MOPT Suspends Fines For Child Seats,
Emergency And First Aid Kits
Drivers not buckling in children, or
not having a first aid or emergency kit
won't be fined by the Policía de Tránsito
according to the ministro de Obras Públicas
y Transportes, Marco Vargas.
The minister made the announcement with the
start of the Semana Santa exodus, as traffic
officials begin their Semana Santa spot
checks on all major highways and bi-ways
across the country.
The new Ley de Tránsito that went into
effect on March 1, 2010, calls for a driver
to ensure that children 12 years of age and
under are in the proper child restraint, in
addition to ensuring that the vehicle
carries a first aid, emergency kit that
includes a triangle and a fire extinguisher,
among other items.
And it is just that, minister Vargas
explained, the no clarity in the law of what
is to be contained in the the kits and the
type of appropriate seat.
Article 32 of the Traffic Act stiputales a
fine of up to ¢293.400, plus costs, for not
restraining a child in an appropriate seat
and ¢146.700, plus costs, for not having an
emergency and safety kit in the vehicle.
Another item on the "temporary exclusions"
list is air bags, jumper cables and jack and
wrench to change a tire.
However, the minister was quite clear that
speeding and reckless driving and driving
under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs
will be punished to the letter of the law.
Speeding over 20 kilometres the posted
limit, driving over 120 kilometres per hour
and/or with alcohol blood reading of between
0.50 and 0.74 all come with a fine of
¢293.400 colones for each offence. Driving
with a 0.75 or over means a direct pass to
the nearest jail and courthouse.
Not respecting a traffic signal, like
running a red light, making a "U" turn,
talking on a cell phone phone while driving,
not wearing a seatbelt, etc, are subject to
fines of ¢220.050 colones.
Minister Vargas said that "all" the articles
of the Traffic Act will be applied once the
legislators approve the respective reforms. |
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