non TCs not allowed to drive across green line

nuffsaid · Post by **nuffsaid** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 10:02 am

Hi...thanks for that i did wonder ...

nuffsaid · Post by **nuffsaid** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 10:06 am

me too...stopped yesterday bout 1115am....had to go back to north...cops just shook there heads....

waddo · Post by **waddo** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 10:20 am

Erol, just a quick question - on the same subject - If the new (May) law from the EU prevents an EU citizen from driving a non-EU registered vehicle in an EU country, which seems to be the point of all this. Then can you explain how it is that a TRNC (EU passport holder) Turkish Cypriot is allowed to take his/her non-EU registered vehicle across into the RoC? Please don't use the - "they use their Kimlik" answer because they are still - by virtue of the EU passport they hold - EU citizens anyway and would still be driving illegally!

It is a confusing time for all people in the North and I suspect for the great majority of the Police in the South, I think it is just another one of those Greek things that happen from time to time when they have nothing better to do and that it will be forgotten in time as well. Either that or - The RoC is attempting to stop the non-TC's from making a fortune by sneaking their Renault 9's and 16's (left hand drive of course) across the border and selling them at astronomical prices - lol. Well, it makes as much sense as the current situation so why not?

brian24001 · Post by **brian24001** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 10:33 am

Wife showed paperwork and drove straight over and off to Alpha Mega this morning complete with full glass.

Mowgli597 · Post by **Mowgli597** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 11:10 am

What I don't understand is:

The problem described by two or three contributors is that the GC authorities won't issue/renew the registration document that is required to get insurance to drive in the south. It has been assumed (and we know what THAT does!) that this is because of some obscure EU legislation but all the quotes that we've seen refer only to Switzerland.

The weird bit is that if you already have your southern registration document you CAN renew your insurance and you CAN drive in the south.

The two things don't add up: either you can't drive in the south period or you can????

PoshinDevon · Post by **PoshinDevon** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 11:42 am

Mowgli597 wrote:What I don't understand is:

The problem described by two or three contributors is that the GC authorities won't issue/renew the registration document that is required to get insurance to drive in the south. It has been assumed (and we know what THAT does!) that this is because of some obscure EU legislation but all the quotes that we've seen refer only to Switzerland.

The weird bit is that if you already have your southern registration document you CAN renew your insurance and you CAN drive in the south.

The two things don't add up: either you can't drive in the south period or you can????

Thats part of the overall confusion. If you crossed lets say a week ago and got the TOM89A form which is valid for a year, then it appears you can still use this to cross over the border, buy insurance and head on your way. Unless another restriction is put in place then presume (Dont presume I know!) that you can continue to do this until Sept 2017.

Again none of it makes much sense at the moment.

So as you say it does not make sense at all.

frontalman · Post by **frontalman** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 11:53 am

I suppose this new EU regulation will hit the UK car industry if British manufactured cars (after we leave the EU) cannot be taken back to the continent by EU citizens, or have I missed something?

erol · Post by **erol** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 12:06 pm

I have no idea if this change in policy by the RoC with regards to who they will issue the 'annual' document necessary to take a car from North to South is connected to the EU regulations or not. It might be a result of them, it might be an 'excuse' being used by the RoC to justify the change in their policy or it may be un connected entirely. My hunch is that there is some connection between these EU wide changes and the RoC change of policy but it is no more than a hunch.

As far as the EU changes go this article appears to have better information than the original guardian one I posted but I stress again this may have no connection to the changes in policy by the RoC as reported here.

http://lenews.ch/2016/06/01/new-eu-cust ... itzerland/

Mr Mac · Post by **Mr Mac** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 12:10 pm

Received from BRS:

'As many of you will be aware a number of expats were refused being allowed to take vehicles over the Border.

In order to quell the rumours I can now confirm that the British High Commission have informed me that they made contact with the Ayios Dometios Police and were informed there was a misunderstanding about the application of UN regulations and that this has now been resolved.

I am pleased to confirm that everyone is now free to cross'

IPMAN · Post by **IPMAN** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 12:34 pm

Thats that then

trooper · Post by **trooper** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 12:49 pm

Received an email from chairman ofBRS saying there was a misunderstanding re a UN regulation. We - non TC's - are free to cross normally.

Beaten to it by msge 59!

nuffsaid · Post by **nuffsaid** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 1:08 pm

thankyou ...

Johnny Lee · Post by **Johnny Lee** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 1:13 pm

All sorted then.

Bullsnil · Post by **Bullsnil** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 1:31 pm

Until the next time.

Mowgli597 · Post by **Mowgli597** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 1:39 pm

Yay ratfans

In fairness the OP did refer to an archaic UN regulation.

