10 Banned Things In The Dominican Republic That You Should Know About

The Dominican Republic is not a country of many prohibitions, as the traditional Dominican is characterized by being freedom-loving and rebellious.

But, for better or for worse there are prohibitions that are important to know, I have written many topics on this website, and I wanted to make this topic a compilation, and add other prohibitions in the country.

1-Child marriage

Who in their right mind would marry a child? Crazy, isn’t it? Incredible as it may seem, this is a very common practice in Latin American countries.

That is why in the Dominican Republic a law has been passed that establishes the prohibition of child marriage from the age of 15.

According to official data, 36% of Dominican girls and adolescents are married or united before the age of 18, which is the highest rate in Latin America and the Caribbean.

2-Weed

I do not like to touch these topics, because of the censorship that exists in the media, but in order to inform, I must say that weed is completely illegal in the Dominican Republic.

The problem is that the law establishes that this substance is prohibited in all its versions, and also medical cannabis is illegal in the Dominican Republic.

According to my research, a large number of packages with liquid cannabis or in resin form have been seized at customs through shipping agencies.

3-Kissing in public

Yes, kissing in public is illegal in the Dominican Republic, when I refer to “kissing” I don’t mean small kisses or greetings, but rather prolonged kisses.

A couple displaying an intimate encounter in a public space may be subject to sanction if discovered by authorities.

Read more about it here: No kissing in public in the Dominican Republic.

4-Hookah

The hookah is a smoking device used for entertainment and has been very popular in the Dominican Republic for years, especially in popular sectors.

The hookah has been the subject of controversy because there is a current that claims that it is harmful to health, while others say it is just for entertainment.

But the reason for the prohibition of Hookah in the Dominican Republic is due to more obscure reasons.

What has been proposed is that hookah was being used as a device to ingest other types of illegal substances in a clandestine way and in full view of everyone, that is why it was banned by decree.

read more about the prohibition of hookah in the Dominican Republic

5-Abortion

Abortion is against the law in the Dominican Republic regardless of whether the resulting pregnancy is potentially life-threatening, unsafe, or the consequence of rape or incest.

Lately, the country’s congress is discussing a motion that will decriminalize abortions in these circumstances.

The country’s Penal code stipulates sentences of imprisonment of two years for women and girls who have abortions and up to 20 years for those medical professionals who carry out such procedures.

6-Smoking in indoor public places

Many people are unaware of it, but in the Dominican Republic, smoking is prohibited in enclosed indoor places of public and private collective use.

As well as in public vehicles destined for passenger transportation, in national and international passenger transportation flights, while in the national airspace.

the law that prohibits this in the Dominican Republic is 48-00.

7-Noxious noises

In the Dominican Republic, it is prohibited to have elements that produce noxious noises, the law that regulates this is No. 287-04, on Prevention, Suppression, and Limitation of Noxious and Annoying Noises that Produce Noise Pollution.

The law includes regulations for grocery stores, liquor stores, bars, day and night clubs, and other types of businesses or private places that use loudspeakers, loud music, electric plants, and other implements.

It also includes vehicles on public roads, through the use of horns or music equipment or lack of mufflers in the exhaust.

8-Pocket knives

Unless you can justify its use or utility, having a pocket knife is illegal in the Dominican Republic.

This measure is oriented to the protection and care of the civilian population, the people who can legally carry a knife are those who have a job or related activity that warrants its use.

Read here if you want to know more about the ban on pocket knives in the Dominican Republic.

9-Jet skis on beaches

On the beaches in general in the Dominican Republic is prohibited by law to use jet skis, there is a list of beaches that include public beaches of the most crowded.

This law promotes the safety and welfare of people who frequent the beaches as bathers.

As well as beaches of tourist places and hotels throughout the country, not all beaches are on the list, below I leave the link to see which beaches are on the list.

read here for a ban on jet skis in the Dominican Republic.

10-Drinking while driving

In the Dominican Republic, it is prohibited by law to drink alcoholic beverages while driving.

The ingestion of alcohol distributed in a glass of whiskey, two glasses of wine, or two glasses of beer could cost a driver from the equivalent of five minimum wages in the Dominican Republic to the payment of considerably higher fines.

As well as imprisonment and vehicle retention, depending on the circumstances in which the consumption of any of these alcoholic beverages is determined, as well as the consequences of the violation of the law and the driver’s history of infractions.

What other prohibitions are needed in the Dominican Republic?

Personally, my blood boils every time I see a person throwing garbage on the street, they even do it from their car, there should be a stiff penalty for people who do this.

The city of Santo Domingo especially needs more severe laws and prohibitions.

Another of the prohibitions that have been talked about a lot is the prohibition of two people on a motorcycle, this in the city of Santo Domingo has great importance relevant to citizen security that all Dominicans understand.

But, if you are not Dominican I explain to you, the majority of assaults and robberies in the city of Santo Domingo are committed by two people on a motorcycle.

That is why it is necessary to prohibit two people on a motorcycle unless it is not properly uniformed and identified as a public carrier.