Heavier fines for driving texters, chatterers

USING A CELL phone to talk or text while driving will soon become an expensive habit if police enforcers back up Panama’s Transit Authority (ATTT) in its attempt to help reduce the carnage on the country’s roads wirh some 180 deaths  and hundreds hospitalized so far this year.

The authority announced an across the board increase in fines for driving infringements on Thursday May 28..
The penalty for using “technological gadgets” like cell phones while driving, will increase from $ 75 to $ 300. Whether that will be enough to rein back the texting and chatting addicts is another question.
Driving on the shoulders of the highway will see the penalty increased from of $50 to $200
The ticket for running a red light will increase from $ 100 to $ 200; while speeding fines will increase from $ 50 to $ 150. Julio Gonzalez, director of the ATTT, said the amendment to the Traffic Regulations was adopted unanimously by the board of the institution.
The next step, he said, will be sent to the Executive to then set by decree and to be published in the Official Gazette to enter into force.
There was, apparently, no discussion of fines for jay walkers who cross busy city streets while texting.