9. DECRETO 178 DE 2012.pdf (121.11 KB)
This decreto relates to measures for the replacement of vehicles of animal traction.
The term "vehicle of animal traction" is defined by the National Traffic Code, Ley 769, 2002 as a “non-motorized vehicle pulled or moved by an animal." In Colombia, the terms "zorra" or "carretilla" are colloquially used to refer to a cart that is generally pulled by one or two horses. Depending on the region, donkeys and mules might be used for this purpose as well. Besides the carriages pulled by horses used in tourist cities (which are allowed under the dispositions of decreto 178, 2012), this type of vehicles are used to transport garbage and construction waste.
Decreto 178, 2012 regulates and approves the substitution of the vehicles of animal traction for cargo vehicles as a way to facilitate and incentivize the development of alternatives for the drivers. At the same time, this law extends the deadline established in Ley 1666, 2010 of two years to substitute this vehicles, giving one more year to implement the change. As various local authorities and drivers of vehicles of animal traction requested the national government to extend that term given in Ley 1666, the government extended the deadline for one more year in Decreto 178.
Ley 1666, 2010 was repealed by Decreto 178, 2012. Ley 1666 established that Majors had the duty to create alternative mechanisms to provide the owners of vehicles of animal traction so they could replace the animals with motorized light load vehicles of up to 770 kilograms of capacity. Decreto 178 authorizes the substitution of horses and carts for motorized vehicles by the majors of the different municipalities who must register these vehicles and they drivers in a census. Majors have also the responsibility to carry out training programs in management techniques and business development, business and handling of light loads or other alternative activities.