A Nightmare to Claim Confiscated License Plates
For anyone who has been on the wrong of the traffic laws can attest that officials of the Policía de Tránsito, within seconds can remove and impound a vehicle's license plate. But, recovering it, it another matter..

During the first several days of this month, Tránsito impounded 1.299 license plates - representing 75% of all plates in storage - for not having the 2006 Marchamo, the annual circulation permit paid. Tránsito stopped impounding plates on January 6 and will continue with the policy until the end of this month, due to too many complaints of drivers not being able to get the required Riteve permit due to the high demand, with lines as long as 800 metres (1/2 mile) long at Riteve stations in San José.

Getting the plates back can be a nightmare, at best, so far only 200 of the 1.299 confiscated have been claimed by their owners.

The Ley de Tránsito (traffic law) is clear on the process of returning impounded license plates: the owner has to first make a request at the Consejo de Seguridad Vial (Cosevi) for a certification of the legal ownership of the plate and that the owner of the license plate as well as the driver at the time plate was impounded has all fines paid and no appeals in the process.

Then, with the original of the 2006 Marchamo and the Cosevi certification - that cannot be more than 30 days old - the owner of the impounded license plate has to personally be present to claim the plates. If the owner of the impounded plates cannot personally  be present, then an authorization, duly notarized, will be required.

In the event the vehicles registration is in the process of being transferred - license plates are assigned to a vehicle and remain with the vehicle - a certificate by the Registro Nacional, duly certifying the transfer process, will be required.

To make matters worse, some government offices are closed until next Monday (16th) and the required certifications are not possible, which will make for long, long lines when they do open.