Taxi Drivers Appeal To
President Arias
Taxi drivers who are
still operating under
the old taxi plates
ending in "P" (SJP in
San José for instance) -
gathered in front of the
house of Costa Rican
president, Oscar Arias,
in Rorhmoser to appeal
to the president to
intercede on their
behalf.
The Ministerio de Obras
Públicas y Transportes (MOPT)
published a directive
last December than would
eliminate completely the
some 600 "P" taxi
plates.
The taxi drivers are
expected to meet today
with the viceministra de
Transportes Viviana
Martín and the y
viceministro de la
presidencia, José
Torres, to resolve the
issue.
The MOPT issued new taxi
plates in 2006. Minister
Martín reminded that the
law stipulates that the
old plates must be
recovered within a year
of issuing the new ones.
The effect is that those
taxi drivers who did not
obtain the new license
plates, continuing to
operate with the old
ones, will become
illegal in the coming
week.
According to Rubén
Vargas of the Unión
Nacional de Taxistas,
the MOPT can issue
temporary permits to
allow those taxis to
operate.
President Arias
suggested that the two
parties meet to
dialogue. "It if it is
determined that these
permits can be issued, I
promise to have them
issued", said Arias on
Saturday to taxi drivers
parked in front of his
house.
The taxi drivers are
questioning the decision
of the Sala IV (Constiutional
Court) that issued the
order to have the plates
removed from circulation
as they do not comply
with the requirements of
the Ley de
Administración Pública. |
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