Country Could be Without Bus Service Soon
Bus operators in the country, from the big buses to the small buses that carry school children and tourists, assure that they are crossing one of the worst crisis that in incurable and could unchain a paralyzation of the entire service.

The leaders of the bus operators start off first with the lack of a raise in the price of public buses on the some 800 routes around the country. The cost of fuel and repairs have increased at least 20% over the past year, but the fares remain the same.

Second on the list of the bus operators is that they are being continually targeted by the Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) for not complying with Ley No. 7600 that requires all public buses to install access for the disabled.

The bus operators say that they are being constantly being pulled over by the Tránsito, fined and under the threat of confiscation of license plate.

The law has been challenged and two appeals are now before the Sala Constitucional (Constitutional Court) which has said it will make a resolution by August 26.

If the Constitutional Court does not make a decision or goes against the appellants, bus operators vow to pull all the buses off the road, some 80% of the national fleet of buses, that don't comply with the regulation, rather than risk fines and cancellation of licenses.

"While we can't afford to fill out tanks with gasoline, Recope has been allowed a further increase in the price of gasoline", said Maritza Hernández, president of the Foro Nacional del Transporte