have wider implications for traffic safety policies and how much influence Parliament can have over technical aspects of enforcement systems.

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