Tránsito Studying Fining Drivers For Watching Television
Taxi drivers warn that if a plan by the Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) to fine drivers for watching television while driving will mean fewer taxis on the road during the World Cup games.

Tránsito is studying the idea of fining drivers ¢10.000 colones (us$19.60) to drivers who insist on keeping one eye on the road and the other on the television set mounted on the dash.

However, according to German Marín, a director at Tránsito, it is not clear if the fine can be collected since the Ley de Tránsito does not specifically say that driving and watching television is illegal.

"Article 130LL of the Ley de Tránsito says that an object cannot be placed to obstruct visibility, the problem is proving to a judge that a television is an obstruction", said Marín.

Marín says that it isn't recommended to drive while the television set is on the dash or in minibuses that have television for passengers.

The Tránsito director says that even though the law is not clear, his officers will be allowed to fine drivers who the can prove that the television was a distraction while driving.

Edgar Castro, president of the Federación Nacional de Cooperativas de Taxi (Fenacotaxi) says that taxis should not drive wit their television sets on, possibly causing an accident.

Castro added that during the World Cup games there will be fewer taxis on the roads, televisions on the dash or not, but then there will be few customers asking for service during the games.

In addition to taxi drivers, many are quickly installing small television sets on their dash or buying stereo video systems that are built into the dash with a pop-up screen and the capability to receive television signals.

Drivers with televisions in the front part of the vehicle, especially taxi drivers, argue that it is for the benefit of the passenger or to relax during a break in driving.

Tránsito officials prefer not to issue a fine to drivers, for unlike the use of a cellular phone, it is difficult to be be sure if the television set was on and that the driver was being distracted.