Cosevi Ready For
Administration Of New Rules Of The Road
Effective March 1
The Consejo de Seguridad Vial (Cosevi)
assures that it is ready for March 1st, that
is the date the new Ley de Tránsito goes
into effect, regardless of what legislators
do in the next couple of days.
The Cosevi is the government agency that is
responsible for the administration of
drivers licenses and the agency that will be
responsible for keeping track of points
under the new popint system.
All drivers begin their day on March 1 with
50 points.
The Cosevi computers will be responsible to
ensure that each drivers license now in
circulation is issued the 50 points and then
subtract the points on conviction.
It is the same system that will ultimately
be responsible for the suspension and
cancelling of licenses, as well as restoring
the points and licenses after a time of good
driving behaviour.
The new Ley de Tránsito, the centre of
debate around the country this week and
next, was approved in 2008, with the drunk
driving provisions taking effect on December
23, 2008, while the rest of the law was to
have taken effect on September 23, 2009,
then pushed back to March 1, 2010.
The extension was to allow the Cosevi and
other governmental agencies to prepare and
adapt their systems to the new way of
driving in Costa Rica.
Also, legislators gave in to strong
opposition to the high fines proposed and
some the stringent regulations. That
discussion is still ongoing and the new law
could possibly go into effect exactly as it
was approved in 2008.
Some of the main points of the new law, in
addition to the point system, are fines for
items like passing on the right, not obeying
traffic signals, not paying a toll, children
under 12 years of age must be buckled in and
not sit in the front seat. As fines that are
now ¢5.000 to ¢20.000 will be four to ten or
more, as legislators approved using tough
economic sanctions as a deterrent.
In addition, the fines are tied with with
"basic salary" levels and will increase as
salary levels rise. The current fine system
implemented in 1993 puts the top fine at
¢20.000 colones, which in 1993 was a
considerable sum, but today is looked up by
many as "just doing business".
Also, the Policía de Tránsito is adding 400
new officers to its force.
Some confusion still remains, as legislators
discuss lowering fines in the new
legislation and toughening drunk driving
limits, from 0.75 to 0.50, many think that
the legislation will not be implemented
until the legislators have finished their
discussion.
The confusion comes the fact that is the
normal way of doing things in Costa Rica.
However, times are a changing.
The Ministro de Obras Publicas y Transportes
(MOPT) assures that the new law goes into
effect on March 1. The director of the
Policía de Tránsito, Germán Marín, has his
troops ready. The Cosevi is ready with the
new management of licenses, as the new law
adds requirements like a psychological
analysis for first time drivers and on
renewal licenses.
Legislators have until February 25 to make
any changes to the legislations, allowing
time before March 1st to be published in the
official government publication, La Gaceta.
On March 1, 2010, there will be a new way to
drive in Costa Rica. And for those who
refuse to accept or heed to the new
requirements, they could face a heavy
economic burden, loss of their vehicle (in
the case of reckless and drunk driving) and
walking or taking public transport when they
lose their license. |
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