Tránsito To Increase Holiday "Operativos"
The Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) says it will be tough on drivers during this holiday season, promising more controls on the nation's highways, with more spot checks and more tickets to offending drivers.

Two of the major causes of fatal traffic accidents that have left now 300 dead this year, is alcohol abuse and speeding.

During the month of November, Tránsito said it operated 64 spot checks - mostly during the last two weeks of the month - and more than 5.000 drivers were fined for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Unfortunately, the fines are low - ¢20.000 colones (us$38.83) - and it does not deter many from drinking and driving. A proposal to change the traffic laws that would see the fine for drinking and driving by as much as 20 times and allow Tránsito officials to confiscate the vehicle, is in the works but will not be ready for this holiday season.

Tránsito officials say that they will be out in full force during this holiday season, up to and including the first week in January, with random spotc hecks around the country, with the majority of their efforts centred in an around San José.

In their "operativos", Tránsito officials aim to reduce the number of drunk drivers on the road each night and hopefully reduce the number of crashes and fatalities.

In "operativos" like in Escazú, the Policía de Tránsito effectively choke off the highway just east of the Escazú exit and are able to check each and every vehicle. Though the Escazú "operativos" are no surprise, Tránsito is able to choke off the alternate routes as well, ensuring that to net drivers trying to avoid the main check point.

Similar "operativos" will be ongoing all around San José, Alajuela and Heredia, in areas were there are a concentration of bars and nightspots.

This holiday season the Policía de Tránsito has the full support of the Ministra de Obras Pública y Transportes (MOPT), Karla González and the Policía de Tránsito director, German Marín, who have made it public that they intend to reduce traffic fatalities with tougher controls and more sanctions.