18 stoned bus drivers booked

PANAMA. Panama’s Transport Authority (ATTT,) together with the National Police carried out 475 anti-doping and alcohol tests on bus drivers, in nine different metropolitan areas. Eighteen of them tested positive for cocaine, marihuana or alcohol.

The operation to detect intoxicated bus drivers took place in the bus depots of Pedregal, 24 de diciembre, Mañanitas, Santa Librada, Don Bosco, Tocumen, Torrijos-Carter, Veranillo and Panamá Viejo.

Units of the ATTT and the National police ordered bus drivers to give urine samples to be tested for drugs and also to take a breathalyzer test. Those who refused were not allowed to drive their buses.

The aim of the operation was to help reduce carnage on the roads by preventing public transport drivers from driving under the influence.

The operation went smoothly and only one driver refused to give a urine sample.

Units of the ATTT found Jorge Hall, a bus driver on the Veranillo route , was driving with an alcohol level 46.7 over the limit.

Meanwhile, the government announced that all drivers (commercial and private) will have 30 days to cancel their traffic violation fines and those who do not comply with this disposition will have their driving licenses suspended.

The ATTT director, Sandra Escorcia said that an audit will be carried out on the company in charge of issuing the driving licenses to make sure that it is complying with the law and no irregularities are taken place.

The Transport Authority will also carry out inspections of garages authorized to perform the annual automobile check-up, to determine if they are doing their jobs properly.

Escorcia took this decision because of the large number of badly serviced vehicles in circulation.

The authorities will also check how driving schools are training bus and commercial drivers.

Two police booths will be installed in Chorrera and Pacora to monitor drivers.