More Than 300 Fines In
San José In First Day Of New Traffic Law
During the first day under the new Ley de
Tránsito, traffic officials report issuing
more than 250 tickets in San José, despite a
call from the officer's union to implement
the law. Some drivers will have to pay up to
¢300.000 colones for their imprudence.
Almost half of the tickets were issued
before noon on Monday, only hours after
officials began patrolling the streets with
their new armament, a law that severely
punishes drivers who commit all types of
serious offences, as well as minor like
tinted windows.
Although many Tránsitos (traffic officials)
decided to tow the union line, many others
preferred to complete their duties and apply
the full weight of the law that was first
approved in December 2008 and postponed to
March 1.
However, and in accordance with a call from
the ministro de Transportes and Obras
Pública (MOPT), Marco Vargas, Tránsitos are
asked to go easy on light offenders, using
the opportunity to educate drivers on the
new laws.
Items like not carrying the required
emergency kit, that includes a reflective
triangle, the first aid kit and booster
chairs for children under 12 years of ago,
will be let go with a warning for the first
60 days.
However, all major offers that include
speeding and not respecting traffic signals,
for example, were fined yesterday. Those who
were found violating the vehicular
restriction of San José yesterday will not
have to pay up ¢30.000 colones instead of
the ¢5.000 fine of last Friday.
Vargas told the press on Monday that he has
issued the Tránsito police his guideline of
what should be fined and not, but in all
cases serious traffic violations, especially
those that put life at risk, will be
sanctioned fully.
While the traffic police was busy yesterday
understanding and applying the new law, the
country's legislators (the same that
approved the law) continued their
discussions for amendments, particularly to
reduce many of the fines.
Legislators during the past several weeks
could not reach a consensus prior to the
March 1 deadline, as the legislative process
was bogged down with more than 200 motions
pending discussion before a vote on any
changes.
Meanwhile, during a driving tour of the west
end of San José, the new highway to Caldera
and the Guanacaste route to Liberia and the
beaches of Tamarindo and Playas del Coco,
traffic was lighter than normal. Traffic on
the Interamericana between Puntarenas and
Liberia was almost traffic free at 3pm
Monday.
Many drivers, it appears, preferred not to
take out the family jalopy on Monday in fear
of being stopped for a violation and the
heavy fines and possible loss of points with
each ticket.
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Thousands lined up at the Cosevi yesterday to obtain or renew their drivers license. The new Ley de Tránsito requires a driver to have at all times their license.
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