Confusion Over
High Traffic
Fines And Points
The ministro de
Obras Públicas y
Transportes,
Francisco
Jiménez,
explains that
many are under
the impression
that since the
Sala
Constitucional
is reviewing the
proposed
reforms, the
fines and points
do not apply.
But that is not
the case.
 
Jiménez assures
that the high
fines and point
system is being
applied until
such a time if
and when
legislators pass
the reforms.
The previous
legislature
proposed a
reduction of
fines of up to
66% and the
elimination of
points in the
Ley de Tránsito
that went into
effect on March
1, 2010.
However, the
reforms could
not pass the
vote before the
April 30, 2010,
deadline and
left the work to
the new group of
legislators and
it is not known
if and when the
reforms will
make it to the
legislative
floor.
The fines range
from ¢40.000
colones for
violating to
vehicular
restrictions of
San José to
¢293.000 for
speeding,
children not in
a booster or
child seat, for
example.
All fines are
net. To each
ticket an amount
equal to 30% in
favour of the
PANI (child
welfare
services) and
court costs are
added. Thus, a
¢293.000 colones
fine can easily
end up being
over ¢390.000
colones or
us$740 at
today's dollar
exchange rate.
Each driver
started with 50
points on March
1, 2010.
Points are
deducted with
each infraction
leading to a
suspension of a
drivers license
from two years
for the first
time to a
lifetime
suspension for
repeat
offenders.
For drunk
drivers -
driving with an
alcohol blood
limit of 0.75 or
higher, driving
over 150 km/h or
participating in
street racing,
for example,
means the
confiscation of
the vehicle and
the case is
hander over to
the Fiscalía for
criminal
charges.
Although some,
like the former
head of the
Policía de
Tránsito, Germán
Marín, assured
that the reforms
would pass, the
new traffic
police chief,
Cesar Quirós,
and the MOPT
minister are
refusing to
speculate.
The delay in the
reforms stems
from the
Constitutional
Court, in review
of the reforms,
finding errors
in the text.
Now, legislators
have three
options: correct
the text;
approve the
reforms, with
errors and all;
and send it to
the Comisión de
Asuntos
Jurídicos (Legal
Affairs Committe).
Viviana Martín,
head of the PLN
legislators and
former
vice-minister of
the MOPT, said
she prefers the
third option,
which allows the
reforms to be
reviewed in
full.
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