Azuay's Vice Prefecta Sentenced to 30 Days in Prison for DUI — And She Tried to Use Someone Else's ID

What Happened

In the early morning of Saturday, February 28 — around 12:42 AM — Cuenca's transit authority (EMOV) was running a routine checkpoint at the intersection of Bajada de Todos Santos and Paseo Tres de Noviembre. You know the spot: the scenic riverside road near the Broken Bridge.

When officers stopped a vehicle, the driver was asked for her license and registration. She refused to hand them over. Instead, she showed a photo on her phone of a driver's license that didn't belong to her.

The officers detected alcohol on her breath and asked her to take a breathalyzer test and a psychosomatic evaluation. She refused both, despite being warned that refusal would be legally treated as the maximum degree of intoxication.

That driver was Alexandra Quintanilla Zamora — the Vice Prefecta of Azuay Province, the second-highest elected official in the province.

The Sentence

A specialized traffic judge found Quintanilla guilty and imposed:

Penalty	Detail
Prison	30 days
Fine	$1,446 (three basic salaries at the 2026 SBU of $482)
License suspension	60 days

The judge noted that Quintanilla "induced error" during the procedure by showing someone else's identification, and that video and audio evidence from the checkpoint documented her non-cooperation.

What Happened Next

Here's where it gets even more interesting:

• Quintanilla requested vacation days from the prefecture to serve her sentence, rather than taking an official leave of absence
• The Azuay Prosecutor's Office announced it will investigate whether showing someone else's ID constitutes a separate crime of public action (identity fraud), beyond the traffic violation
• Her case has been covered by every major Ecuadorian outlet — El Mercurio, Primicias, El Comercio, Expreso, Metro Ecuador, and more

Why Expats Should Pay Attention

This story is worth knowing for two reasons:

1. DUI enforcement in Cuenca is real

EMOV runs regular nighttime checkpoints, especially on weekend evenings along popular routes like Calle Larga, Todos Santos, and Avenida Solano. If you're stopped:

• You must provide your license (or cédula if you have an Ecuadorian one)
• Refusing a breathalyzer is legally treated as the maximum level of intoxication — it's not a loophole, it's worse
• DUI penalties in Ecuador include jail time, not just fines. This isn't a slap-on-the-wrist country for drunk driving

2. Nobody is above the law (at least today)

The vice prefecta of an entire province was sentenced to 30 days in prison for a DUI. Whether or not you think the punishment is proportionate, the signal is clear: EMOV and the courts are not making exceptions based on political status.

For expats who sometimes worry about unequal treatment in the legal system, this case is actually reassuring.

The Practical Takeaway

If you're going out in Cuenca on a Friday or Saturday night:

• Take a taxi or use a ride app — taxis are cheap ($2-5 within the city)
• Don't drive after drinking — even one or two drinks can put you over Ecuador's limit (0.3 g/L BAC, lower than the US standard of 0.8)
• If stopped at a checkpoint, cooperate fully — show your license, take the test if asked
• Keep your actual license on you — not a photo of someone else's

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Sources: El Mercurio, Primicias, El Mercurio, El Comercio