Without much fanfare, the rules instituted by the government to reduce fuel consumption in the Dominican Republic went back into effect yesterday. Gasoline and propane will be sold only between the hours of 6am and 8pm, Monday through Friday, and from 6am until 2pm on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. These measures were adopted in September 2005 as part of a plan to save fuel. Yesterday, observance of the measure was erratic throughout the National District. In many towns it was not observed at all. Last December, the Minister of Industry and Commerce (SEIYC), Francisco Javier Garcia, lifted the restrictions in order to facilitate inland travel during the holiday season when thousands of Dominicans return home to celebrate Christmas, New Year and Three Kings Day. In the original statement about the temporary lifting of the sales ban, the minister said that the restrictions would be re-instated on 9 January.