Traffic Law Amendments Include Tougher Penalties

The new Traffic Law amendments were approved last Thursday, sanctions and penalties for traffic violations have been modified. The point system of licensing has also changed its point recovery procedure.

The penalty for those who drive under the effects of alcohol and cause an accident that leaves one person dead, shall be confined in a prison from 8 to 12 years (as it was previously stated) and if there are injured, they shall be sentenced to imprisonment of 4 to 5 years.

Ethylic drivers will also be given 30 days in jail and have minus 30 points in their licenses.

In the case of operators of public transport buses, if an accident is caused, the operator will be responsible for civil damages as if it was by negligence, it will withdraw the share of the car accident. In addition to the six-month to one year imprisonment, the driver’s license will be suspended for the same period and will have to pay a fine equivalent to three minimum wages, this applies for international, intraregional, inter-provincial and intraprovincial drivers of public transport buses. The operator will be responsible and may be suspended for 60 days.

Those who provide public transport services without the propper permissions, shall be punished with the value of two basic salaries and the detention of their vehicle for a week.

If drivers lose 30 points, their licenses will be suspended for 60 days and they will have to take a new course in driving school, so they can recover 20 points. If drivers lose those points again, only 15 points will be restored and the license will be suspended for 120 days. If drivers lose that amount of points for a third time, their licenses will be suspended for a year. If drivers lose those points on four occasions, their licenses will be withdrawn definetely.

This reform will be delivered to President Rafael Correa next week for its announcement.

Source: El Universo