Legislators Close To
Approving Lower Traffic Fines
Legislators in Costa Rica have been busy
this past week discussing last minute
changes to the new Ley de Tránsito that
kicks in on March 1, namely reducing fines
so that drunk drivers can continue to wreak
havoc on the streets and highways.
If legislators acutally do get to approving
the changes by February 25 and there is a
strong consensus by all parties, traffic
fines will be reduced by up to 40% of the
established in the current legislation that
was approved in December 2008 and to have
taken effect on September 23, 2009.
For example, the fine of drunk driving and
those reckless driving that is go into
effect on March 1 is for 1 "basic salary" of
a Poder Judicial assistant or currently
˘293.000 colones.
Legislators are discussing dropping that
fine by as much as 34%, while other fines go
even lower.
The new Ley de Tránsito introduces a number
of new traffic violations, like passing on
the right, cyclists of any type have to wear
a reflective vest and buses stopping to take
on or letting off passengers at non approved
bus stops, are a few the examples.
However, if the proposals being pushed for
lower fines are approved, it could be the
start of a process of taking the bite out of
a badly needed tough legislation with the
main objective to reduce carnage on the
roads, making drivers more conscious of
their actions, by hitting them where it
hurts, the pocketbook. |
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