Constitutional Court Orders MOPT to Eliminate Parking on Sidewalks
Parking on sidewalks and blocking driveways is a common occurrence in San José. And worse yet, the Policía de Transíto appear to do nothing about the growing problem.

But, don't despair, the Sala Constitucional or Sala IV has come to the rescue, by ordering the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) to take necessary measures to eliminate that vehicles block pedestrian routes.

The order comes along with the order to install sound emitting traffic lights, stemming from a complaint made by Luis Antonio Arroyo Gómez in October of 2004.

Juan Manuel Delgado, director of Tránsito, says that they currently receive some 25 complaints daily and issue an undisclosed number of ¢5.000 colones fines for people parking on sidewalks and blocking driveways.

Randall Quiros, Minister of Transportes, told the daily Spanish language newspaper La Nación, that the he did not have the details of the court order, adding that in any event, his ministry does not have the financial resources to comply with the orders.

Minister Quiros added that he has made requests to the Autoridad Presupuestaria (de Hacienda) - budget committee of the Finance Ministry - to hire more Transit officials from the current force of 850.