This was transmuted into an EU regulation somewhere along the way. Wishful thinking (by the Brexiteers ???!!!)

The teacup is now cleared and ready to receive the next brew. And the outrage bus is back in the garage

jamboree · Post by **jamboree** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 1:49 pm

I just crossed over and returned after a coffee, I asked the lady taking down the details about the problem which non tc was not able to cross over to the south, she said to me there was a technicality which they were not able to issue the road tax for non tcs, but now has been sorted out so there should not be any problems from now on.

waddo · Post by **waddo** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 3:08 pm

An "Archaic" UN regulation - would that have been issued before or after the EU was formed I wonder??? Never mind, all done and dusted and once again the RoC puts in place a nothing just to cause confusion to the enemy - these are the people you want to get in bed with???

elizabeth · Post by **elizabeth** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 3:36 pm

Yet again this makes a mockery of the idea of a united island.

Helvetia · Post by **Helvetia** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 3:41 pm

Thank you to all the people who posted and shared this information. The BRS chairman did phone me to tell me the outcome but unfortunately I was not in a position to post at that time. Thank you to David Brown for taking this up with the BHC.

All I can say is that there were an awful lot of ROC government employees "misunderstanding" the application of UN regulations yesterday!

Thank you to jamboree for giving me a giggle! I was certainly not told that there was a "technicality" in issuing road tax to non TCs yesterday! I was quite clearly told that the ROC government would not be allowing non TCs to drive across the green line any longer!

Oh well, all's well that ends well I suppose.

Ragged Robin · Post by **Ragged Robin** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 3:42 pm

Does no one here read other posts. People keep referring to new GC laws, whereas Erol's post puts forward the strong likelihood that what has happened is that the GCs are actually implementing European Legislation that has existed since May, Their motives for doing so at this stage of reunion talks are of course open to interpretation .

Helvetia makes a good point about people accessing the South for urgent medical attention. However the current situation apparently does not prevent expatriates from crossing the border - just not driving their cars which, if they needed urgent attention they might not be able to do anyway. But I do feel for them and like me with need for life saving medication , can only hope they have good TC friends who will help out.

Meanwhile it seems to me that the beneficiaries will be the tax drivers (and possibly bus companies, travel firms etc.) both sides of the border!

Deniz1 · Post by **Deniz1** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 3:51 pm

BRS stated today it was a misunderstanding of the un regulations the problem is now sorted and EVERYONE is free to drive on the Greek side. This according to a Greek police official.

Deniz1 · Post by **Deniz1** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 3:54 pm

According to BRS it was a misunderstanding of U N regulations. Non T C drivers are now allowed to drive on the greek side according to a police official.

Mowgli597 · Post by **Mowgli597** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 4:10 pm

Ragged Robin wrote:Does no one here read other posts. People keep referring to new GC laws, whereas Erol's post puts forward the strong likelihood that what has happened is that the GCs are actually implementing European Legislation that has existed since May, Their motives for doing so at this stage of reunion talks are of course open to interpretation .

Helvetia makes a good point about people accessing the South for urgent medical attention. However the current situation apparently does not prevent expatriates from crossing the border - just not driving their cars which, if they needed urgent attention they might not be able to do anyway. But I do feel for them and like me with need for life saving medication , can only hope they have good TC friends who will help out.

Meanwhile it seems to me that the beneficiaries will be the tax drivers (and possibly bus companies, travel firms etc.) both sides of the border!

RR - do you not read other people's posts yourself?

The situation was, as I surmised, a storm in a teacup and has now been resolved.

It had nothing to do with EU regulations, no matter how much some people wished it had.

ozankoys · Post by **ozankoys** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 4:22 pm

Ah but taxi drivers are 'not allowed' to go over to the South anyway which is why some of them blank out the first letter on their number plates!
All part of life's rich pattern which seems a bit richer when you live in TRNC!

Johnny Lee · Post by **Johnny Lee** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 4:37 pm

My God , why bother to go South . ? Seems like more trouble than its worth|:(( .

frontalman · Post by **frontalman** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 4:41 pm

I always wondered about that blanking of a letter on the number plate, surely that doesn't fool the GC authorities, or do they just turn a blind eye? Answers on a postcard please.

Art · Post by **Art** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 6:45 pm

Much ado about nothing!

Ragged Robin · Post by **Ragged Robin** » Tue 27 Sep 2016 8:39 pm

RR - do you not read other people's posts yourself?ES

Mowglie: Yes I do actually and obviously so do you - congratulations

The problem here was that I what I dont read ((because I cant find any !) are the instructions for using this forum and the fact I have considerable difficulty with scrolling on it Thus although I saw that there was one post while I was typing mine, I did not realise there were others on the second page, and my info was out of date!

