No, applying makeup while driving in Colombia is illegal under Ley 769 de 2002 (Article 76) and Decreto 1077 de 2015, which prohibit any activity diverting attention from road safety. Traffic authorities (Dirección de Tránsito y Transporte de la Policía Nacional) enforce fines up to 15 SMLDV (2024: ~$5.5M COP) for distracted driving, including grooming. Courts increasingly classify makeup application as reckless behavior, aligning with 2026 amendments prioritizing “zero tolerance” for visual distractions.
Key Regulations for Applying Makeup While Driving in Colombia
- Distraction Prohibition: Ley 1811 de 2016 (amending Ley 769) explicitly bans “any conduct that impairs driver concentration,” including makeup application, mirror checks, or phone use. Violators face immediate fines and potential license suspension.
- Traffic Code Enforcement: Decreto 1077 de 2015 (Reglamento Nacional de Tránsito) classifies makeup use as a “secondary offense” under Artículo 131, requiring police to document the act as evidence of negligence in accidents.
- Local Ordinances: Bogotá (Acuerdo 790 de 2018) and Medellín (Ordenanza 181 de 2020) impose stricter penalties, including mandatory defensive driving courses for repeat offenders. Courts may invalidate insurance claims if makeup use is deemed contributory negligence.