When My License Plate Betrayed Me
Last August I rolled my old Yamaha out of my friend’s garage in Medellín, blissfully unaware that that day’s date—an innocuous Wednesday—matched the last digit on my Colombian license plate. The traffic officer’s whistle pierced the afternoon heat, and before I could even lift my visor he asked, “¿Señor, no sabe que hoy hay pico y placa para motos?” I had heard of the rule, but I assumed only cars were shackled by it. Ten minutes and one sweaty lecture later I discovered motorcycles are also roped into the restriction unless you claim a special exemption—something I might have done if I’d known the right Spanish. That mini-humiliation pushed me to learn Spanish beyond bar chit-chat, and today’s post is my revenge: a guide for fellow riders who don’t want their plates to sabotage their afternoons.
What Exactly Is Pico y Placa?
Colombian cities fight congestion with “pico y placa,” a rotating driving ban based on the last digit of your plate and the day of the week. For years motorcycles escaped the rule, but now many municipalities include them. Dominican expats might compare it to Santo Domingo’s informal “tapón” avoidance: in the DR you time your ride around colmadones and baseball nights; in Bogotá you memorize digits. Same urban motive, different bureaucratic flavor. When you master the terminology, you not only dodge fines; you also earn street cred with locals impressed that a gringo can decode municipal jargon.
The Core Spanish You’ll Hear
“Pico” means “peak,” “placa” is “license plate,” yet in daily speech Colombians turn it into one quick term: “pico-y-placa.” You will also catch “restricción vehicular” (vehicle restriction) and “exención” (exemption). Dominicans might tease Colombians for their love of paperwork, but believe me, once you weave these words into conversation you sound far more natural than blurting out an English noun in a Spanish sentence.
The Exemption Maze: Talking Your Way Through It
Motorcycles can receive exemptions under categories like “domicilios” (delivery work) or “servicios médicos” (medical services). The catch? You must apply or at least claim the category confidently when stopped. My Dominicano instincts wanted to charm the officer with jokes, but Colombian cops expect paperwork first, banter later. If you’re visiting from Santo Domingo where flirting with traffic police sometimes works, brace yourself: in Colombia they politely nod while writing the ticket. Cultivating the phrases below will help.
Real-Life Exemption Lines
Example 1:
Spanish: “Oficial, estoy inscrito como domiciliario y tengo el radicado aquí mismo.”
English: “Officer, I’m registered as a delivery rider and I have the application number right here.”
Context: Shows you understand bureaucratic lingo and have proof.
Example 2:
Spanish: “Disculpe, mi moto está autorizada para servicios médicos; transporto insumos para una clínica.”
English: “Excuse me, my bike is authorized for medical services; I transport supplies for a clinic.”
Context: Formal tone earns respect; “disculpe” softens the declaration.
Example 3 (Dominican flavor sneaking in):
Spanish: “Compai, mire el permiso; esto está al día, ¿tamo’ claro?”
English: “Buddy, check the permit; it’s up to date, we good?”
Context: The word “compai” rings Caribbean; use sparingly in Colombia—officers may smile, but keep it respectful.
Grammar and Street Talk You’ll Hear at the Checkpoint
Colombian officers lean on the formal “usted” while Dominican counterparts toggle between “tú” and “usted” based on mood. Notice how “su” replaces “tu” for possession. Also, Colombians often shorten “radicado” (tracking number) to just “el radicado.” Meanwhile, Dominican drivers would call it “el número de caso.” These micro-differences sharpen your ear and, more importantly, signal you belong. When you learn Spanish across borders, dialect gaps become bridges instead of potholes.
Checkpoint Mini-Dialogues in Context
Police: “¿Me muestra su radicado, por favor?”
“Could you show me your tracking number, please?”
Friendly yet formal: the officer chooses “su.”
Rider: “Claro, aquí lo tiene, oficial. Fue aprobado ayer.”
“Sure, here you go, officer. It was approved yesterday.”
The past tense “fue” instead of “estuvo” is a Colombian habit for approvals.
Police (Dominican scenario): “Mi hermano, ¿tienes constancia de eso?”
“My brother, do you have proof of that?”
The affectionate “mi hermano” typifies Dominican warmth.
Spanish Vocabulary
| Spanish | English | Usage Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Pico y placa | Peak & plate restriction | Always pronounced quickly together |
| Exención | Exemption | Stress the second syllable: exen-ción |
| Radicado | Tracking number | Colombian admin slang; memorize it |
| Domiciliario | Delivery rider | Useful if you work with apps like Rappi |
| Comparendo | Traffic fine ticket | More formal than “multa” in Colombia |
| Tapón | Traffic jam | Dominicanism; Colombians say “trancón” |
| Permiso | Permit | Generic but indispensable |
| Agente de tránsito | Traffic officer | Use this instead of “policía” to sound precise |
Example Conversation at a Medellín Checkpoint
Agente: “Buenas tardes, señor. Documento de identidad y papeles de la moto, por favor.”
Good afternoon, sir. ID and motorcycle papers, please.
Yo: “Claro que sí, agente. Aquí tiene la cédula y la tarjeta de propiedad.”
Of course, officer. Here’s my ID card and the ownership card.
Agente: “Hoy su placa termina en siete; aplica pico y placa. ¿Posee alguna exención?”
Today your plate ends in seven; the restriction applies. Do you have any exemption?
Yo: “Sí, señor. Estoy inscrito como domiciliario con Rappi; este es el radicado.”
Yes, sir. I’m registered as a delivery rider with Rappi; this is the tracking number.
Agente: “Entendido. Voy a verificar en el sistema.”
Understood. I’m going to check in the system.
Yo: “No hay problema. **Parce**, si necesita algo más me avisa.” (Colombian)
No problem. Buddy, if you need anything else let me know.
Agente: “Listo, todo en regla. Puede continuar. Feliz tarde.”
All set, everything’s in order. You may proceed. Have a good afternoon.
Yo: “Muchísimas gracias. Que esté bien.”
Thank you very much. Take care.
Agente (Dominican cameo visiting): “¡Cuídate, manito, suave!”
Take care, bro, go easy!
Reflections from a Bilingual Wanderer
Bouncing between Medellín’s orderly lanes and Santo Domingo’s chaotic avenues has been my greatest classroom. One week I conjugate “radicar” for online exemptions; the next I drop verbs entirely and holler “¡Dale, dale!” in Caribbean motorscooter traffic. Every miscue rewires my instincts, reminding me that to truly learn Spanish you must court embarrassment and delight in contrast. Whether you’re filing paperwork in Bogotá or sweet-talking a colmado clerk in Santiago, treat each accent as a dialectal gym. The muscles you build in one country flex effortlessly in the next.
So rev your engines—and your verbs—before heading out. If the checkpoint whistle catches you, speak with confidence, flash that radicado, and remember that mastery isn’t a static badge; it’s a ride that hops borders. Share below any quirks you’ve picked up while zigzagging Latin America, or that perfect slang nugget that made locals laugh. Every comment helps us collectively learn Spanish a little faster, a little spicier, and a lot more authentically.
