Letter to the Editor: Costa Rica not thinking out all its new laws

Bad law is bad law! In the past year those of us that live in Costa Rica have seen a plethora of new law and none of the new law has been well thought out as far as how it will be enforced or the consequences.

Case and point. They just passed a new anti-sex law that does not make prostitution ill-legal it makes the taxis, hotels, bars and web sites responsible for the act? It is still legal if a man wants to pay for sex and it is legal if the girl wants to sell her body but it is not legal for the hotel or bar to let them and it is not legal for a taxi to transport them to a hotel or house! But if you think for even 1 second that they are going to start to fine or shut down the two hotels in Costa Rica with the highest occupancy percentages in Costa Rica you are a fool! The No.1 web site in Costa Rica that promotes the sex trade is owned by an attorney in Florida U.S.A..

Then there is the new Bird Law that makes it ill-legal to feed birds ( who was the moron that came up with that?)! The new Anti- Smoking Law ( I know that smoking is bad I am making a point) so far just that I know over 60 girls have lost their jobs at bars and restaurants because of the loss in business and have been forced to turn to prostitution so they can feed their children!

I was at a friend’s OUTDOOR restaurant having breakfast he was letting folks smoke when a husband and wife sat at a table the husband came to my friend and said” my wife does not like the smoke if you let them smoke we will have to go” my friend because had to tell everyone in his restaurant to stop, 20 tables of customers got up and left his restaurant he lost over $300 is sales in 10 minn.!

Then I was at a bar in Jaco there was a group of men(15) that had been coming to Costa Rica for over 9 years and they said”because of the new law this will be our last trip”,( note men that come to CR spend on average over $400 per day the highest per person of anyone that come to Costa Rica). The no drinking in public law now you cant drink a beer on the beach( kind of maby)? My ole Arkansas father said” you cant legislate morality”!!! He was rite it never works!

Doug Smith, Escazu

Editor’s Note: Mr. Smith is CEO of willspy.com, a private investigation firm in Costa Rica.