Nonetheless I am very dubious about the explanation of an UN regulation (I did not think this was the sort of thing they made rules about!) and I think it is just a cover up for the fact that the GCs either (understandably) got their knickers in a twist over a badly drafted legislation or got caught trying to pxxx off the expats in the hope they would leave and reduce the property problem! I will believe the problem is solved when Ihave proof.

As for the EU you only have to read the attachment to Erol's latest post to realise how appalling badly drafted EU legislation is and how it fails to cover all aspects of the situation causing real hardship to innocent people, regardless of its application to a particular group of people living in north Cyprus!

The situation was, as I surmised, a storm in a teacup and has now been resolved.

Maybe it was a storm in a teacup for those who want to shop in the South. For those who need access for vital medical treatment it must have been appalling worrying.

Incidentally if I am reading the attachment correctly (and Iam not quite sure I am) it says that one is OK if one is driving a car registered in the country where one habitually resides. Therefore full time long term residents should be OK, it is only "swallows" and visitors who would be caught by the EU legislation and they presumably can get anything they really need from the UK

I

sophie · Post by **sophie** » Wed 28 Sep 2016 5:16 am

Message from D Brown of BRS last evening. He has spoken to BHC and practice has supposedly stopped now.

mokfey · Post by **mokfey** » Wed 28 Sep 2016 8:05 am

BORDER CROSSING PROBLEM
Vehicles Crossing the Border

From the chairman of BRS . Seems to draw a line under the incidents.

Dear Member,

As many of you will be aware a number of expats were refused being allowed to take vehicles over the Border.

In order to quell the rumours I can now confirm that the British High Commission have informed me that they made contact with the Ayios Dometios Police and were informed there was a misunderstanding about the application of UN regulations and that this has now been resolved.

I am pleased to confirm that everyone is now free to cross.

helendj · Post by **helendj** » Wed 28 Sep 2016 9:38 am

I'm sure everyone is now aware of this, but just in case, this is the response from the British Residents Society, who we must thank for clarifying this very complicated problem.

Dear Member,

As many of you will be aware a number of expats were refused being allowed to take vehicles over the Border.

In order to quell the rumours I can now confirm that the British High Commission have informed me that they made contact with the Ayios Dometios Police and were informed there was a misunderstanding about the application of UN regulations and that this has now been resolved.

I am pleased to confirm that everyone is now free to cross.

Regards
David
CHAIRMAN

helendj · Post by **helendj** » Wed 28 Sep 2016 9:39 am

sorry Mokfey, didn't see your post before I put the same one one, lol

kibsolar1999 · Post by **kibsolar1999** » Wed 28 Sep 2016 10:21 am

now...
we all do wait that a forum member confirms that he-she got a TOM89A issued today...

Navek · Post by **Navek** » Wed 28 Sep 2016 3:00 pm

Just been to Lca, TOM89A not required, old one still valid, got Ins though.
Stopped at Beyarmudu crossing, asked if "any drink or ciggies",
yes, 2 x litre bottles of spirits and 80 ciggies. (4 of us)
Ladies hand bags were searched
"Open the boot, take suitcases out"
Suitcases were then searched, oops,
"you have counterfeit designer bags" (With their LABELS still on)
We didn't know they were counterfeit Paid nearly 100Tl for them
Other officer searched car, boot, under seats and pouches behind front seats
Eventually after pep talk etc, "keep the bags and on your way"

Another car had been stopped, multiple packs of ciggies found AND confiscated.
One passenger had been told he was going to be locked up
After a while, officer returned to them with paperwork, confirming what had been confiscated.
And a stiff telling off. "On your way" (Not locked up)
Just trying to worry them, me thinks

A warning to all, don't take anything you shouldn't

Navek

waddo · Post by **waddo** » Wed 28 Sep 2016 3:25 pm

The only question I would ask is "How can you tell they are counterfeit". Think I will buy a bag in the south and the identical bag in the North and keep the North bag in the car with the South receipt - then wait - lol.

tomsteel · Post by **tomsteel** » Wed 28 Sep 2016 4:04 pm

waddo, you need designer bags? Mmmm!

Maisiemoo · Post by **Maisiemoo** » Wed 28 Sep 2016 7:51 pm

[quote="waddo"]The only question I would ask is "How can you tell they are counterfeit".

