New procedure for immediate suspension of driving licenses in Cyprus

Effective April 6, 2026, the Minister of Transport has delegated authority to the Chief of Police to immediately suspend driving licenses if continued operation poses a public safety risk. Police officers conducting road checks are now authorized to serve suspension notices on the spot if a driver tests positive for drugs or alcohol. The specific offenses triggering this action include driving under the influence of drugs, refusal to provide a saliva sample for a drug test, refusal to provide a breath sample for an alcohol test, and a second alcohol-related offense within a 12-month period. Because these are categorized as serious traffic offenses that cannot be settled via out-of-court fines, all cases will be forwarded to the courts as soon as possible. To regain their driving privileges, individuals must submit a recent, original medical certificate to the Department of Road Transport confirming their fitness to drive safely. This policy change aims to enhance road safety by removing dangerous drivers from circulation immediately upon detection.