Points May Make A
Comeback In The Coming Weeks
First there were points. Then there weren't.
And now they may be back again. We are
talking about the point system in the Ley de
Tránsito that punishes bad drivers, that can
result in a temporary and permanent
suspension of a drivers license for repeat
offenders.
The Ley de Tránsito went into effect on
March 1, 2010, where all drivers started the
day with 50 points on their driver's
license, a system that cost the government
more than ¢250 million dollar in purchasing
computer software to administer.
By the end of the day on March 2, 2010, the
points system was out. Legislators vote 25
against 21 in favour of removing the point
system, citing the inability of the
government to administer the system and the
hardship on the working man who relies on
his or her vehicle to get to and from work.
The flip flop was done by the same group of
legislators who approved the law, with the
point system, in December 2008.
The government and transport officials were
quick to blame the four PLN legislators who
failed to show for Tuesday's meeting.
As such, the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN)
- governing party - assures that it will
re-introduce the point system by way of a
motion before the close of this legislative
session and possibly before the Semana Santa
(Easter) break.
However, the task is not an easy one.
PLN legislator, Óscar Núñez, who is behind
the proposal explained that before the
points system can be reintroduced it has to
be sent to a commission and that requires at
least 38 legislative votes.
"I believe that 90% of the legislators who
voted in favour of the elimination of the
point system are regretting it, and only
until now have they realized the damage done
by removing the pillar of the traffic law",
said Núñez.
Núñez added that he has had conversations,
though he would name names, of some groups
of legislators seeking out support of other
groups to send the motion to commission.
However, for the mean time the traffic law
is off the legislative agenda for at least
until next week as the government moves
ahead with dealing with other pressing
issues like the approval of a line of credit
by the government of Germany, a piece of
legislation that has been in discussion for
almost five years and expires on March 6,
2010, if not approved.
Other amendments to the traffic law being
proposed to legislators is the reduction of
the blood alcohol limit to 0.50, the point
where a driver is deemed legally impaired,
instead of the current 0.50 when a driver is
deemed pre-drunk while drunk at 0.75.
The expectation is that the hearing of
motions on the traffic law amendments resume
on Monday.
But, this is Costa Rica and anything is
possible.
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Legislator Óscar Núñez assures that the majority of legislators who voted down the drivers license point system are regretting it. |
