A group of prominent Dominican journalists has filed an injunction (recurso de amparo) before the Superior Administrative Court (TSA), challenging current National Institute of Transit and Transportation (Intrant) regulations that force drivers aged 65 and older to renew their licenses every two years, rather than the standard four.
The legal action, spearheaded by veteran reporters from El Nacional, including Héctor Minaya, José Antonio Torres, Christian Oviedo, Leo Corporán, Pilar Moreno, and Silvio Cabrera, targets Article 21, Paragraph A of Decree 6-19 (General Oversight No. 10927, dated 8 January 2019). The group is represented by constitutional lawyer Alberto Tavárez.
The legal argument: Ageism vs. the Constitution
The disputed regulation mandates that for categories 01, 02, and 05, license validity is halved once a driver reaches age 65. Tavárez argues that this policy effectively demotes seniors to “second-class citizens” by imposing a “presumption of incompetence” based solely on age.
The lawsuit highlights several constitutional and legal breaches:
• Constitutional Violations: The plaintiffs argue the rule violates Articles 38 (Human Dignity), 39 (Right to Equality), and 57 (Protection of the Elderly). Article 39 specifically prohibits discrimination based on age, stating that all citizens should receive equal treatment from state institutions.
• Contradicting the Constitutional Court: The filing cites Ruling TC/0005/20 issued on 31 January 2020. In that decision, the Constitutional Court previously barred Intrant from limiting license issuance based exclusively on age, noting that such criteria contradict the values of the Dominican state.
• Statistical Discrepancy: Tavárez pointed out that Dominican traffic statistics show the majority of accidents are caused by younger drivers, making a blanket presumption against the fitness of seniors “unreasonable.”
•
Regional context and best practices
The legal team suggested that instead of age-based expiration, the Dominican Republic should look to international models. For example, in Costa Rica, driver aptitude is monitored via a points-based system that evaluates actual driving quality and behavior on public roads rather than the driver’s birth date.
Under Article 57 of the Constitution, the State is required to promote the integration of seniors into “active and community life.” The journalists contend that making the renewal process more frequent and burdensome for seniors does the opposite, creating an unnecessary barrier to mobility and independence.
Read more in Spanish:
El Nacional
18 March 2026