A total of 1,524,566 fines have been applied in the Dominican Republic, from 2017 until last June 2022, to motorcycle drivers for not using protective helmets. Over the past five years, more than one million fines have been issued for not wearing a helmet while driving.
Motorcyclists are required by National Institute of Transit and Land Transportation Law 63-17 to wear the helmets.
Listin Diario reports that according to Traffic and Land Transportation Safety statistics, not wearing helmets is one of the most common and most recurring infractions to the traffic law.
In 2017, 141,353 fines were imposed, the following year 228,561 were applied, in 2019 some 262,557 to drop to 187,784 in 2020 subsequently. In 2021, 445,970 fines were registered.
The second most common traffic violation is disrespecting traffic light signals. In 2021, 523,821 fines were applied to those violating a traffic light.
The next most common violations are those of not carrying a valid driver’s license or that it be expired, the absence of vehicular insurance or that this be expired, and not using seat belts.
Listin Diario reports that traffic penalties vary from RD$1,000 to RD$10,000. Penalties established in Law 63-17 are much higher. The government is still applying the penalties according to the old traffic law 241-67.
Listin Diario reported that for every 10 deaths in road accidents, seven involve motorcyclists.
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Listin Diario
28 July 2022