No Jail For First Time
Drunk Drivers!
The new Ley de Tránsito has been a
controversy since its approval in December
2008. During the past several weeks, the
controversy has increased as the full effect
of the law went into effect on March 1,
2010, and the promised amendments never took
place.
Under pressure, the current legislative
assembly, the same body that approved the
law almost two years ago, have made some
important changes in the past 9 days.
One of those changes was the removal of the
point system.
Yesterday, another major change is to the
drunk driving provisions.
Legislators approved a motion that would see
a driver with a 0.75 or higher blood alcohol
content and has not caused any damage to
person or property, will only have to pay a
fine of ¢293.400 colones and no jail.
The vote was 32 to 20.
Thus, if a drunk driver is stopped by
a Tránsito (traffic) official and is
not involved in any accident, with over the
limit, he or she will only get a ticket.
The new regulation applies only to first
time drunk drivers. Repeat offenders face a
jail term according to Jorge Méndez, party
whip for the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN)
that spearheaded the motion.
The law without the amendment allowed a fine
for those drivers with a blood alcohol
content of between 0.50 and 0.75, criminal
charges and jail for those above the 0.75
limit.
Méndez added that half the prison population
would be made up of drunk drivers if the
amendment wasn't passed.
Opposed, but with not enough support, were
legislators of the Partido Acción Ciudadana
(PAC).
The changes also affect street races and
speeders.
Those drivers taking part in "picones"
(street racing) and drivers caught going
over 150 km/h face 1 to 3 years prison and
loss of license for 5 years. Reoccurring
offenders will face 2 to 8 years in prison. |
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