Draft bill 130.

Summary.

The draft bill regulates special lighting devices, or escort lights, on vehicles traveling in the Republic of Panama. It covers fixed, removable, or portable equipment visible from outside the vehicle, such as light bars, beacons, and strobe lights. Authorization would depend on the vehicle’s function and mission, rather than arising automatically from its occupants’ office or rank. Commercial importation of red, blue, or combined devices would require prior authorization from the Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio de Seguridad Pública), which the National Customs Authority (Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas) would verify.

Businesses and workshops would have to register with the Transit and Land Transportation Authority (Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre) to sell, distribute, or install devices. Selling or installing red or blue lights would require proof that the purchasing vehicle or institution is authorized. Records of each transaction would be kept for at least 5 years. The bill reserves red and blue lights for authorized police, security, and protection vehicles; red lights for ambulances and rescue vehicles; blue lights for firefighters, traffic authorities, civil protection, and other public emergency services; and yellow or amber lights for activities requiring a warning signal. The Ministry of Public Security could temporarily authorize red and blue lights for vehicles directly involved in certain official security missions.

Ambulances and other vehicles permanently assigned to emergencies would require certification and registration. The Transit and Land Transportation Authority could grant temporary permits for yellow or amber lights for escorts, roadworks, and authorized activities. Private or unauthorized vehicles could not install, carry, or keep red or blue lights ready for use to impersonate an emergency vehicle or an authority. Any device could be activated only during its authorized mission or service. Its use would not remove the duty to drive prudently or, by itself, grant general permission to violate traffic rules. Yellow or amber lights would not confer right of way; the priority associated with other signals would be governed by the Traffic Regulations and the proposed implementing regulations.

The National Police (Policía Nacional) and the Transit and Land Transportation Authority would check authorizations and registrations on the road and could order unauthorized devices to be deactivated and removed. The bill provides for the retention of devices, removal of the vehicle where applicable, confiscation, and fines of B/.1,000.00 or B/.2,500.00 for unauthorized installation, possession, or use. Improper sale or installation by businesses, distributors, and workshops would carry fines of B/.1,000.00 or B/.5,000.00, suspension, and possible cancellation of registration. Potential criminal offenses would be referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office (Ministerio Público). Public servants would be accountable for uses unrelated to their missions, and their institutions would report changes to registered vehicles.

The bill allows 6 months to register and declare inventories and 90 days to authorize or remove devices already installed. The Executive Branch (Órgano Ejecutivo) would issue implementing regulations within 90 days of promulgation. The law would generally take effect 6 months after promulgation, while provisions on implementing regulations and the creation of registries would take effect immediately. Its provisions would apply to the institutions mentioned and could be relevant to emergency and security services, importers, businesses, workshops, transport operators, and organizers of activities on public roads.