LIMOUSINE owners have once again crossed swords with the government over the legality of limousines on public roads.

Following several incidents last year when limos were stopped by police, the issue has again come to light over the weekend.

According to local press reports, three US diplomats travelling by limousine from Larnaca airport to the Anassa Hotel in Paphos were stopped in the Kofinou area by police who ordered them out of the vehicle.

A taxi was called to pick the diplomats up, who were said to be travelling “incognito”.
The head of Cyprus VIP Services, which provides clients with limousines for hire, told the Mail that, “the delay in the approval of the relevant law is unacceptable”.
Angelos Assiotis added: “We know that the authorities have proceeded with the drafting of legislation since the Director of the Road Transport Department has shown us the bill.”

Assiotis attributed the delay to political pressure from taxi drivers, “who are important to politicians as they hold 20,000 votes”.

He added that, “the current situation can only be to the detriment of Cyprus since a limousine service is different from a taxi service. Customers who’d rather have the former than the latter cannot be accommodated otherwise.”

Assiotis also said that if the existing situation persists, “we will have to act by taking more and more decisive action. We will first hold a protest outside the Ministry of Communications and Works, then a demonstration outside the Presidential Palace and, if that fails, we will be forced to seal off public roads.”

Asked to comment, the Road Transport Department (RTD) confirmed that the relevant legislation has already been drafted and sent for review to the Attorney-general’s office.

“Due to the fact that this is a new law, the delay is not an aberration,” a spokesman said.

“Once the Attorney-general has given his approval, it will be sent back to us for a final review. The final step will be when the Ministry sends the draft bill to the House of Representatives

Responding to Assiotis’ claims, the RTD stated that talk of political expediency and pressure was neither here nor there.

“Of course, it is politicians who will vote on whether to pass this law or not, but this stage has yet to be reached, and so talk of political expediency is irrelevant.
“As regards the incident with the US diplomats, our Department can only applaud the actions of the police as these were within the law and it is the duty of the police to enforce it.”

Cyprus is currently the only EU state with no legislation for limousines.