De la Espriella Government Seeks to Change Colombia’s Vehicle Traffic Code

President Abelardo de la Espriella has announced his intention to reform Colombia's National Traffic Code, aiming to simplify the rules and reduce the financial burden on drivers. He stated, "Less bureaucracy, fewer abuses and more money in the pockets of Colombians." The president plans to present a bill to Congress outlining his proposed changes.

De la Espriella emphasized that the current sanctions system has long been outdated, having undergone five reforms without addressing the country's current needs. He added, "I am going to confront head-on the abuses and additional costs that today hit the pockets of millions of Colombian drivers."

One of his main proposals is to reduce traffic fines by up to 50%, ensuring a proportional sanction that does not become an economic sentence for families. He also wants to eliminate the "absurd requirement" of jail time for offenders and reduce the cost of mandatory traffic courses by 25%. Additionally, he intends to increase the validity of driver's licenses to 8 or 10 years, eliminate unnecessary costs associated with obtaining a license, and raise the standards for photo fines.

The president announced his commitment to "tighten controls for their authorization," as he believes life and road safety should come first, not revenue collection. He further promised to conduct a comprehensive review of the National Single Transit Registry (RUNT) and the Integrated Information System on Fines and Sanctions for Traffic Violations (SIMIT) to identify and eliminate duplications and reduce fees.

De la Espriella also highlighted the need to review the technical-mechanical inspection process, including the decision to shorten the inspection period for new vehicles from six to five years. His main goal, he stated, is to "reduce unnecessary burdens and costs for people" and prevent the state from becoming a "machine for charging, fining, and squeezing citizens."

The reform will focus on aspects that directly impact those who use motorcycles or cars for daily commuting and income generation, as well as the procedures required for vehicle registration and ownership. The president emphasized his determination to eliminate monopolies, additional costs, and absurd procedures that benefit only a few at the expense of everyday citizens.