Higher Fines Proposed To Reduce Traffic Accidents and Deaths
Not obeying a red light can soon cost ¢80.000 colones (us$155) instead of the current ¢10.000 colones (us$19.41), the traffic fine established back in 1993.

The Ministra de Obras Pública y Transporte, Karla Gonzalez, has prepared a proposal to increase traffic fines and speed limits. So far the minister has the support of legislators.

The proposal would raise all traffic fines. Some of the proposed new fines are ¢100.000 colones for drivers and passengers not using the mandatory seatbelt for example.  Drunk driving can draw fines of up ¢280.000 colones (us$543) and see a suspension of drivers license for up to six months, up to one year for repeat offences.

Other areas of interest for the proposal are speeding, careless driving and street racing, all driving practices that add to the increasing number of accidents and deaths on the country's roads.

The proposal is scheduled to be presented to the Legislative Assembly in September as part of the MOPT's strategy for Seguridad Vial (Road Safety) program to promote responsible driving.

According to Minister Gonzalez, the current fines are outdated and are not sufficient to deter drivers from breaking the laws of the road. Some drivers see the current fines as simply a "business expense" of driving.

The MOPT Minister recognizes that increased fines alone will not reduce accidents and deaths. The Ley de Tránsito (traffic laws) has to be supported by a public awareness campaign to prevent accidents and more Tránsito (traffic) officers on the roads.

The details of the proposal are not yet complete and will be made public once the proposal makes its way to the Legislature.

Unfortunately, some drivers only drive responsibly when there is a Tránsito officials around or when the fine is high enough to hit the pocket book, and that is the reasoning behind the proposal, said Ignacio Sánchez, an advisor to the government on road safety.

Increasing fines to ¢180.000  from the current ¢20.000 for speeding in excess of 30 Km/h or a ¢200.000 fine for not having a drivers license will catch the attention of many, forcing them to obey the rules of the road, Sánchez and González hope.

The MOPT plans to use the increased fines for road maintenance, including keeping up with the painting lines on the road and hire at least 300 more Tránsito officials to beef up the badly understaffed police force.

The proposed changes to the Ley de Tránsito will also include a plan to maintain a profile on drivers and their behaviour behind the wheel. A computer database will keep track of  infractions and their frequency. Tránsito officials, will, within the next two years, be able to call in for information over the radio or by way of a handheld device on a driver who has been pulled over.

Higher Speed Limits Proposed
While announcing stiffer fines for traffic violations, MOPT Minister, Karla Gonzalez, announced that her proposal will also include the  increasing the speed limit on some highways.

For instance the current 90 Km/h limit will increase to  to 120 Km/h.

The Minister says that the current speed limits have been in place since 1972 and do not reflect today's road conditions and the power of new vehicles.

Advisor Sánchez added that when the speed limits were established in 1972, the construction and the engineering of the roads was not like it is today, as well as many of those roads are now paved.

The minister says that the increase in speed limit will also reduce the possibility of corrupt Tránsito officials who will take advantage of the higher fines to extort drivers.