Costa Rica Wakes Up To
Two New Impacting Laws
Today, March 1, 2010, Costa Rica wakes to
two impacting laws, the new Ley de Tránsito
- traffic law - that will change driving
habits in Costa Rica and the Ley de
Migración y Extranjería - immigration
law - that tightens immigration controls.
The new traffic law that was approved in
December 2008, goes into full effect today,
raising the maximum fines from yesterday's
¢20.000 to almost ¢300.000 and introduces a
point system that could end up in a
temporary or permanent suspension of a
drivers license.
The new traffic law will force drivers to
change their driving habits or pay the
consequences. Although traffic officials
will go easy on drivers for the first 60
days, issuing warnings for minor offences,
major offences come with heavy fines and
points.
Every driver begins today with 50 points
posted on their drivers license. Driving
over 120 Km/h, for example, means a total
loss of points and a suspension the drivers
license for two years. Repeat offenders
could lose their license permanently.
The new immigration law that took effect at
the stroke of midnight also seeks to change
the immigration problems of the past
decades.
Some of
the changes contained in the
new
immigration law is the requirement of
foreign residents working in Costa Rica to
contribute to the Caja Costarricense del
Seguro Social (CCSS) - social security.
Foreign residents who do not contribute will
no longer be able to obtain free medical
services.
Also, foreigners are required to pay an
annual us$25 fee that will go to the Fondo
Social Migratorio that will raise some us$12
million dollars annual from the 486.000
foreign residents.
The new legislation also calls for a fine of
us$100 per month to any foreigner who
overstays his or her "legal" stay. North
Americans and Europeans have a legal stay of
up to 90 days, while only 30 days for most
other countries.
The new law also requires hotels and others
providing lodging to maintain a public
register fo all foreigners, which can be
reviewed by immigration officials at any
time.
In addition, the Policía Técnica de
Migración (immigration police force) will
expand from the current 35 officials to 285. |
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