New Transit Law Stalled
For Eight Months
The reforms to the Ley
de Tránsito which in
effect would increase
fines and give traffic
police broader powers in
their efforts to curb
drinking and driving,
speeding and the carnage
on the roads has now
completed eight months
of being stagnant.
Last 687 people died
(almost two people
daily) in traffic
accidents in the country
and the Ministerio de
Obras Públicas y
Transportes (MOPT) is
serious to put a stop to
the problem.
The same good intentions
have been of part of
past MOPT ministers,
however, the current
minister, Karla González,
appears to be doing
something about it,
order her Tránsitos
(traffic police
officers) to be tough on
offending drivers and
reduce corruption within
the force.
During the past eight
months while legislators
stall the proposal 251
people had died, 55
involving a drunk
driver.
Opposition to the
changes, like Mario
Quirós of the Movimiento
Libertario, says that
raising fines will not
ensure less deaths and
that current proposal
goes to far.
The proposal includes
increasing fines the
current ¢20.000 colones
for driving under to ten
times. for instance.
Fines for speeding and
careless or
irresponsible driving
will also multiply
considerably. The
proposal also includes a
point system to punish
drivers who a repeat
offenders.
Minister González has
been very vocal that the
law reform cannot wait
any longer and needs to
approved as soon as
possible.
The minister defends her
position that the law is
part of a larger plan
that is not only to
sanction drivers, but to
better road
signalization, impart
better driving habits
and deal severaly with
corrupt officials.
One of the concerns of
the minister is if
legislators removed the
proposed point system.
The minister explained
that each driver will
have 60 points from
which points will be
deducted with each
infraction and losing
all the points would ban
a driver from driving
for two years.
The proposal to fine
drunk driver ¢364.000
colones (us$700) instead
of the current ¢20.000
(us$38.50) is vital to
stop a tradition that is
now a serious problem.
Minister González points
to the success of the
decision made in Spain a
year ago to adopt
similar sanctions. |
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