Amidst Regulatory Chaos in Colombia, Panamá Also Seeking Legal Framework For Ride Hailing

Panamá’s transportation regulator “Autoridad del Transito y Transporte Terrestre” (ATTT) has been meeting with government and industry representatives to negotiate a framework for ride hailing platforms such as Uber and InDriver after regulatory uncertainty and pushback against the services from taxi unions and operators.

Legislation has been proposed by Cenobia Vargas and Victor Castillo to regulate the sector after attempts by the ATTT. A ban on accepting cash was ruled unconstitutional by Panamá’s Supreme Court of Justice. Other proposals would require drivers to wear uniforms, comply with certain insurance requirements, report income, and clearly identify vehicles.

In a two-day meeting convocated January 13 & 14 by the ATTT (Above photo, courtesy of ATTT), lawyers Victor Ramos & José Manuel Torres from the Ministry of Government & Justice met with Secretary General Carlos Ordoñez and Martin Franco, President of the National Chamber of Transportation along with other colleagues to discuss a next steps, and submitted a request for clarification from the Supreme Court.

During the roundtable, the entities agreed to request additional meetings that include the ride-hailing stakeholders in order to negotiate a potential solution.

See also: Guest Opinion: A Signal of Caution For Direct Investment in Colombia—Über VP of Global Public Policy