FUERA PUNTOS! Point
System Eliminated From New Traffic Law
Citing the inability of the Cosevi and the
MOPT to administer correctly the points
system in the new Ley de Tránsito, a
majority of the legislators on Tuesday
afternoon approved removing of the points
from the sanctions of the new law.
By a vote of 25 in favour to 21 Against of
the 46 legislators present, at
6:11pm Tuesday, the point system was
dropped from the Ley de Tránsito, leaving only
the economic sanctions for
traffic violations, with the exception of
drunk driving and reckless driving, where
violators are subject to criminal
prosecution and prison.
The approval goes against the arguments of
the MOPT minister, Marco Vargas, who
considers the elimination of the point
system a weakening of the traffic law that
has only been in full effect for two full
days.
The absence of four Partido Liberación
Nacional (PLN) legislators meant that the
legislators of the Partido Acción Ciudadana
(PAC), PUSC, Movimiento Libertario,
Restauración Nacional and one independent,
who were opposed to the inclusion of the
points system, obtained a majority of the
votes.
The objections came from PLN legislators,
who opposed the proposal by PUSC legislator,
Lorena Vásquez. And with four legislators
missing from the voting, they could not hold
their ground at the time of the vote.
The Movimiento Libertatio party whip, Carlos
Gutiérrez, said "this is the most sensible
thing that has been done so far. The
corrections to the traffic law is on track.
Fortunately common sense is emerging".
Although the point system is dead in the
water today, it could make a come back in
the near future.
Legislators commented that the point system
could be re-introduced once the MOPT has had
time to fully evaluate and reconsider the
system and up to the new legislative body
takes over their work on May 8.
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