With fines for operating pirate (illegal) buses now reaching up to $5,000 for repeat offenses, Panama’ Transit Authority (ATTT) is still fighting what appears to be a losing battle.

The authority claims it is a problem inherited from the previous administration.

In January 2014, an indefinite extension for the operation of the illegal buses was approved on the recommendation of the Communications and Transportation Commission of the National Assembly as the Metro bus service was being phased in and frequency of service improved

Julio González, ATTT  director, said that “we are combating informal transport according to Decree 273 of October 13, 2017, that has toughened the sanctions, for piracy, which took it from $150 to 1,000 dollars the first time and with recidivism that can reach up to $5,000 with cancellation of the license of the citizen who is exercising this type of activity ".

He told El Siglo  that "we very clearly established that we would first fight the  school buses (diablos rojos) devils that did not have operating certificates and, many of these vehicles have been removed and that those that are circulating today in they only do it, because they have a certificate of operation and they are those of the Cooperativa San Cristóbal de Chepo”.

He said that  after the diablos rojos they  “ went against the ‘refrigerator’ buses, so called because they  are long and white These  have been largely  removed and those who are still seen  will be penalized

In the next few days moves against another type of pirate bus, which has been involved in many traffic accidents, will be introduced.