Yes, you can. No, you can't.
Contrary to the report of the vice-minister of Transportes, Viviana Martín, directive that Tránsito officials could not fine "porteadores" (click here to see story) because the informal taxis could have a verbal agreement with their clients rather than a written contract, is now without effect, according to German Marín, director of the Policia de Tránsito.

The vice-minister's directive was nullified by the Karla González, minister of Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), by offering her own directive reiterating the rules and commitment the porteadores agreed to in providing public transport services.

Porteadores are informal taxis that operate their services door-to-door,. Porteadores do not use a taximeter to calculate their fares and set their fares based on the contract for the service and is not regulated.

Porteadores differ from official taxis who are identified by a using a red vehicle and a yellow triangle with the plate number, along with the official taxi plate and use a taxi meter with established fares.

The controversy is that many porteadores are accused of providing "taxi" services, picking up customers as the official taxis, on the street and since their fares are not regulated, nor do they use a taximeter, they are hurting the official taxi business.

Director Marín said yesterday that the porteadores must provide the existence of a written contract between the customer and porteador. Martín added that the only way his Tránsito officials can tell if the porteador is providing a commercial service is by presenting a written contract.

The directive by the Transportes VP made public yesterday is not valid, according to Martín and is Tránsito officials will fine porteadores who do not abide by the MOPT minister's directive.

Marín added that only "official taxis" can provide taxi services, picking up customers on the street, at taxi stands and charge fixed fares and be identified as a taxi.

Gilbert Ureña, spokesperson for the Foro Nacional de Taxistas, said that the taxi operators had felt betrayed and hurt by the Vp Martín's directive and had been considering a protest action. Ureña thanked the timely and responsible action of Minister González.

The spokesperson added that in the coming days they will be meeting with the MOPT minister to "once and for all define the porteadores situation". The Asociación de Porteadores de Costa Rica, headed by Hubert Castro, expressed his concern about the comments made by Victor Salazar, of the Cámara de Porteadores, who said yesterday that the decision does not sit well with the majority of his members.

"We are in important negotiations in how to enter into a conflict with the taxis and the government, which is not the desire of the porteadores", said Salazar.

Castro said that his association is opposed to the written contract requirement and will continue to dialogue with legislators that they once and for all regulate the "porteo" business.

While the talks go on, the MOPT minister and the Dirección de Tránsito said it is bound to ensure and verify that porteadores are fulfilling the current requirements in the matter of public transport and applying sanctions where necessary.