New Transit Law Ready in Two Months
The tough Ley de Tránsito should be before the legislature for a vote by the middle of June based on a decision reached by the legislative deputies that make the commission Asuntos Jurídicos, when they began discussion on the law reform.

Alexander Mora, Liberation deputy who is presiding over the group, said that the commission had reached a "pact of honour", to pass the legislation in the shortest time possible.

The pressure is coming from the Poder Ejecutivo - the executive branch of the government - following the increasing number of traffic accidents and deaths.

The first action was to approve a list of experts in road security who will be invited to appear before the commission in the coming sessions.

The major thrust of the reform is to increase the traffic fines and get tough on drunk and reckless drivers.

The current fines for traffic infractions range between ¢5.000 (us$9.60)and ¢20.000 colones (us$38.50), the highest amount for driving under the influence of alcohol.

The new fines proposed are more than 10 times the current fines and give Tránsito authority to temporarily suspend drivers licenses to permanent suspension in the case of repeat offenders.

An example of the higher fines are ¢280.000 (us$538.), up from the current ¢20.000, for speeding and to ¢180.000 (us$) from the current ¢10.000 for running a red light.

Stiffer fines are also being proposed for using a cellular phone while driving, not maintaining a vehicle in a good state of repair and street racing.

Possible discussion on the introduction of a demerit point system is part of the the proposal.

The major reason for the change is that traffic accidents are currently the prime cause of deaths in the country.