OFF THE CUFF: Collision bus driver owes $18,000 in tickets

THE DRIVER of one of the  diablos rojos (red devils) buses that collided in Colon, earlier this week, sending 64 people to hospital, two with amputated limbs, owes $18,000 in traffic tickets.

The other owes a mere $125, says  Carlos Reily, provincial director of the Transport Authority .

Which raises the question: How often does the Authority, check the records of drivers of the discarded US school buses whose importation to Panama was banned a year ago? As often as they check the engines that belch  black clouds of cancer inducing diesel fumes; the noise level which often exceeds that of heavy truck; the  often near bald tires: and the illegal ghetto blasters controlled by the driver?