Supreme Constitutional Court upholds fine against radio station for car horn sound effect

On May 26, 2026, the Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus rejected an appeal filed by a radio station against a previous Administrative Court ruling. The case concerns a 2017 radio advertisement featuring a car horn sound effect, which the Cyprus Radio Television Authority (CRTA) deemed hazardous to road safety. The CRTA initiated an ex officio investigation in June 2017, concluding that the sound could distract drivers and violate regulatory standards. The station argued that the horn sound was brief, low-volume, and used only as background noise, denying any potential for public harm. Despite these claims, the CRTA identified violations of Regulation 36(3) of the Radio and Television Stations Regulations of 2000, as well as specific paragraphs of the Advertising, Teleshopping, and Sponsorship Code. Consequently, the authority imposed two fines of €250 each, totaling €500. The court's final decision confirms the validity of these administrative sanctions.