Thursday, April 10, 2008

Hondurans peeved over no-drive law

Opposition has mounted in Honduras against a no-drive law which went into effect on Monday. The regulation- which is similar to one used in Bogota, Colombia- barred private car usage for one day each week. The move has led to protests around the country and the mayor of the Tegucigalpa even offered free legal services to pay for pico y placa fines.

The controversy grew to such a point that the country’s top court intervened and sided with car enthusiasts:

Honduras' Supreme Court has temporarily suspended a law that keeps cars off the road one day per week, while the justices study the constitutionality of the measure….

The 9-6 vote by the justices on Wednesday puts the law on hold.

President Manuel Zelaya replied that the injunction was “against the country’s judicial security” and failed to take into account the estimated $80 million in saved energy costs.

The tribunal’s actions where similar to those taken last month by a court in Chacao, Venezuela against their proposed no-drive law.

Image- Caracol Radio (Bogota’s Car Fee day held in February)

Sources (English)- International Herald Tribune, Vivir de Otro Modo, PR-inside.com

Sources (Spanish)- Union Radio, Cadena Global


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