The Office of Information and Public Relations of the National Police (PN) announced yesterday that the new PN chief, Major General Pedro de Jes?s Candelier, has issued an order to all PN commandants to halt immediately the common practice of seizing the driving licenses of drivers accused of committing a traffic violation. Instead, officers are to note the name, license number and cedula (identity card) number of the alleged offender, and that information will transmitted to the Director of Land Transit. If the alleged offender does not appear in traffic court, the information will be used to deny him a copy or renewal of his license. The Police chief said that officers can still seize licenses in "instances established by Law 225," although he did not specify what this meant. When asked by reporters, the PN’s Traffic Department said that this meant when the offender has been involved in an accident.Also announced yesterday were orders by the PN chief for officers to crack down on cars without their lights (headlights, brake lights, turn signals), trucks with cargo not covered by tarps, and drivers without their license and car ownership papers.
