At a time when a capital city ban for heavy traffic on the Malecon in Santo Domingo is being ignored by truckers, the city government of the second largest city in the country, Santiago, announces fines of up to RD$30,000 for truckers entering banned areas, El Caribe reports.
The Santiago de los Caballeros City Hall has announced a crackdown on heavy vehicle traffic in the city center. The move comes as the city grapples with a surge in traffic accidents and fatalities.
Jorge Muñoz, the city’s traffic director, announced the enforcement of Ordinance 3169-17, which prohibits the circulation of trucks and other heavy vehicles in the city’s urban core. The ordinance, which has been in place since the start of Mayor Ulises Rodríguez’s term, has been strengthened in response to a series of fatal accidents in the city, including several in the Ciénaga area in late 2024.
“We have been enforcing this ordinance since Mayor Rodríguez took office,” Muñoz told El Caribe. “But in January, we intensified our efforts due to the tragic accidents that occurred in November and December.”
The fines for violating the ordinance are equivalent to ten minimum wages, a significant penalty aimed at deterring heavy vehicle traffic in the city center. Muñoz explained that the sanctions are based on law 63-17, which governs traffic and transportation in the Dominican Republic.
Under the ordinance, heavy vehicles traveling to the Northwest Line, Puerto Plata, or the southern region of the country are required to use the city’s two bypasses. The restricted area includes several major thoroughfares, such as the Salvador Estrella Sadhalá Avenue and the 27 de Febrero Avenue, as well as the Las Carreras Avenue.
Santiago’s Traffic Department may grant exceptions to the ban for specific purposes, such as construction or maintenance work. These exceptions will be granted on a case-by-case basis and will specify the permitted routes, hours of operation, and the nature of the work to be performed.
The city’s decision to enforce the ordinance comes after a series of traffic accidents and fatalities involving heavy vehicles in the city center. The move is aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing the risk of accidents in the city.
Perhaps the National District government will follow the example of Santiago, the country’s second largest city, and also impose and oblige truckers to pay fines when entering restricted areas. The problem in Santo Domingo has been that too many exceptions have been issued, allowing the truckers to travel on off-limit areas, such as the Santo Domingo Caribbean Sea boulevard, the Malecon.
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El Caribe
13 February 2025