Because you only paid 100tl for it!
I have seen the customs officers at the Ledra St crossing confiscate bags, they know what to look out for.

waddo · Post by **waddo** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 5:53 am

Tom, Have you never heard of "Man" bags? Got to try to keep up with the times you know - lol.
Maisiemoo, They know what to look out for? Why did they not spot the "Original Seiko Self Winding" watch that I bought in Limassol in 2008 for 35 Euros then? It must have been the real thing because it worked for almost a year! Yeah, they know what to look out for and generally it is the younger generation and GC girls that they pick on at the Ledra St crossing so they can embarrass them and I have watched them do that as well! It is a shame they can not seem to spot the toy dogs that the GC's bring with them when they come from the South for the day but then I guess they are not counterfeit when they go back into the South. Anything to cause hassle and prove just how brave and clever they are.

sophie · Post by **sophie** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 6:51 am

Waddo has more or less said what I have been thinking since this debacle started . Question: Why are they doing this? Answer: Because they can!!

Fake bag message is hilarious. You can still pay 500tl+ for a bag and it'll still be fake.

PoshinDevon · Post by **PoshinDevon** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 7:22 am

How bored must the greek cypriot policeman have been to want to read thro some old archaic UN rules and then implement them incorrectly. Which then caused about 24hrs of confusion.

sophie · Post by **sophie** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 7:55 am

PID, go across on a Sunday morning and you may see the female crossing "officials" sitting painting their nails and reading Hello magazines. Give them their due, they did try to disguise the fact. Bored rigid and getting paid for it.

muffin1 · Post by **muffin1** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 8:05 am

BRS have issued an official statement from the High Commision confirming that the Police misinterpreted a memo from the EU and that everyone is now entitled to cross the border as before the problem. It could only happen here!!!

johnny1 · Post by **johnny1** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 1:51 pm

I panicked a little when I saw it, because I rely on vital medication which I can only get from the South, but then I realised the only person prepared to help me was TC anyway and not affected my the new ruling..

ragged robin in case any time you have nobody to get your medications ,I can get them for you.im living in south.
you shouldn't have to go without them .

Ragged Robin · Post by **Ragged Robin** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 1:53 pm

muffin1 wrote:BRS have issued an official statement from the High Commision confirming that the Police misinterpreted a memo from the EU and that everyone is now entitled to cross the border as before the problem. It could only happen here!!!

Muffin: Are you sure you/and/orBRS/and or High Commission have got that right and it was a memo from EU that was misinterpreted? Because in earlier messages the anti-Brexiteers were making a big thing out of it being a United Nations NOT an European Union legislation!!!!

It does rather seem as if the Brits are getting their knickers nearly in as much a twist as the Greeks over this, and I could not see why the UN should be concerning themselves with customs duty over EU borders! If it was an EU memo it makes much more sense that the GCs should misunderstand it (that is the problem with the EU and perhaps in this particular instance they are more to be pitied than blamed.

Mowgli597 · Post by **Mowgli597** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 1:56 pm

muffin1 wrote:BRS have issued an official statement from the High Commision confirming that the Police misinterpreted a memo from the EU and that everyone is now entitled to cross the border as before the problem. It could only happen here!!!

Write out a hundred times:

Misinterpreted a memo from the UN

Then bring it to the staff room tomorrow morning

It appears it was nothing to do with the EU

Ragged Robin · Post by **Ragged Robin** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 2:03 pm

I am not quite sure why Johhny 1 quoted my earlier post at this stage without comment. Did you pick up the point about the High Commission confusion between between the EU and UN and think it was relevant? And why at almost the same moment? Telepathy or two great minds?

(PS or have I got something wrong again? Technologically, I mean, not politically )

Ragged Robin · Post by **Ragged Robin** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 2:14 pm

Mowgli597 wrote:
muffin1 wrote:BRS have issued an official statement from the High Commision confirming that the Police misinterpreted a memo from the EU and that everyone is now entitled to cross the border as before the problem. It could only happen here!!!
Write out a hundred times:

Misinterpreted a memo from the UN

Then bring it to the staff room tomorrow morning

It appears it was nothing to do with the EU

The plot thickens!

How do you know that is was "nothing to do with the EU" , Mowgli? Because the HIgh Commission said "UN" in an earlier letter? How do you know which they got wrong? Help! Quo custodiet ipsos custodes?

waddo · Post by **waddo** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 3:15 pm

Come on, its simple - The EU sent 3 and 4 pence because the BHC were going to a dance!!!! The confusion arose because the EU, the BHC, the RoC, that and the anti-Brexiteers were all speaking the common language of "Skintish" that of course is the new language that sprung up after the EU lent out all its money and the Brexiteers gave theirs away - the BHC is just keeping up with the times in learning the language as they have nothing to do but issue statements that they are providing support for everyone! However, for the moment acta est fabula, as some would say!

