Motorcyclists to get licensed

[NewsWhore]

The Teo Cruz Sports Stadium is the place for motorcycle owners to go and get their licenses. The Ministry of Public Works and the Traffic Department are handling the paperwork. The theme of the program is "Motorcyclist, show your license!" Victor Diaz Rua, the Minister of Public Works, said that this is the first time that motorcyclists would get licenses, and be legal. In order to facilitate the operation the government is providing a subsidy of RD$1,450 of the new RD$2,750 license fee. Motorcyclists will only have to pay RD$700 for their papers. There are over a million motorcycles in the Dominican Republic. One motorcyclist was very happy. It seems that he would only have to come up with RD$200 for his new license, since he got a RD$500 credit for attending the PLD meeting last Sunday in which Leonel Fernandez was officially declared the party's presidential candidate. The program will be extended to other provinces in the coming months. The licensing plan also includes providing motorcyclists with a driver's education manual and tests to establish their blood type. They also will have to take tests prior to receiving their driving license.
Rafael Tobia Crespo, director general of the Traffic Department, said that there are 1.3 million motors in circulation. But the Department of Taxes (DGII) says that only 4,523 persons have been issued licenses to drive the motorcycles. Tobia Crespo said that motorcyclists are responsible for 70% of the traffic accidents, according to the statistics at the Dario Contreras (Santo Domingo) and Juan Bosch (La Vega) trauma centers.

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