Monday morning taxis and truckers blocked thestreets blocked to make their point known to the govermnet over their dissention on the monopolic practices of Riteve SyA, who since 2002 has had the exclusive contract to perform vehicular inspections. Also on the table of protestors is the recent salary increase of public employees for the second half of this year and the free trade agreement, Tratado Libre de Comercio (TLC).

Representatives of the movement made their protests outside the Legislative Assembly, calling on Legislators to cancel the Riteve contract and call on the government to review it's policy on salaries and not to vote in favour of the TLC. Meanwhile, truckers, taxis and other drivers clogged the major roadways leading in and out of San José with what is being called "tortugismo", driving at a snail's pace, then stopping, then moving inches and stopping again.

Protestors moved slowly towards Casa Presidencial, where it was hoped they would have an opportunity to meet with the President of the Republic, Abel Pacheco.

By Tuesday the tortugismo turned into blockades.

Truckers blocked all major points of traffic around the country. Points like Grecia, Naranjo and San Ramon on the Pan American Highway were completed closed to any type of vehicular traffic. Only emergency vehicles were being let through.

The same was occuring in points east in Cartago, Ochomogo and major point in Limon. Gasoline supply trucks were being stopped from reaching their destinations, as gasoline ran dry at many gasoline stations, in anticipation of many for a prolonged strike.

Truckers decided to park their vehicles blocking any type of movement to and from the Central Valley. Many workers living outside of San José had to make temporary arrangement with friends and co-workers as buses were niether leaving the stations, nor arriving. Those living in Grecia & Atenas and other points est were in the same situation as others in places like Turrialba and other points East. North and South destinations was the same.

President Pacheco went on national television minutes before 8:00pm to ask the Costa Rican public to be calm and that the situation would soon be resolved as the government was open to dialogue with the protestors. In the same message, Pacheco pointed out to the protestors that he could neither break any laws or the constitution to meet their demands. And he told them that police would use force if necessary to re-open the roads. Pacheco told protestors that they had a right under the constitution to make their manifestations, but all of Costa Ricans had also the right to freedom of travel.

At 3:00am, the Fuerza Publica began operations at the all the roadblocks, dressed in riot gear and using tear gas, asked truckers to move their trucks or face arrest. Sixty four were arrested in total, most of them in Ochomogo, near Cartago.

Police broke the windows of those trucks were the driver refused to leave his vehicle, throwing in through the broken glass, tear gas. Heavy equipment was used to move those trucks and vehicles were the drivers were arrested for refusing to move them. Tansit police removed license plates from dozens of vehicles, meaning their owners would now face a fine and the time to recovert he plates.

By Wednesday afternoon, the blockades were being rotated. As soon as one blockade was taken down, another popped up nearby. Police only could stand by and control the situation, without causing any confrontations.

San José, for the most part, was clear of any roadblocks. The downtown area was less congested than normal. In areas of San Pedro and several other rotundas, truckers posted short blockades or move at a slow pace, congesting the area.

Ministerio de Obras Publica y Transporte (MOPT) Minister, Javier Chavez, held a press conference in the early afternoon telling Costa Ricans that the MOPT is ready to ask the Controlaria General de la Republica (the Comptroller's office) to review the Riteve contract with the end to see if there are any breaches in the agreemente. He stated firmly that the MOPT cannot annull the contract, they don't have the authority to do so, but will look closely at the operations of Riteve and will be harsh with them in any area that they don't fullfill their agreement with the government and the public in general.

President Pacheco went on national television again Wednesday night. At a few minutes before 8:00pm, he told Costa Ricans that the government is willing and ready to dialogue and will do whatever is legally available to be done. He reinforced the words of his Transport Minister and urged Costa Ricans to be calm and to those workers who are planning to join the movement today, not to do so.