|
Higher Traffic Fines Could Lead
To More Corruption, Critics Fear
As the Ministerio de Obras
Públicas y Transportes (MOPT)
announced last week, traffic
fines will see an increase
anywhere from 100% to more than
300%, as the traffic authority
prepares to present a bill in
the Legislature to update the
fined that have been in place
for more than 10 years
One of the concerns by many is
the "mordida" or bite, that
traffic officials may force on
drivers facing a huge fine.
Running a red light, for
example, can now cost a ¢10.000
fine, but with the new fines in
place, the same infraction could
cost up to ¢80.000 colones and
drivers may elect to pay the
mordida rather than the fine.
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.
The Ministra de Obras Pública y
Transporte, Karla Gonzalez, has
prepared a proposal to increase
traffic fines and has the
support of legislators and will
be presented to the Legislature
next week.
The reason for the new fines is
that the current fines date back
to more than 10 years. For
instance, a ¢10.000 fine back in
1995 was the equivalent of
us$60.38, based on an exchange
rate of ¢165.63. The same fine
today is the equivalent of
us$19.26.
The Movimiento Cívico, which
brings together truckers and bus
drivers announced that they will
fight against the approval by
the Legislative Assembly of the
new law. The group fears that
the new fines will increase
corruption.
Despite efforts by the Policía
de Tránsito to eliminate
corruption, the fact is that
there are still a number of
corrupt Tránsito officials
patrolling the roads and
payoffs.
With the new fines, the
possibility of increasing
corruption among the Tránsito
officials is very real and
despite the efforts of the MOPT
to control the situation, there
will be more temptation, even by
the honest officials, critics
say.
Corrupt Tránsito officials have
for the most part taken
advantage of tourists, who not
familiar with the country's
traffic laws, fall easy prey.
Many tourists driving in Costa
Rica have reported being victim
to form of corruption by
Tránsito officials, especially
along the coastal routes that
lead to the beach areas. There
are mainly remote areas away
from the eyes of superiors and
witnesses.
If you are a victim of a
Tránsito offcial corruption, you
can contact the Direccíon
General de Policía de Tránsito
de Costa Rica in San José at:
255-3562 or visit their website
at:
http://www.transito.go.cr/
|
|
