The Metropolitan Transport Authority is in discussion with
a private company that could be entrusted with the collection of fines for
traffic violations. To increase these revenues, reports Hoy newspaper, the
company would increase the present levels of fines, of which it would earn 25%.
The penalty for not using a seat belt, for example, would increase from RD$50 to
RD$10,500 under the new regime. The company is also recommending that fines of
RD$100 be raised to RD$3,500 and that those at RD$25 be augmented to RD$975. In
today’s edition, Diario Libre criticizes the proposed takeover on grounds that
the company is an unknown entity. No details are known of the contract that AMET
would sign to entrust the company to collect the fines in the name of the
government and the newspaper says the scheme would be yet another abuse against
citizens. "It is unthinkable that, with all the needs of the judicial system,
someone should be handed – for nothing – RD$6 million a month, without the state
saying anything?" The newspaper urges all to reject the proposal.