An operation by the Provincial Traffic Directorate of Las Tunas against traffic violations involving motorcycles and electric scooters has sparked a wave of criticism on social media, where citizens have questioned both the amount of the fines and the extreme difficulty of obtaining a driver's license, according to a video by journalist Orlando Cruz Vázquez from the Cuban News Channel.
The operation, carried out in coordination between the Ministry of the Interior and the provincial transportation authorities, penalizes infractions such as riding without a helmet, without a license, with modified exhaust systems that produce excessive noise, playing loud music, having three people on a motorcycle, or participating in illegal races.
Offending vehicles are towed to a storage center for a period ranging from one day to six months, depending on the severity of the violation.
The established amount is 500 pesos per day, and if the owner does not pay the full amount by the specified date, the vehicle may be confiscated the following day.
That figure was the main target of criticism. "Tell me which worker earns 500 pesos a day; in a month that's 15 thousand pesos, which no worker earns. That's very wrong," wrote a citizen in the comments of the video.
Another point of tension was the process for obtaining a driver's license, which many residents of Tun tun describe as practically inaccessible.
"Getting her out is more difficult than crossing a minefield," summarized a commentator. Another added, "Everything is fine, but the hard part is getting the license; they go to the extreme. In the Buenavista area, there are no traffic signs left."
A third party claimed that the operation "does not mention the opportunities and possibilities for obtaining the license, which are becoming increasingly complex and difficult."
Several comments also pointed to the lack of consistency in the application of the rules.
"That's great, but the first ones that need proper education are the officers themselves, who think that just by wearing the uniform they can..." wrote a user.
Another person claimed that the operations overlook more serious problems: "When is the crackdown on motorcycle thefts coming?" A third person was more direct: "The discipline issue that needs to be addressed is within society: assaults, homicides, and thefts happening almost daily."
There were those who demanded solutions to infrastructure issues before imposing sanctions: "Fix the streets, that's what they need to do," wrote a neighbor. Another pointed out that "they let the monster grow, and now it will be difficult and costly to eliminate it."
Nevertheless, a portion of the citizenry supported the measures, particularly those aimed at reducing noise.
"Teenagers ride motorcycles and bicycles at lightning speed, without helmets, and with music blaring extremely loud," reported a commentator.
Another neighbor expressed relief that their neighborhood could regain its peace: "There are small children, newborns, elderly people, and those who are ill, and those noises during rest hours affect them greatly."
A Tunero driver who appeared in the video acknowledged that he has adapted to the new requirements: "My engine had an exhaust with a resonator, so for the acoustic margins, we now bought an original exhaust so that the engine doesn't make as much noise."
The provincial context exacerbates the debate. Las Tunas recorded 101 verified thefts of motorcycles and mopeds in the first half of 2025, making it the second most affected province in the country, while nationally, motorcycles and mopeds were involved in more than half of the traffic accidents recorded that year.
In August of this year, the Cuban government extended the validity of the licenses that expire between 2026 and 2027 until 2028, a measure that implicitly acknowledges the difficulties of the system, but does not address the underlying issue for those who have yet to obtain their identification card.
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