Panama Toll Road Debt Reaches $15 Million; Authorities Conduct Surprise Operation

Users of Panama's toll roads have accumulated a debt of $15 million, a figure that has prompted a joint operation between the National Highway Company (ENA) and the Transit and Land Transport Authority (ATTT) to identify drivers with pending payments, fines, and other violations.

The operation took place at the Madden toll booth on the North Corridor. Authorities checked vehicles with negative balances in their Panapass accounts or those not registered with the electronic toll collection system. During the operation, drivers with outstanding fines were also identified, and some vehicles were towed due to pending sanctions linked to their driving licenses.

According to ENA, $8 million of the total debt comes from customers affiliated with the Panapass system, while the remaining $7 million is owed by users who traverse the corridors without being registered on the platform. ENA's Collections Manager, Eric Zambrano, stated that these operations will continue in collaboration with the ATTT to combat non-payment.

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This is a series of operations that we are going to be carrying out in conjunction with the Transit Authority with the aim of detecting those users who insist on traveling through the corridors without a balance or traveling without a Panapas sticker or without a license plate.

Zambrano explained that ENA personnel are participating in these operations to manage outstanding collections and, in some cases, offer payment arrangements to delinquent users. ATTT Inspector Andrés Pineda noted that many sanctioned drivers have fines associated with both their vehicles and their licenses, leading to their vehicles being towed due to non-compliance.

Authorities reminded drivers that circulating on the corridors with a negative balance exceeding $10 can result in penalties. Those using these routes without the Panapass system are also subject to fines. ENA reiterated its call for users to regularize their accounts and install the Panapass system, which costs $10, to prevent sanctions and future complications.

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The fines are also generated on the license, which keeps them in contempt and for that reason the vehicles are towed.