Transport Minister Urging Legislators To Quickly Approve Transit Reforms
The Ministra de Obras Públicas y Transportes, Karla González, is making an urgent plea to Legislative deputies to move on the reforms to the Ley de Tránsito (traffic law), that will impose heavier fines for offenders of traffic laws, that would include a demerit system and suspension of drivers licenses for repeat offenders and drunk drivers.

The law reform would also reduce the process time to fire a corrupt Tránsito official from the current two years to weeks.

The minister, without an appointment, presented herself before the Legislature asking to be heard, especially to hear about the statistics that show that on average 50 people a month lose their lives in traffic accidents.

González says that the high rate has no justification and emphasized the need for tougher traffic laws that not only would deter drivers with punishment but would also be used as a preventative measure, forcing drivers to change their driving habits, hitting them where it hurts most, their pocketbooks.

According to the Minister, the reform is the cornerstone to the government's strategy to recuce the number of traffic accidents and deaths.

The Minister admitted that the reforms alone are not enough, but immediately informed about some of the governments initiatives to stop the bloodshed on the roads.

"We are conscious that the road infrastructure is more than 20 years old and that some 30 years ago we stopped worrying about road safety. We are pushing by decree new projects for road safety and better conditions from the existing", said González.

Some of the changes in the law reform include higher fines for traffic violations, especially when it comes to speeding, street racing and driving under the infuence and reduce the possibilities of traffic officials from taking bribes.

Traffic fines under the reform would go from a mere ¢10.000 colones (us$19.23) to ¢180.000 colones (us$346) for thing, to even greater fines for driving under the influence and preventive detention (jail) for reckless driving. The law reform would give Tránsito officials more authority to suspend licenses to drunk drivers and confiscate vehicles in cases of street racing, for example.

Minister González has said in the past that one of the priority of her ministry is to reduce the amount of corruption within the Tránsito police force, where it now takes up to two years to dismiss a corrupt official. The new reform would give the minister expanded powers to greatly reduce the time it takes to fire a corrupt official.

Several deputies expressed concern over the reforms, but in general are in agreement as long as the reforms include the control over inexperienced drivers, tough on drivers who have a previous history of traffic violations and controls over heavy trucks. Some deputies also want controls over the hours that trucks can load and unload in the city centre, reducing traffic congestion.

The law is now before the Comisión de Asuntos Jurídicos which is studying the proposal.