Police cameras catch 1,000 traffic offenses
Approximately 1,000 drivers have been caught driving in Athens bus lanes by newly installed surveillance cameras, and will receive fines through the post later this month, traffic police said yesterday. The first two of a planned army of electronic eyes were installed three weeks ago at 73-75 Kifissias Avenue and 75 Patission Avenue, in both cases, to monitor traffic heading toward the center of town. Their purpose is to catch drivers illegally using or blocking bus lanes, under a program intended to speed up public transport in a city choked by unrestricted numbers of private cars. Offenders will be sent 26,500-drachma (78-euro) fines, along with a photo depicting the offense. But once surveillance cameras are installed all over the city, though their chief function will still be to monitor bus lanes, other offenses caught on film will result in fines. Sources say that, eventually, traffic police will install cameras capable of verifying breaches of the speed limit. Terrorism talks
