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Lack Of Vehicles Hampers
Tránsito's Effectiveness
This month, the Ministerio de
Obras Pública y Transportes (MOPT)
minister, Karla González, is set
to present her proposal to
increase traffic fines and a
police presence on the streets,
in an attempt to curb the rising
number of traffic accidents and
deaths.
However, the Policía de Tránsito
(traffic police) may encounter
some problems with the ministers
request as three out of every 10
police vehicles are broken down,
some in the shop for months.
Mechanical problems, followed by
lack of money for maintenance,
brake problems and worn out
tires are the problems affecting
the patrol cars, that in some
cases are relatively new.
The Tránsito fleet consists of
352 units: 125 motorcycles, 117
patrol cars, 70 pick ups and 40
two trucks.
Germán Marín, director of the
Policía de Tránsito,
acknowledged that out of the 352
police vehicles assigned, 100
are out of service.
Marín added that the situation
was worse at the beginning of
the new administration when 45%
of the Tránsito vehicles were
out of service.
The largest problem is in the
patrol cars. The Policía de
Tránsito acquired a number of
compact Chevrolet passenger
vehicles that some Tránsito
officials say were a problem,
breaking down with fequency,
from the beginning. The Chevys
went into service in 2000 during
the Rodríguez administration.
Marín acknowledges that the
shortage of police vehicles
hurts the police departments
ability to properly patrol the
streets.
"It is evident that this affects
us. But, we have to continue
without work as best as possible
with the little resources at our
disposal", said Marín.
The Tránsito official added that
the department received approval
for an additional ¢90 million
colones in funding, but that
will go towards only fixing some
25 of the vehicles.
"What we need is like ¢900
million to fix all the police
vehicles properly, but, without
the funds, we will do our best
to make the most basic of
repairs", said Marín.
On the brighter side, the
Tránsito just received 15
spanking brand new motorcycles.
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