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Legislators Approve Drop In Traffic Fines,
With Exceptions
The country's legislators approved to reduce
the fines in the new Ley de Tránsito that
went into effect on March 1, 2010. However,
the reduction in fines apply only those
traffic violations that do not involve
highly dangerous behaviour like drinking and
driving and reckless driving.
The amendment was proposed by legislators of
the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC) and
approved unanimously.
The reduction in fines is in addition to
amendments that removed the point system and
the increase of the maximum amount of
intoxication limits of drivers.
With the changes the new Ley de Tránsito
does not have the same bite as when it was
introduced for drinking and driving and
reckless driving in December 2008 and the
remainder of the law on March 1, 2010.
Legislators, the same ones who first
approved the law in December 2008, have been
busy at work in the last 10 days to modify
the law, bowing to public pressure of fines
and other sanctions being too harsh.
The motion passed on Tuesday does not affect
fines and sanctions for drivers going in
excess of 120 km/h or are found with more
than a 0.75 blood alcohol content.
With the changes the fine, some of the
reduced fines include:
- driving over 120kp/h, driving under the
influence of alcohol, not buckling in
children in a booster of child seat, will
cost ˘255.551 from ˘381.420
- driving over 20 kp/h of the limit, talking
on a cell phone while driving, not
respecting traffic signals, not using a seat
belt, crossing a red light or not havein the
marchamo (circulation permit) will cost
˘190.710 from ˘2860.65
- not having the Riteve inspection, passing
on the right, obstructing intersections, not
having a license plate on the vehicle and
modifying an engine will cost ˘52.907
instead of ˘190.710
- driving with an expired license, driving
in reverse on a highway, not having the
right license plates on a vehicles will cost
˘38.142, down from ˘114.426
- not carrying a drivers license while
driving (different than driving without a
license) will cost ˘26.699 and not ˘76.284
- violating the vehicular restrictions of
San José will now cost ˘11.442 instead of
˘38.142
A complete list of all the reduced fines
will be available in the coming days as
legislators release the full text of the
amendments.
Many cheered the changes. saying that the
fines are now more reasonable, as the fines
contained in the original text were over
exaggerated, forcing economic hardship for
many for minor infractions.
These changes, as well as the other changes
approved in the last 9 nine days will all go
into effect once they are published in La
Gaceta.
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