Cyprus Proposes Zero Alcohol Limit for Novice Drivers

On Friday, October 9, DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvidis introduced four bills in the Cyprus Parliament aimed at improving road safety.

The proposals would introduce stricter rules for drivers who obtained their licenses no more than three years ago, learner drivers and people operating vehicles without the required driver’s license.

Under the initiatives, any detectable amount of alcohol would be grounds for penalties for these categories of drivers. Depending on the alcohol level and the circumstances of the offense, the proposals provide for out-of-court fines of up to €500 and, upon conviction, prison sentences of up to two years, fines of up to €10,000 and driving bans.

For certain cases of driving without the appropriate license while under the influence of alcohol, the maximum prison sentence would increase to three years. All four bills have been referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Transport. After discussion, they are expected to be put to a vote at a plenary session of Parliament. For now, these are legislative proposals and have not yet taken effect.

What fines are proposed for driving after drinking alcohol?

The first bill proposes amendments to the legislation on out-of-court settlement of offenses. For novice and learner drivers, three levels of fines are proposed depending on the breathalyzer reading. At an alcohol concentration of up to 9 micrograms per 100 milliliters of breath, the fine would be €125. At a reading from 9 to 22 micrograms, it would increase to €250, while a level from 22 to 35 micrograms would result in a €500 fine.

These readings correspond to the following blood alcohol levels: up to 21 milligrams per 100 milliliters, from 21 to 51 milligrams, and from 51 to 81 milligrams, respectively. If the reading exceeds 35 micrograms per 100 milliliters of breath, the out-of-court fine procedure would no longer apply. In that case, the offense would be handled under stricter provisions of the law.

Penalties through the courts: fines, prison and driving bans

The second bill proposes changes to road safety legislation and would establish 5 levels of maximum penalties for novice and learner drivers convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol. At a reading of up to 9 micrograms, the maximum penalty would be 15 days in prison and a fine of up to €750. No separate driving ban is specified for this level in the proposal.

At a reading from 9 to 22 micrograms, the maximum penalty would be one month in prison, a fine of €1,500 and a three-month driving ban. At a reading from 22 to 35 micrograms, the proposed maximum would be three months in prison, a fine of up to €3,000 and a six-month driving ban.

If the breathalyzer shows between 35 and 55 micrograms, the maximum penalty would be eight months in prison, a €5,000 fine and a 12-month driving ban. At a reading above 55 micrograms, the proposal would set a maximum penalty of two years in prison, a €10,000 fine and a two-year driving ban. In the most serious cases, the court could impose several types of penalties at the same time.

Driving without a license and penalty points

The third bill concerns people who operate a vehicle without the appropriate driver’s license while also having alcohol in their system. It would apply, among others, to people below the minimum age required for the relevant vehicle category, drivers without a license or learner’s permit, and those whose licenses have been suspended or revoked.

Two levels of penalties are proposed for such offenses. In less serious cases, the maximum penalty would be two years in prison and a fine of up to €6,000, with the court able to impose either one or both penalties. For the most serious violations, the maximum prison term would rise to three years and the fine to up to €9,000. Both penalties could also be imposed together.

The fourth bill proposes introducing penalty points for novice and learner drivers found to have alcohol in their system. At a reading of up to 9 micrograms per 100 milliliters of breath, drivers could receive 1 to 3 penalty points; from 9 to 22 micrograms, 3 to 6 points; from 22 to 35 micrograms, 4 to 8 points; and at 35 micrograms or higher, 5 to 10 points.

According to the explanatory notes accompanying the bills, the goal of the initiative is to create a unified and stricter system of penalties for alcohol-related driving offenses involving novice drivers, learners and people without the required licenses. The measures are expected to help reduce violations and road accidents in Cyprus.

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