Transit Law Reforms
Stalled
The reforms to the Ley
de Tránsito (traffic
laws) that pretends to
get tough on drunk
driving and speeding and
tougher traffic fines
continues stalled in the
Comisión Legislativa de
Asuntos Jurídicos.
making it doubtful that
it will be passed before
the end of the year as
had been expected.
The stumbling block it
appears is the push by
three legislators of the
Partido Acción Ciudadana
(PAC) and one from
Movimiento Libertario
who are pushing to allow
competition to Riteve
S.A., the monopoly on
annual vehicular
inspections.
The legislators want the
monopoly broken, the law
allowing companies to
compete with Riteve as
long as they meet the
requirements in
equipment, facilities
and training of
personnel.
The proposal would give
the Consejo de Seguridad
Vial (Cosevi) - a
government agency - the
responsibility of
ensuring that competing
companies comply with
the requirements and
hand out operating
permits, without having
to hold a public bid for
each contractor.
Rafael Madrigal, Grettel
Ortiz and Marvin Rojas,
of the PAC, and Mario
Quirós for the
Libertarians are behind
the stall.
Obras Públicas y
Transportes minister,
Karla González, has been
pushing hard for the
approval of the reform.
"Nobody is saying that
Riteve will be there for
ever, it is in writing",
said minister González
who pointed out to the
contract which calls for
an end to the Riteve
contract and a public
bidding is required in
the case of change.
The Riteve question is
stalling the sending of
the reform to the full
legislature for
approval, which minister
González is necessary to
stop the carnage on the
nations roads.
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