The National Police has cleared windshield washers and street vendors from major intersections in Santo Domingo, following numerous complaints from citizens published in Diario Libre.
Newspaper journalists surveyed key city intersections, including John F. Kennedy with Máximo Gómez, 27 de Febrero with Máximo Gómez, and Abraham Lincoln with 27 de Febrero and were told by frequent users that the areas, once crowded with vendors, are now clear. Police presence was visible at many of these locations.
This is not the first time vendors have left the intersections. In the past the Police has undertaken operations to make the vendors understand to clear the streets.
The recent crackdown was extended to vendors of windshield wipers, fruits and other goods who typically operate at traffic lights, Diario Libre reports. An anonymous vendor interviewed at the intersection of Gómez and 27 de Febrero confirmed the new restrictions. “They aren’t letting anyone sell. Anyone who tries could go to jail,” the vendor stated. He noted that an officer from the Naco precinct is in charge of enforcing the new ban.
For weeks, local newspaper Diario Libre has been publishing articles on the public’s frustration with these street vendors. Many complaints cite aggressive behavior, with some vendors allegedly threatening or harassing drivers who refuse their services.
The Santo Domingo City Hall and the National Police are jointly responsible for regulating activities on public roads.
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Diario Libre
3 September 2025