Porteadores Take To The Streets Today
The informal taxis or Porteadores will take to the streets today in a massive protest against the government's position to eliminate the "porteo" - the informal taxi service - from the Codigo de Comercio (Commerical code) and issue some 3.000 Portedaores taxi plates.

Today's protest is a continuance of the protest of exactly two weeks ago, when thousands of informal taxi operators caused traffic jams around the San José airport, on major routes around the country, practically choking off completely traffic in the area of Parque La Paz and gathering outside the Asamblea Legislativa (legislature) building in downtown San José.

For today's protest some 8.000 Porteadores are expected to take to streets in all parts of the country. And though spokespersons for the Porteadores assure that the protest will be peaceful and will block any routes or affect traffic, Tránsito officials (traffic police) will be out in full force.

The Minister of Transportes, Karla González, has said the government will not tolerate any road blockages and to that end one half - 400 Tránsitos and large number of officials of the Fuerza Pública (police) - will be on duty during the protest to ensure that traffic keeps moving and protestors stay peaceful.

Areas of Parrita - major route to Quepos, the Puente de la Amistad (Friendship bridge) over the Tempisque river, the Juan Santamaría (San José) airport, the Circunvalación, and other major routes are the focus of the intensive Tránsito operation.

In addition, Tránsito officials will be closely regulating traffic around the legislative building, as well as a large number of police to ensure a peaceful protest. Officials fear a confrontation between the Porteadores and taxi drivers and others opposed to the porteo.