Mowgli597 · Post by **Mowgli597** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 4:46 pm

Ragged Robin wrote:
The plot thickens!

How do you know that is was "nothing to do with the EU" , Mowgli? Because the HIgh Commission said "UN" in an earlier letter? How do you know which they got wrong? Help! Quo custodiet ipsos custodes?

Sigh. I know I'm going to regret this but here goes anyway.

Helvetia wrote: Message1 in this thread

a senior policeman. He made a phone call and told us that as from this morning the government in the ROC was envoking an old UN rule that only TCs were allowed to drive across the green line.

Mr Mac wrote:Message 59

Received from BRS:
'As many of you will be aware a number of expats were refused being allowed to take vehicles over the Border.
In order to quell the rumours I can now confirm that the British High Commission have informed me that they made contact with the Ayios Dometios Police and were informed there was a misunderstanding about the application of UN regulations and that this has now been resolved.
I am pleased to confirm that everyone is now free to cross'

trooper wrote:Message 61

Received an email from chairman ofBRS saying there was a misunderstanding re a UN regulation. We - non TC's - are free to cross normally.
Beaten to it by msge 59!

Deniz1 wrote:Message 71

BRS stated today it was a misunderstanding of the un regulations the problem is now sorted and EVERYONE is free to drive on the Greek side. This according to a Greek police official.

Deniz1 wrote:Message 72

According to BRS it was a misunderstanding of U N regulations. Non T C drivers are now allowed to drive on the greek side according to a police official.

mokfey wrote:Message 80
the British High Commission have informed me that they made contact with the Ayios Dometios Police and were informed there was a misunderstanding about the application of UN regulations and that this has now been resolved.

helendj wrote:Message 81

In order to quell the rumours I can now confirm that the British High Commission have informed me that they made contact with the Ayios Dometios Police and were informed there was a misunderstanding about the application of UN regulations and that this has now been resolved.

PoshinDevon wrote:Message 90

How bored must the greek cypriot policeman have been to want to read thro some old archaic UN rules and then implement them incorrectly. Which then caused about 24hrs of confusion.

And then we have:

muffin1 wrote:Message 92

BRS have issued an official statement from the High Commision confirming that the Police misinterpreted a memo from the EU and that everyone is now entitled to cross the border as before the problem. It could only happen here!!!

RR. ALL of the messages above refer to a UN regulation being misapplied.

Only in one, message 92, does Muffin1 make the quite understandable error of saying an EU regulation, probably after all the brouhaha that went before from one or two conspiracy theorists (BREXITEERS?) who saw the dreadful hand of that spawn of Satan in this, as I said long ago, storm in a teacup. There was only one BHC/BRS letter which Muffin1 seems to have misquoted.

Sadly Erol in message 30 seems to have mistakenly linked this almighty cock-up on the part of our dark-side neighbours to the EU, although he very carefully included in his post:

erol wrote: It may be that there is no connection between the new EU rule described in the link above and what has been reported to be happening today re green line crossing in Cyprus ......

As Waddo, obviously a classics scholar like yourself says:

Acta est fabula.

Get over it.

Or maybe I'm actually an agent of the EU, here to spread misinformation and confusion

Ragged Robin · Post by **Ragged Robin** » Thu 29 Sep 2016 8:14 pm

Mowgli597 wrote:
Ragged Robin wrote:
The plot thickens!

How do you know that is was "nothing to do with the EU" , Mowgli? Because the HIgh Commission said "UN" in an earlier letter? How do you know which they got wrong? Help! Quo custodiet ipsos custodes?
Sigh. I know I'm going to regret this but here goes anyway.

Dont worry Mowgli :judging by past history I will be the one regretting posting here [/colour

RR. ALL of the messages above refer to a UN regulation being misapplied.

Of all your quotations,Mowgli, only the Senior Greek Policeman, and possibly the BHC had access to the original legislation. The BRS quoted the BHC and everyone else quoted either the BRS or BHC. And they all ran to tell the KIng that the sky was falling! Actually it is quite easy to confuse the UN and EU and the SGP may well have lost something in translation.

Can you explain otherwise why an antiquated UN regulation should concern itself with EU car registration and residence? Whereas we have evidence the EU legislation exists because the Swiss are taking it seriously.

As Waddo, obviously a classics scholar like yourself says:

Actually I am not a classics scholar, Quos custodes ("who guards the guards" is a fairly common quotation and even a a technological duffer such as I can check the spelling with google!

Acta est fabula.

Yes, but to return to English "It aint over until the fat lady has sung"

Get over it.

Or maybe I'm actually an agent of the EU, here to spread misinformation and confusion

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