Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Peru's highway police stricter on bus companies

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


Since this weekend is a long one and more people will be traveling throughout the country, thousands of police officers have been sent to protect Peru's highways.

3,200 extra officials are monitoring the street to make sure vacationers have an enjoyable and safe experience while moving about the Andean country.

As people left the country's capital, inspectors from the Ministry of Transportation made sure vehicles were complying with safety regulations.

Special attention was paid to buses that make inter-province trips.

Of the 534 inter-province buses checked at a post in Ancón, Lima's northernmost district, seventy-two were not approved to provide public transportation and were returned to bus stations, said Eduardo Arteta, head of Peru's highway police.

Arteta explained that the buses were not permitted to take passengers to other provinces because they did not meet safety standards such as an excess in baggage, people standing and a lack of maintenance.

Aside from the buses that were inspected, 1,002 trucks were checked. It was reported that 217 were given tickets.

Approximately 10,000 vehicles headed towards the country's southern regions on May 1.

15 to 20,000 vehicles usually exit the city on long weekends said police.

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# Peter says :
3 May, 2008 [ 03:24 ]

Hola.
Please, I would like to have some news on why the Peruvian Government is alledgedly to enforce changes to cars number plates,and also that cars 15 years old,or older, will no longer be permitted to be used in Lima area.My mother, inlaw in Lima, has told me this and I am interested to learn the reasons behind the forthcoming new laws/changes.
Regards, Peter

# jb says :
3 May, 2008 [ 07:45 ]

My understanding of the reason that the vehicle license tags are being changed is that some 30% of the public transportation vehicles (El Comercio article) circulating in Peru are doing so with "cloned" license tags.  There are probably a good % of private autos in this category also.  This is an attempt to identify these illegal vehicles. 
Regarding the vehicle age, I am not aware of any proposed or new law that says you cannot operate an auto with more than 15 years.  As long as it passes the new vehicle safety and emissions test.

# Splaktar says :
3 May, 2008 [ 07:46 ]

Good news here.  Much needed enforcement of basic safetly laws saves lives.

# Peter says :
3 May, 2008 [ 20:18 ]

Hola jb, Thank you for bringing me up to speed with your info.I was searching on Internet for such an article in El Comercio, but nothing was on their website in that regard...only about the buses.The matter of the number plates seems logical,as the Government does need to receive correct monies,in order to do reinvest money in the roads & streets infrastructure...of course, this is an assumption on my behalf...I guess that some people may be a little sceptical about this allocation of such monies.
On the matter of "older"cars, this is typical of how it was done in my country...but,I wonder how some poor Peruvians will be able to afford the money to upgrade exhaust systems & motors ??!!
I know it is connected to the terrible polution & lead emissions,so it's for the good of the general people and particulary the chidren, but maybe some Government subsidy($'s),for auto upgrades, could alleviate the financial burden on the poorer people, so that they can continue to buy basic foods etc etc, as it is not just the middle/upper classes that have vehicles....and I am not referring to just normal upgrades,like replacing exhaust systems(approx' NS700.00)which is expensive enough for many...but I am thinking more about actual ,mandatory changing of older motors (US$3000++)that cannot use lead-free petrol.
I would be very interested to read more comments from you jb,also from other Peruvians, or people "in the know" ,about this issue and the Governments intentions for the good of the population.

# Peter says :
9 May, 2008 [ 20:17 ]

Hola. It is a little bit disappointing that no futher comments,or advice, has been made...maybe my words were too politically sensitive ? .. if so ,I appologise for being too inquistive or incorrect in this instance. Until later,ciao, Peter