Actress Matsouka and Tennis star Tsitsipas in legal heat over traffic misdeeds

Dimitra Matsouka and Stefanos Tsitsipas are facing legal troubles, as the actress was arrested in Vouliagmeni for dangerous driving, while the tennis player's Lotus was recorded by a camera on the Attiki Odos driving at 210 km/h, leading to the issuance of a digital ticket via gov.gr.

The check and arrest of Dimitra Matsouka

On December 2, Dimitra Matsouka will be taken to the traffic police station, who was arrested for driving in Vouliagmeni at a speed well above the permitted limit, without a license and without plates. According to Traffic Police data, the actress was driving on Athinas Street at 97 km/h instead of the 50 km/h limit. During the check, it was found that the 51-year-old had not had a license since October 10, while the license plates of her vehicle had been removed on November 16 by the Athens Traffic Police Sub-Directorate. At the same time, the breathalyzer test showed 0.42 mg/l in the first measurement and 0.38 mg/l in the second, while the limit is 0.25.

The actress was brought to the First Department of Southeast Attica, where the inquest procedure was followed, and on Thursday morning she was taken to the courts of the former Evelpidon School. Her trial was postponed to December 2, in order to present the receipts for payment of the summonses, and she was subsequently released. The First Instance Prosecutor's Office filed criminal charges against her for dangerous driving, driving a vehicle without license plates and driving by a person whose license has been revoked.

Her lawyer, Alexis Stefanakis, told MEGA that his client “is very upset” and added that “Dimitra is doing herself an injustice.” As he stated, “the Greek justice system is asking us for explanations and we must give them boldly.” Explaining the actress’s position regarding the removed license plates and license, he noted that everything will be examined, estimating that this was “an unfortunate incident” without a crash or physical injuries.

The incident with Stefanos Tsitsipas' Lotus and the new "smart cameras"

In another traffic violation incident, Stefanos Tsitsipas' lawyer, Thanasis Papathanasiou, provided clarifications regarding the finding that the tennis player's Lotus was traveling at 210 km/h on the Attiki Odos on September 24. As he stated to tennisnews, "the car was being driven by a third person" to whom the vehicle had been granted, while Tsitsipas himself was in the passenger seat. According to the lawyer, "the issue of the fine and the submission of the license have all been handled."

The tennis player was among the first drivers to receive a digital summons via gov.gr, as the new “smart cameras” for road surveillance have already started recording violations on central roads such as Kifissias, Syngrou and Vouliagmeni. The fines are automatically sent to the digital mailbox of citizens, who are immediately informed of the violations and can pay the amounts electronically. The operation of the system is part of the new digital reform that aims to improve road safety, with data being recognized without the presence of police officers.

The two cases come at a time when interest is focused on the changes provided for by the new Highway Code, which tightens fines for speeding, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving without a license, with the aim of reducing traffic accidents and strengthening road literacy.