Minors Can Only Fined For Driving Without A License, Tránsito Director Says
What to do when a minor is behind the wheel of a vehicle is the question of Tránsito authorities in the face of a growing problem that combines youth and carelessness, placing other drivers and pedestrians at risk.

According to figures by the Policía de Tránsito, they have given out some 4.201 fines to minors for driving without a license.

Germán Marín, director of Tránsito, said that in the majority of the cases it is a case of "youths taking out the family vehicle without their parents knowledge". Marín added that in 2005, his police officials issued 8.932 such fines.

Although there are no "official" figures tallying accidents caused by minors without a license behind the wheel, the director said that it a common occurrence every week, some of which are serious.

Marín pointed out several cases where minors have been behind the wheel, like the case last year in Los Chiles de Alajuela where a six year old boy died in an accident where his thirteen year old cousin was behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Marín stressed that it is up to the parents to control their children and make sure that they don't get behind the wheel, with or without their knowledge, so as to avoid tragedies on the highways.

The director informs us that, although a minor is driving without a license, there is little his officials can do, other than take away the keys at the moment and issue a ¢26.000 colones (us$50.) fine, which doesn't have to be paid until the minor becomes of age and obtains a drivers license. A judge can impose an additional penalty and restrict the withhold giving the minor a license for two years after reaching of age, but that is rarely the case, said Marín.

The director added that in cases involving minors without a drivers license, his officials will confiscate the vehicle. However, in most of the cases, the minors will prefer to call their parents to pick up the vehicle and the Tránsito official is powerless to anything more.

"For us it is better that a parent or guardian come to pick up the vehicle, because, to the contrary, we would be obligated to impound the vehicle, causing us problems with space at the MOPT lots", said director Marín.

Marín emphasized that some 10 years ago the traffic laws were changed prohibiting minors from driving without a license. The minimum age to obtain a drivers license is 18.

The old law allowed a minor without a drivers license to drive as long as the parent or guardian gave permission. Many Costa Ricans aren't aware of the change and allow their children to drive, especially with the male children, as some kind of right of passage.

The Tránsito director added that the problem of minors driving without a license is biggest in the rural areas.