For years, in the Dominican Republic the authorities (transit and police) have allowed motorcyclists to write their own code. The resulting lawlessness is a state where laws are ignored and unenforced. The most recent consequence of the government permissiveness is the recent murder of garbage dump truck driver, 40-year old Deivy Carlos Abreu Quezada, who bled to death after being stabbed by a motorcyclist. The death is evidence of the chaos that is worsening exponentially as the number of motorcyclists continues to increase and circulate without controls.
The tragic death has sparked nationwide outrage and cast a harsh spotlight on the “mob mentality” often associated with motorcyclists in the Dominican Republic. The incident, which occurred after a group of motorcyclists chased Abreu Quezada into the parking lot of the Santiago Palace of Justice where he sought refuge, has led to a heated debate over the culture of the sector.
One bystander caught the occurrence on video. There is evidence that police in the area failed to act. In the Dominican Republic, this is normal. There seems to be an unwritten code for the authorities not to mess with motorcyclists.
In the weekly press conference, Minister of Interior and Police Faride Raful concurred with the general claim to end the lawlessness. Around 80% of the traffic accidents involve motorcyclists but as of yet authorities have not been motivated to take decisive actions.
In the Dominican Republic there are 3.5 million motorcycles in circulation according to Tax Agency (DGII) registrations. Of the motorcyclists, only 1% has a formal driver’s license.
Raful said that the chaos caused by many motorcyclists in the country “cannot continue to be permitted.” Everyone wonders yet who in government will be the first to take action.
Raful acknowledged the death of the case has created great concern.
In the DR, motorcyclists serve as commercial transportation, deliveries and personal transportation.
Motorcyclists are allowed to circulate on sidewalks, allowed to circulate in the middle car lanes as if they were cars. They are allowed to run red lights. Traffic and police officers just look the other way.
In the Abreu Quezada case, seven motorcyclists were arrested and an order of arrest has been issued for the motorcyclist who stabbed the driver. The Police have identified this man as 28-year old Jhovanny de Jesús Metz Cruz, “Macho.”
The first hearing has been set for 22 April in Santiago.
Preliminary reports are that a traffic brush motivated the violent behavior.
The controversy of the Fenamoto slogan
In the wake of the killing, social media has been flooded with images of the vest worn by members of the National Federation of Motoconchistas (Fenamoto). The vest features the slogan: “Un golpe a uno, un golpe a to’” (A blow to one is a blow to all), as reported in Hoy.
Critics argue that this motto fosters a “vigilante” culture, encouraging collective violence whenever a motorcyclist is involved in a traffic altercation. However, Fenamoto President Óscar Almánzar defended the organization’s branding in an interview with Hoy. Almánzar noted the slogan has been in use for 26 years without being linked to systemic violence. He claimed the phrase represents “solidarity and empathy” among members rather than an incentive for aggression.
Almánzar was quick to distance his organization from the perpetrators in Santiago, labeling the mob members as “isolated” motorcyclists (motoristas) rather than professional motorcycle taxi drivers (motoconchistas). He characterized the attackers as “bandits” and called for the justice system to apply the full weight of the law against them.
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21 April 2026