Taxi Drivers Converted
Into Pirate Taxis
A number of the 600 taxi
drivers who were
operating legally this
week are now operating
"illegally" or "piratas"
as they Tránsito
(traffic) officials
began to apply the
control against taxis
operating with the old
plates.
All legal taxis plates
were changed over to the
new "T", eliminating the
old taix "P" plates,
whose owners were given
time to apply for the
new plates, meeting the
new requirements.
It is estimated that
some 800 taxi operators
did not do so and of
yesterday afternoon
Tránsitos had
confiscated some 50 of
the plates.
The Tránsito operations
took many by surprise
believing that there
would be continued
dialogue before traffic
authorities would apply
the regulations which
were in effect on
January 1.
Taxi drivers appealed to
Costa Rican president
Oscar Arias to intervene
on their behalf, who
suggested that the meet
and dialogue with the
Consejo de Transportes
Público (CTP).
The taxi drivers were
told by the head of the
CTP, Viviana Martín,
that there was nothing
that could be done for
them as they did not
apply requesting a
special or temporary
permit before the
regulations came into
effect.
Martín, who is also the
Ministerio de Obras
Pública y Transportes (MOPT),
said yesterday that she
has asked the Attorney
General for a decision
on the law, if the CTP
can issue or not the
temporary permits. In
addition, Martín said
that she has asked for
analysis of the CTP
technical department on
the issue, but it will
take at least three
weeks before a report is
available.
In the meantime, Rubén
Vargas, of the Unión
Nacional de Taxistas,
the taxi operators will
have no option but to
take to the streets and
protest in front of Casa
Presidencial and the
Legislative Assembly,
demanding a solution to
the problem.
|
|
