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Kudos to the
Transit Police
Over the last few months I noticed an increased presence of transit police all over the streets of San Jose. Checkpoints at dangerous intersections, radar stations, and pulling over cars without license plates,
etc.
I did not have the benefit to see the private details of the transaction between the transit officials and the offending drivers, but got the impression that everything was on the up an up and no 'chorizo' or 'mordida' or any kind of bribery was taking place.
One such observance took place on the bridge of the old road to
Ezcazϊ in Sabana Oeste, the bridge that goes over the 'circunvalacion' or ring road around San Jose.
| This point is just past the
Escazϊ exit as you head south to Hatillo and beyond, where the entrance from the
Escazϊ/Santa Ana highway enters onto the
circunvalacion, and to the Sabana area. |
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There is no access from the circunvalacion to the Sabana, however, a lot of drivers make the steep turn avoiding oncoming traffic as it enters the circunvalacion, to save a few minutes rather than go around to the park and then back.
On this Sunday afternoon, as I noticed on several other days of the week, there was stationed a two man
transit police crew to catch the thrill seekers. I have to admit that I have done the thrill myself in the past, but standing
there, looking at it happen, made me realize how dangerous and foolish I had been, as those are now.
The fine is 20.000 colones. And in the few minutes that I stood there to watch the action, several cars were stopped and the ticket books were busy.
Talking to one of the transit officials, he explained that there was a concerned effort to teach drivers to respect
road signals by showing a strong police presence. Digging
into offending drivers pockets books would get the message across. The
transit authority has identified many dangerous spots and they will be there.
Driving in Costa Rica, it seems, is a right rather than a privilege and everyone has a right to take their life in their own hands
and in the privacy of their cars.
I will be watching. And so will the transit police!
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