MOPT Announced Grace Period For Not Having Marchamo Paid
For the past couple of days we have been telling those that don't have their 2006 Marchamo paid they are exposing themselves to confiscation of license plates and fines. However, that is no more. For the rest of January, that is.

The Policía de Tránsito announced yesterday that they will suspend, until January 31, all checks of the 2006 Marchamo and will not confiscate plates or issue fines to those drivers who have not complied.

The move is mainly due to the fact that to obtain the 2006 Marchamo, the Riteve vehicular inspection must be current and that Riteve cannot handle the increased demand, as long lines of up to 800 metres (1/2 mile) formed outside the San José stations.

The other reason for the suspension is that the Juzgados de Tránsito (traffic courts) do not re-open from their holiday break until January 16, making it impossible to pay the fine, demonstrate the Riteve requirement and obtain the confiscated plates.

Randal Quiros, Minister of Obras Públicas y Transportes, said that beginning February 1, transit officials will begin again to confiscate and fine those drivers that are not in compliance with the 2006 Marchamo.

Huanelge Gutiérrez, director of Tránsito, said that during the first few days of January 820 drivers were fined and plates confiscated, however, they will now have the time to comply with the requirement without having to pay the fine.

Gutiérrez added that the "grace" period does not mean that Tránsito officers will not be out doing their jobs, especially with the beginning of the Palmares festival next Tuesday. Tránsito will be out in full force in the surrounding areas of Palmares with spot checks, primarily for drinking and driving.