Drivers And Tránsitos
Confused on Vehicular
Restriction Boundaries
Drivers have to get used
to the expanded
vehicular restrictions
of San José and the
Policía de Tránsito
(traffic police) has the
numbers to prove it,
saying that apart from
the 1.000 tickets issued
on the first day
(Thursday), an average
of 500 tickets a day
have been issued on
Friday and Monday,
second and third day,
respectively, of the
restriction.
Many believe that the
restrictions do not
apply to them and flaunt
the law, many getting
away it as there not
enough traffic officials
to enforce the expanded
restriction, others
confused by the
boundaries.
Even Tránsito officials
not assigned to the
detail are confused
about the boundaries,
given that not all the
signs have yet been
posted and the confusing
messages in the first
days published by the
Ministro de Obras
Públicas y Transportes (MOPT).
On Monday, Tránsito
officials fined 473
drivers behind the wheel
of vehicles with license
plates ending in 1 and
2. In addition to the
passenger vehicles,
Tránsito reports fining
75 heavy commercial
vehicles, mainly in La
Uruca at the Heredia
entrance. Again, many
stopped expressed
confusion of the exact
boundary of the
restriction.
The fine for the
violation is ¢5.000
colones.
The restrictions are
between 6am and 8:30am
and 4:30pm and 7pm.
The restricted area,
according to the latest
MOPT explanation and
marked by signs to be
posted during this week.
Some of the confusion
areas include:
The La Uruca radial -
the main road connection
La Uruca to San José
with Calle Blancos,
Cinco Esquinas de Tibás
and the Ladrillera
(brick plant).
The Circunvalación Sur
that includes the areas
surrounding Hipermás,
Rancho Guancaste and the
Hatillos. The area 100
metres east of Plaza
Mayor and the side road
to the AyA offices in
Pavas, the area around
Hospital Mexico (but
does not include the
Bajo de los Ledezma) and
the Juan Pablo II
bridge.
The Fuente de la
Hispanidad and the
rotonda de las Garantías
Sociales in San Pedro.
Although it is too early
to tell if the results
of the lower number of
vehicles on the roads
and almost no congestion
- especially in the
Heredia / San José
junction - is due to the
restriction or the high
price of gasoline, one
thing is certain,
traffic during peak
hours and during the day
has eased off.
One example pointing to
high gasoline prices is
the fact that traffic
was lighter than normal
Saturday night when the
restrictions are not in
effect. And during a pay
day weekend!
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