Unpaid Traffic Fines Automatically Cancelled
This month has been one of the bloodiest months as far traffic fatalities. Drinking and driving and speeding are the major causes of accidents that have left many families grieving their loved ones. And what is the Tránsito (traffic police) doing about it?

In reality, there is not much they can do until the fines are increased and drivers forced to pay and they have the authority to punish drunken and reckless drivers severely.

Currently fines for drinking and driving and for excess of speed over the limits carry fines of up ¢20.000 colones (us$38.50), and Tránsito is powerless to confiscate licenses, that is if the driver actually has a driver's license.

There is a proposal by the Consejo de Seguridad Vial (COSEVI) and the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) to reform the Ley de Tránsito to increase fines to as much as ¢300.000 colones, depending on the fine, and to confiscate licenses for drinking and driving and reckless driving.

However, there is another problem that the transport authorities have to fix, the collection of fines. Tránsito officials can write out as many tickets as they can, but the COSEVI has difficulty in getting drivers to pay up.

In 2005, 77.824 fines were issued, however, because of COSEVI's inaction to collect it meant a loss of ¢565 million colones to the public coffers.

This year the loss is at ¢529 million colones for 78.824 traffic fines, according to the finance department of the COSEVI.

Roy Rojas, director of COSEVI, says that the unpaid fines represents a great loss for the MOPT and its efforts to improve roads and road safety.

Last year 616 people died on the country's roads due to being run over, collisions and other accidents. In the first half of 2006, there have been 181 deaths.

The problem in collecting is a loophole in the Ley de Tránsito which nullifies all traffic fines that on unpaid after two years. COSEVI is only able to collect when a driver renews a drivers license or is asking for a replacement or in situations where the owner of a vehicle needs to replace a license plate or a driver needs a driving record as required by some employers.

If a driver can go the two year distance without paying, the fine is cancelled and the government - all Costa Ricans - lose. Director Rojas said that the MOPT proposal to reform the law will greatly improve road safety and reduce the number of deaths.