EDITORIAL
This Is The Way Of Costa Rica
Those not living or having visited Costa
Rica can see the headline of the point
removal system as a flip-flop way of
governing. And right they are. But, this is
the way of Costa Rica, especially to
its lawmakers, who either cannot come to a
consensus on an item or are quick to
reverse, as was the case last night.
The removal of the point system last night
was just another example of the ineptness of
the current legislature, for it is the same
legislative body that approved the point
system less than two years ago, then
postponed the effect of the law for 15
months and then make a complete reversal of
a decision that caused fear among drivers
and cost the government more than ˘250
million colones in the purchase of the
software to administer the system.
And this flip-flop is not just attributed to
this legislative assembly, past assemblies
have done similar flip-flops.
Now, I am not personally sad to see the
point system go. I was and continue to be
concerned about the heavy fines, but the
point system scared me completely.
Although the financial burden would
certainly hurt my pocketbook, but losing my
license and not being able to drive for two
years or more, well that was terrifying.
To paraphrase Germán Marín, good drivers did
not have to worry.
Well, I consider myself a good driver,
better than most on the roads today.
However, I do like to go fast and frankly
driving in Costa Rica for many years and
almost meaningless fines has led me to adopt
some very bad driving habits, like not
coming to a full stop at a stop sign,
crossing a red light at night when there is
not traffic, and so on, common items that we
drivers in Costa Rica take as a right,
albeit an ill founded right.
The point system is out, for now. So will
soon be the high fines, as legislators
continue to discuss the more than 150
motions remaining on the issue of the
traffic law, all this before the legislative
session breaks for Easter in the coming
weeks.
This from a legislative body that has been
working for the last four years at what? I
believe that someone should introduce a
point system for legislative acts and
duties.
All legislators should start with minus 100
points and then earn points for their good
work and behaviour during sessions. I think
this system of reward and not punishment
would provide a greater incentive, but more
important, would be easy and cheap to
administer, since, if the current
legislative body is any example, would not
earn many, if any, credits.
Again, this is the way of Costa Rica. We,
the many foreigners who have adopted Costa
Rica as our home, have come to accept this
way of doing things and embrace the Costa
Rican phrase of "Pura Vida, Mae".
Enrico Cacciatore
[email protected]
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