The Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET) will heed the decision of the Supreme Court that repealed its right to assess fines for traffic infractions. General Jose Fernandez Fadul was clear on this, as were the different transportation syndicates such as FENATRANO and the Unified Transportation Workers Central (CNTU). As reported in the Listin Diario, AMET agents will continue to retain driver’s licenses in accordance with Article 225 of Law 241, a fact that was also confirmed by the general. After a 35-minute meeting with Chief Supreme Court Justice Jorge Subero Isa, General Fernandez Fadul said that AMET itself was not being eliminated, merely its ability to levy fines. The official said that AMET would always act within the limits of the law. Decree 789-02 had previously permitted AMET to “emit, administrate, collect and control the fines levied for infractions of Law 241.
The other side of the Supreme Court decision, however, was chaotic, reports El Caribe. According to the article, one agent, who requested anonymity, said that he would continue to do his job just as before, as no officer had instructed him to do otherwise. The Traffic Court that operated in Santo Domingo ceased to operate as its judges went home. They said that they had decided to close the court yesterday since all that they knew was that the Supreme Court had not officially told them what the implications of their decision would be for the Traffic Court itself. The judges are quoted as having said, “We can’t condemn anyone to pay a fine because we don’t know how to manage this business.” Nevertheless, the AMET officers that were observed working in Santo Domingo did not exhibit any change in their work habits and were telling drivers to go straight to the Banco de Reservas (where fines are paid) in order to “avoid going to court,” which is exactly what the Supreme Court has declared to be unconstitutional. The head of AMET said that he would hold another meeting with the Supreme Court justices in order to find alternative solutions for traffic violations.