New Drivers Licensing
Office Promises An End
To Long Lines and
Gavilanes
The drivers license
department of the
Ministerio de Obras
Públicas y Transportes (MOPT)
opened its new yesterday
located in La Uruca -
behind the Consejo de
Seguridad Vial (Cosevi)
- with a promise to hand
over a drivers license
in 15 minutes or less
and end the long lines
and the "gavilnes"
However, that was not
the case yesterday, as
the usual long lines
were the same as at the
old installation at
Plaza González Víquez on
the south side of San
José.
MOPT minister, Karla
González, was on hand
for opening day and saw
first hand the long
lines.
The minister was quick
to point out that the
long lines were due to
the inefficiency of the
Banco de Costa Rica (BCR)
branch located outside
the drivers license
office that handles all
the financial
transactions of
obtaining or renewing a
drivers license.
Minister González
pointed out to the media
that while there were
only a small number of
people inside the
licensing office, and
that she had asked the
management of the BCR
branch to add more
tellers.
The new licensing office
has more counters to
attend the public and
according to minister
González, the computer
system is wired, in
contrast to the wireless
system used at the old
installations, which was
a source of continued
problems as the wireless
network would frequently
fail.
The process at the new
licensing offices is the
same, however, because
it is in the same
location as the Cosevi,
drivers needing to pay
fines before being able
to renew a drivers
license can do so at the
same place and there is
a Banco Nacional next
door to help ease the
lines at the BCR.
The new building is
approximately 900 square
metres of floor space
and includes free
parking on the premises.
According to Roy Rojas,
Cosevi director, the
entire licensing process
should not take more
than 15 minutes from the
moment the driver
presents the medical
certificate to the
taking of the photos and
printing the license.
The move to the new
location will also allow
the MOPT to put an end
to the gavilanes or
hustlers that were a
fixture outside the old
licensing offices, since
the gavilanes operated
on the streets and
sidewalks - public
property - selling a
space in line and at
times charging an
astronomical fee for a
free service.
At the new offices, the
gavilanes are not
allowed to enter the
private property and
security personnel will
only permit the entry to
those obtaining a
drivers license for the
first time or renewal,
according to Viviana
Martín, vice-minister of
Transportes.
Martín added that
exceptions will be made
for people who are
accompanied by minors,
foreigners who require
help with the process,
seniors and the disabled
and the new offices are
monitored by closed
circuit television
cameras to detect any
suspicious activity. |
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