New Traffic Regulations
Mar 1st, 2007 by Don Ray
In case you didn’t know, if you are a resident in Panama and drive a car, you are supposed to carry a copy of the new 2007 traffic regulations (photo on the left). If you are stopped and they ask to see your copy and you don’t have one, you will be the lucky recipient of a $20 fine. The book costs $4.20.
I set out today to get a copy and it wasn’t that easy a task. I went to the transit office in the Chiriquí Mall where you should be able one. When I got there, they said they didn’t have any and to try the pharmacy in the mall.
The pharmacy in the mall had a 2006 manual for motorcycles. They said to take it to the transit office and ask if it could be used. I took it to the transit office and they said “No, it has to be the 2007 traffic regulations”. They had no idea where I could obtain one.
I returned the motorcycle manual, that I had been loaned, to the pharmacy and then the attendant told me I could get one at Farmacia El Carmen, which is across the street from the big church on Calle Miguel Ángel Brenes.
I don’t understand why she didn’t tell me that in the first place other than she was hoping to sell her out of date book.
Here is the Farmacia El Carmen.
All Panamanians, like all Americans, were created equal, but don´t behave in the same way. There is an Autoridad Nacional de Protección y Defensa del Consumidor, 775-2536. I don´t know the address. They should return your money. You may download el Nuevo Reglamento de Tránsito from http://transito.gob.pa/ It consists of 98 pages. I didn´t, don´t and won´t understand why do we have to show it if the new edition is apparently not yet in David. or, at least almost impossible to find here.
There were plenty of the regulations yesterday at Farmacia El Carmen yesterday.
Don: Thanks so much for the tip. I went this morning to buy 2 copies and they only have 3-4 copies left.
Glad you got yours. I don’t know of any other place that has them.
Thank you too, I got my copy ($4.00) at Farmacia Revilla Obaldía. AutoCentro on the Interamerican Highway, past the San Agustín High School, has the reflective triangles (?) but not the “tacos” or wedges, that the regulation also indicates.
Thanks for leaving a comment Hilda. Now there is another listed source. I guess there must be tax on the purchase since I paid $4.20.