Midnight Changes

Good, maybe they will start pulling over serious violators instead of pestering me with petty bs like my plate not being "shiny enough". Then again, maybe not. I saw 5 ppl run through a red light right in front of two stationary cops in the middle of the day. They watched them and still did nothing.

in my opinion, the cost of living here should be higher in some regards, we haven't been keeping up with rising costs. Puerto Ricans should also demand good wages, they've accepted being treated poorly for far too long.

Over the 4 day weekend, they issued over 14,000 tickets at double the fines, so keep an eye you don't end up with a ticket, it is a nice new way for the government to make more money. Given the situation likely the police is enthusiastic about giving out tickets since their retirement plan is in the line and overtime hours are being cut.

Well.... that's one way for sure. The drivers here are downright scary! This coming from one who has zero problems navigating NYC and LA traffic.  I have never had so many people cut me off making left turns from righ lanes in my life.  It happens so much I'm assuming it's in the drivers ed book here? My  head stays on swivel. I get home and my shoulders and neck ache from the stress and tension. So far that's my only complaint.  I've already been sideswiped while parked twice.  Now I'd rather park far out of the way than between two cars.

They get their driver license at Walmart, well those driving that have one. It is not a real requirement to have one unless the cop ask for it.

I hope the cops continue giving tickets left and right, people will end up thinking before breaking the law but it has to cost them.

Explains everything!  It's the strangest thing too.  The people in every day interaction are so very friendly and kind yet get behind the wheel and it's like Death Race 2000.    ☠️😱

I spend 2 years in Germany and people were very friendly, but once they got behind the wheel, they would grow horns and a pointed tail.

New Yorkers and Puerto Rican islanders drive on the same level: CRAY CRAY. I'm a Nuyorican and am still traumatized from a ride years ago with my Puerto Rican family after the hurricane that damaged the roadways to get from Barceloneta to Ponce. We took the back roads going through the mountains and I feared for my life seeing the cliff drops. Never ever want to ride on a mountain road again. Ever! With that said, I think that's great that they are using high priced driving violation tickets to help bring money to the island. That should help generate more money with the reckless speed racers. NYC needs to do the same especially with all of the hit and runs we have.

Mother in law saw on the news some tickets can be up to $1000.00. Ouch.

Frankie1adrian wrote:

Mother in law saw on the news some tickets can be up to $1000.00. Ouch.

Yes they doubled rhe amounts a $500.00 ticket is now $1,000.00.

I'd much rather this than cutting essential services and education.

Speaking of bad drivers, check this video. It happend in Humacao on Wednesday. I did not notice the driver slow down, probably on a cell phone while driving. https://www.wapa.tv/noticias/locales/qu … 08506.html

I don't mean to sound negative but....what happens if the driver cannot afford to pay the fines?  In NJ your license is suspended.  I have met so many in the island that do not have a license and they do not fear driving without one.  I fail to see how this will be great revenue for the government.  I mean, I hope it is while  detering bad drivers.  But I am skeptical.

I am skeptical also, but a lot of people pay their fines. They will not have their Marbete until they pay the fine and their license may not be renewed. Which means they will join those driving without a license and if caught it may mean jail time. Don't know.

Sounds like it could be a big problem, people who can't afford to pay those fines, which I'm sure there are many of us on the island that can't pay massive fines,  Will get our license suspended or can't  get our car registered when it's due, it's only going to cause even more serious issues in the future,  driving home the other day after picking my son up from the airport in San Juan saw some guy drunk and swerving sideswipe the medium wall  here in Vega Baja, and just kept on driving like it was nothing those are the people  that need to get popped, their  A danger to themselves and everybody else.

yes, I agree...some of the worst drivers I have experienced are in PR.   Usually young punk types driving some beat up old car, weaving in and out of traffic - makes me crazy.   

One reason I drive a car worth less than 5K, I'll bet most of those reckless drivers have no insurance, so if you get hit you're SOL.   

