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Santa Fe Senator Posts Video Driving While Holding Mate and Phone

Public outcry forced a public apology, exposing that Santa Fe lacks a specific penalty for holding a cellphone or mate when driving.

Overview

  • The senator, Óscar Dolzani, posted a video that went viral showing him at the wheel with a mate in one hand and a cellphone in the other while a passenger filmed the clip.
  • The video, posted Tuesday, shows Dolzani smiling, singing and changing music on the car stereo as he drives, and he later published a public apology but left the original post online.
  • Santa Fe’s provincial road-safety agency contacted Dolzani to explain why the behavior was wrong, and critics urged the agency to open an official investigation.
  • Coverage notes that Santa Fe does not have a specific sanction for using a cellphone or drinking mate while driving, a contrast with provinces such as Córdoba that impose clear penalties.
  • Local outlets raised the possibility the recording was meant to boost the senator’s profile, a line of reporting that has increased reputational pressure and could prompt calls to tighten provincial rules.