The need for stricter e-scooter rules in Cyprus was highlighted during a meeting of the House Transport Committee, where five bills proposing changes to the legislation governing their use were discussed.
The meeting focused on what lawmakers described as an increasingly uncontrolled situation on the country’s roads and the risks posed by electric scooters, particularly when used by minors. MPs used terms such as “mobile bombs”, “a complete shambles” and “disorder” to describe the situation.
Figures presented to the committee revealed the scale of the problem. Tasos Ashikis, representing the Traffic Department at Police Headquarters, said 8,800 complaints for e-scooter-related offences were recorded between 1 January and 31 October 2026.
Of these, 2,800 concerned riding in areas where e-scooters are not permitted. Police consider this the most serious offence.
The road accident figures were also concerning. Two e-scooter users have died since the beginning of the year, while five people were seriously injured by the end of August. Two of those seriously injured were minors.
Particular attention was drawn to the death of 16-year-old Aris Papacharalambous, who died last September following a road collision involving an e-scooter. Virginia Christou, representing the Cyprus Consumers Association, referred to his case during the meeting, highlighting the potentially tragic consequences of unsafe e-scooter use.
Five bills propose stricter e-scooter rules
Five legislative proposals were at the centre of the discussion. They seek to address gaps in the existing legal framework through stricter conditions for use, higher fines, mandatory registration and insurance, and the possibility of restricting e-scooter circulation.
The first bill, submitted by MP Chrysanthos Savvides, proposes establishing a register for personal mobility devices and introducing an offence for their use by anyone below the legally prescribed minimum age.
It also seeks tougher penalties for owners, people legally responsible for managing or keeping the devices, and parents or guardians who fail to take the necessary measures to prevent their use by anyone under 17.
The second proposal, also submitted by Savvides, focuses on out-of-court fines. It provides for a fine when a personal mobility device is used by someone below the minimum legal age. It also proposes increasing fines for owners, people responsible for the devices and parents who fail to prevent their use by minors under 17.
The third bill, submitted by Dimitris Souglis, proposes a dedicated registration system for personal mobility devices, the allocation of identification marks and mandatory insurance.
The fourth proposal, submitted by Sotiris Ioannou, concerns the procedure for impounding electric scooters. It seeks to remove the provision under which the process is regulated through a ministerial decree and instead incorporate the relevant impounding and release procedures directly into the main legislation.
The fifth bill, submitted by Andreas Constantinou, goes further by proposing a temporary ban on personal mobility devices within municipal districts or communities. The ban could only be lifted once an adequate and safe network for their use had been established.
Authorities broadly positive but raise concerns
The Ministry of Transport, the Law Office and other relevant bodies initially expressed a positive attitude towards the proposed changes. However, legal, administrative and practical concerns emerged during the discussion, with several authorities requesting additional time to examine the proposals in detail.
A key issue remains the decree governing the impounding of electric scooters, which was described during the meeting as essential to the more effective implementation of the legislation.
Aphrodite Kofterou, a senior official at the Ministry of Transport, said Transport Minister Evi Tsolaki had already expressed support in principle for creating a registration system, referring to the first and third bills.
However, she explained that the matter would be examined after the impounding decree was issued. Establishing a register would require a new administrative service, along with additional staff, technological infrastructure and legislative arrangements.
“We need to look at where exactly it will be placed and what is needed for it to operate in terms of staffing, legislation and technology. We are not rejecting it; we are simply not ready to proceed,” she said.
Kofterou also raised constitutional concerns about the two proposals and warned of possible implications for the state budget.
Regarding the second bill, she said there had not been sufficient time to consult the Law Office and other relevant services. She stressed, however, that any fines introduced must comply with the principle of proportionality.
Impounding decree sent to Law Office
Regarding the fourth bill, Kofterou confirmed that the decree governing the impounding of electric scooters had been prepared and sent to the Law Office.
She said the draft had been put out for public consultation last August and subsequently amended to take into account comments from the Police and municipalities.
“We finalised it and put it out for public consultation in August. We took into account all the positions of the municipalities and the Police and made changes,” she said.
The Law Office confirmed that it had received the decree the previous week. Its representative estimated that the legal review would take approximately one month to complete.
The proposal to temporarily ban e-scooters in municipal districts and communities also raised concerns.
Kofterou said building the necessary infrastructure would be a lengthy process and warned that the proposed measure could effectively result in an almost complete ban on their use.
“Banning the use of scooters within municipal districts essentially means banning their use altogether. Furthermore, responsibility for certain infrastructure does not lie with the Ministry but with the municipalities,” she said.
Ministry questions €300 fine for minors
The Ministry of Justice expressed reservations about the proposed level of fines.
Its representative, Filippos Theodorou, said the Ministry did not disagree with the proposed changes in principle but considered the suggested increase in the fine for offences committed by minors under 17, from €85 to €300, excessive.
“We consider it excessive. Minors do not have an income,” he said.
He also questioned whether the proposed ban on e-scooter circulation in municipal districts and communities could be effectively monitored and enforced.
The Police representative, Assiikis, said the force adopted the positions of both ministries and agreed that stricter regulations were needed. However, he also requested additional time to examine the proposals and carry out the necessary consultations.
Municipalities highlight legal and practical gaps
The Union of Municipalities expressed support for introducing a registration system, identification marks and mandatory insurance for electric scooters, according to its representative, Katerina Fragkoulidou.
However, she also highlighted gaps in the legislation, particularly concerning the powers of municipal traffic wardens.
She said the Union of Municipalities had sought a legal opinion on whether municipal traffic wardens had the authority to impound electric scooters. The response was that the current legal framework did not grant them such powers.
Fragkoulidou also expressed reservations about the proposed ban on e-scooter circulation in municipal districts, pointing to the practical difficulties it could create.
She said a mechanism would be needed to ensure that all users were clearly informed about the areas where e-scooters were permitted and those where their use was prohibited.
She also warned that existing permits granted to companies for parking electric scooters could be affected.
Bills could be sent to House plenary soon
Despite the concerns raised, the House Transport Committee appears determined to speed up the process, against the backdrop of fatal and serious road accidents involving electric scooters.
Committee chairman Sotiris Ioannou gave the relevant bodies that had requested more time one week to submit their positions and observations in writing.
He also made clear that the committee intended to proceed with the examination of all five bills without delay, with the aim of referring them to the House plenary session as soon as possible.
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