Ley de Tránsito Reforms Still in Commission
The reforms to the Ley de Tránsito (Traffic law) that is urgently needed to curb the continuing rise in traffic accidents and to better traffic conditions by imposing stiffer fines and penalties for offending drivers, especially for those drinking and driving, seems to be stalled in commission.

The reforms to the current legislation, which were expected to be enacted by now, have been stalled at the commission level and there is no clear future as to when it will be presented to the Legislative Assembly.

The reforms grew out of an "urgent" need to sanction drivers who insist on drinking and driving and speeding, two of the major causes of traffic deaths on Costa Rican roads.

The reforms would see the current fines of ¢20.000 colones (us$38) for driving while intoxicated to hundreds of dollars. Other fines for speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, talking on the cell phone while driving, dangerous driving, etc., which range from ¢5.000 to ¢20.000 colones, be sharply increased as well.

The reform would also attack the problem of heavy trucks being driven by inexperienced and in many occasions drivers with expired or no drivers licenses, that have caused a number of spectacular crashes, in one case killing an entire family, as a fully loaded tractor trailer slammed into a stopped vehicle, crunching it between it and stopped bus.

Following a number of similar accidents, there was a big push to reform the transit laws. Some of the legislators in favour of the changes are Alex Mora (PLN); Alberto Salom (PAC); Bienvenido Venegas (PUSC) andJosé Manuel Echandi (PUN).

But, the biggest promoter of the changes was none other than the ministra de Transportes (Transport minister), Karla González, who last February 22 personally made an appeal to the legislative deputies to work "urgently" on the approval of the reforms.

Notwithstanding, four months later, legislators are now starting to discuss the proposal.

The president of the commission Asuntos Jurídicos, Alex Mora, the proposal is just is now being studied in depth and has good support from the legislators who make up the commission.

However, there is no date as to when the legislation will make to the floor of the Legislative Assembly and in what form.

Legislator Óscar Núñez, of the Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) - ruling party - is presenting today a resolution to force legislators to a decision.

For his part, Mario Quirós, legislator for the Movimiento Libertario, is proposing, to speed things up, to present to the Legislature only the portion with respect to fines and penalties, to be implemented as soon as possible.

However, there is opposition to speedy process, like that of Bienvenido Venegas of the Partido Unidad Social Cristiana (PUSC).

A decision by the Comisión de Asuntos Jurídicos del Congreso could come soon as the commission begins today to discuss the abbreviated process proposal.

Meanwhile, drivers continue to ignore the traffic laws with impunity and the blood continues to be spilled on the streets by reckless and drunk drivers.