Jail For Drunk Drivers
Gaining Support
The Ministero de Obras
Pública y Transportes (MOPT)
is planning on
introducing a motion to
take quick action
against those drivers
who insist on driving
drunk and drug users
driving under the
influence of narcotics.
The proposal is through
them in jail for a few
hours in addition to
having to pay a fine of
¢400.000 colones
(us$808).
According to MOPT
minister, Karla González,
the idea of instant jail
for a few hours is born
from the insistence of
legislators to include
jail time in the reforms
to the Ley de Tránsito
(traffic laws).
The punishment is being
called "castigo exprés"
and will be focused
against drunk drivers.
The proposed punishment
in the legislation is
based on legislation in
other countries in
Europe and the United
States.
González said that
"sometimes it is good to
copy the good things of
other countries rather
than invent things that
could prove to be
irrational."
The reforms to the Ley
de Tránsito is now in
the hands of a
legislative commission,
the Comisión de Asuntos
Jurídicos del Parlamento,
which has been
discussing the
legislation since last
month and is waiting on
the Poder Ejecutivo
(government) to move it
to the legislative
floor.
González said that her
ministry is working with
the legislators to
discuss each and every
clause of the reforms in
an attempt to introduce
a tough legislation that
will severely punish
irresponsible drivers
who cause damage or
injury to others.
The MOPT minister added
that they are also
looking for ways to
motivate good drivers by
applying a point system.
The punishment of jail
for reckless drivers has
the support of the
president of the
commission, Alexander
Mora, who is a member of
the Partido Liberación
Nacional (PLN) - the
ruling party. |
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