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Future of San
José Vehicular Restriction In Jeopardy
The future of the vehicular restrictions of
San José is in doubt, mainly for the lack of
Tránsitos (Traffic officials) and unresolved
"recurso de amparo" (appeal) before the Sala
IV or Constitutional Court.
Vehicles are restricted from circulating the
streets of downtown San José between 6am and
7am Monday to Friday, depending on the last
digit of the their license plates.
The plan was to reduce contamination of the
downtown core and fuel consumption, easing
economic pressure on the state refinery.
The fine for driving in the restricted area
and hours is ¢5.000 colones plus another
¢1.500 colones in court costs, for a total
of ¢6.500 colones.
However, the lack of sufficient personnel,
the Policia de Tránsito, cannot effectively
control violators. And the lack of a
decision, for or against the appeal, hinders
the courts from collecting from those
drivers fined.
The Tránsito force is made up of 800
officers to patrol the highways of the
entire country. Although the majority of the
force is centred in the Central Valley and
more particularly, San José, it simply not
enough.
As such the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y
Transportes has been given the authority to
hire another 400 new officials. However,
that process is slow.
The new recruits not yet selected are
expected to begin their work in September
when the complete reforms to the Ley de
Tránsito take effect, placing even more
burden on an understaffed and underpaid
police force that will see new traffic
violations and an increase in fines of up to
20 times the current.
Further jeopardizing the vehicular
restrictions is the appeal to the
Constitutional Court by Alberto Baraquiso
Leitón, who argues that the restrictions
infringe on his right to free transit,
freedom to run his business and freedom to
choose which vehicle he wishes to drive.
The Court has yet to render a decision on an
appeal files months ago, effectively putting
on hold the collection of any fines issued
by the the traffic police.
Thus, for the time being, many drivers take
advantage of the situation on the hopes that
either the Constitutional Court will favour
the appeal and eliminate the fines and
possible have the entire restriction
rescinded.
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