OMG!  That video is exactly why I can never imagine myself on foot, on a bike, scooter or anything else on the road here.  Tragic.  I notice many, many people here texting and on the phone while driving and even parking, looking down at their phone trying to turn into a space.  Something else I've noticed, usually when you're backing out of a parking space oncoming cars would yield or at least slow down, NOPE! not here!  They fly by as if they're trying to catch that green light!  I used to complain about drivers in Philly making turns in front of you from the other side as soon as the light changed, but that is NOTHING.. NADA!! compared to this!   This is serious. 

I hope that instead of many more people getting caught up with huge fines they can't pay or arrested, that they decide to slow down and drive right.  You'd think *knowing* you're driving dirty, you'd drive right but what do I know?

In NYC it's the same name of the game with reckless drivers. Last year we almost got ran down by cops while crossing the street (we had the light to cross). This police SUV literally comes flying down and was inches from mauling us down to do a U-turn! Which they did anyways at the red light after we crossed in a four lane road. Mind you, I was walking with my friend and both of us were pushing double strollers! All this erratic driving was for us to see the police go to a popular carrot cake place down the block where they double parked.

Don't even get me started on how many times I've almost been ran down pushing a double stroller crossing the street (this is with the light to walk!). Women are worse than the men drivers in my experience in terms of being the pedestrian with children almost getting run down. Pedestrians get hit so much here in NYC that they changed the speed limit to 25 mph in all 5 boroughs. People are still getting hit which is why I think they need to hit people where it'll really hurt: their wallets.

I've had my car hit while sitting at a red light and parked on the side of the street in NYC. In PR I feel it is much safer for pedestrians than here. My husband and I are always shocked when we are in PR that people will automatically stop so we can cross the street. It feels like the twilight zone for us every time. I'll give that to PR as far as consideration for pedestrians pero carro a carro es no bueno. It's the fast and the furious here in NYC and PR.

Ok, rant over. lol

That makes sense since a lot of Puerto Ricans that are now here from the US are usually from New York or somewhere on the East Coast,  perhaps they're bad driving habits were brought here and taught here.

Spencerazac wrote:

That makes sense since a lot of Puerto Ricans that are now here from the US are usually from New York or somewhere on the East Coast,  perhaps they're bad driving habits were brought here and taught here.

yup, no us natives

I just laugh now when I'm stopped at a red left arrow light and people behind me just go around me and take a left. But people are considerate to pedestrians and letting one into traffic.

After experiencing the insanity that is driving in Argentina for 3 years I am more than happy to be driving in Puerto Rico though.

Question: Is it not a law that the far left lane is a passing lane or do people just ignore that law? It makes driving much more dangerous having to constantly be changing lanes.  Creating/enforcing this would cut accidents down quite a bit in my opinion.

I don't know how many of you follow the local news, almost every week they is someone getting killed either by been run over or in a car accident.

During this past week, there was 2 deadly pedestrian accidents. Both situations the folks that got hit were in low light and closing the streets on bad roads. Both drivers pulled over and were sobers. I will say negligence in both parts, the pedestrian and the drivers.

We had a couple of deadly traffic accidents in the hwy between Yauco and Sabana Grande as well.

Too many irresponsible drivers.....

adlin20 wrote:

I don't know how many of you follow the local news, almost every week they is someone getting killed either by been run over or in a car accident.

During this past week, there was 2 deadly pedestrian accidents. Both situations the folks that got hit were in low light and closing the streets on bad roads. Both drivers pulled over and were sobers. I will say negligence in both parts, the pedestrian and the drivers.

We had a couple of deadly traffic accidents in the hwy between Yauco and Sabana Grande as well.

Too many irresponsible drivers.....

We have to look at the number of accidents a year and compare to Connecticut which has about the same population as PR to determine how much better or worse PR is. In the states people get run over all the time.

We have a lot of crazy drivers in the island, if you look at the accidents, most are due to alcohol. The pedestrian accidents are mainly people crossing the streets in places they should not be. Why will you need to cross the highway to pick up an aluminum can? You risk your life for less than $.05. There are signs all over the highway telling people that is ilegal crossing the highway, then why do it?

Does anyone know if CESCO is still giving discounts if fines are paid within 30 days? Lol 😂