The law covering all forms of ground transportation (Law 63-17 that replaced Law 241-67) provides punishment for drivers or companies of up to 10 minimum wages (RD$60,000), the cancellation of the operation certificate for routes and even prison, if these entities carry out “surprise work stoppages” or strikes that affect public transportation. Article 146 of the law states that it is illegal to “burn tires, throw nails or any other object on the public thoroughfares to obstruct traffic”. The article adds that whomever violates this ordinance in an attempt to impede traffic will be punished with a prison sentence between one and six months and be fined up to 10 minimum wages.
Traffic regulations in the Dominican Republic also provide sanctions for drivers or operators or companies that increase fares without a previous authorization from Intrant. However, to date, Intrant, in spite of announcing that it has punished drivers who have incurred in this infraction, has failed to mete out punishment to violators of this ordinance.
During recent transportation interruptions, some of the motorcycle taxis were charging between 100 and 300 pesos to take persons to their place of work. The traffic law also provides sanctions for those motorcycle taxis that carry more than one passenger or children under eight years of age.
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El Nacional
15 October 2018
