Tránsito On The Hunt For Drunk Drivers
The Interamericana Norte, Ruta 32, Manolos, La Circunvalación and the Florencio del Castillo highway form part of 44 routes that the Policía de Tránsito will be patrolling heavily until the end of the year, mainly for drinking and driving, in an effort to reduce traffic fatalities.

The Policía de Tránsito announced it will be setting up 188 operatives, the majority during the late evening and early morning hours, to detect alcohol abuse by drivers, in a prevention program that has begun more than two weeks earlier than in the past.

Traditionally the Policía de Tránsito start the holiday operations in the first week of December, however, Karla González, minister of Obras Públicas Y Transportes (MOPT) announced that the traffic police operations would begin last night (Friday).

Minister González said that it is fundamental that during the holiday season her officials focus on traffic accident prevention. "If the measures by the Policía de Tránsito are understood as a help on our roads, then things will change", said minister González.

The minister said that the Policía de Tránsito will hold operatives on a daily basis, rotating locations. "We will be focusing on different locations, some during the day, others at night, and more extensive during the weekends when alcohol abuse is more prevalent", said González.

The minister said that the Christmas holiday season has proven to be a time for many drivers to abuse alcohol and get behind the wheel. Sports events and media events will also be focused in the Policía de Tránsito operatives.

The operation will cost an additional ¢47 million colones (us$91.500) and be active until January 1, 2007.

Policía de Tránsito operations will focus on areas where there is a high concentration of bars, like in Escazú and San Pedro, and will pick locations where traffic must funnel through the police roadblock.