NICOSIA – Drivers on Cyprus captured violating road laws by a new traffic camera system might just as well smile while they’re being photographed because 40 percent of them haven’t paid their tickets.

Out of 86,350 tickets sent for driving offenses caught by the cameras, some 40 percent, nearly 35,000, didn’t result in payment, said Philenews, police responding by saying they will look into every case to find out why.

Police officials not named told the site that the number of violations was shocking, with so few cameras in operation now, and that the offenses could be staggering once the whole system – 110 cameras – is put into use.

Work on installing and operating additional cameras at six fixed points is in progress, however, only two are ready to operate immediately and only 16 more have arrived so far, the report said.