Transport Minister
Promises Jail For Drunk
Drivers For Christmas
With a vote of 45
legislators in favour
and four against, the
reforms to the Ley de
Tránsito that imposes
stiff fines and
penalties, was approved
in second debate at
6:23pm yesterday.
All that the reformed
law requires is the
signature of the
president and
publication in the
official government
publication, La Gaceta.
Aside from fines of up
20 times the current,
the reform includes jail
time for drunk and
reckless drivers who
cause serious bodily
injury and death from a
traffic accident.
To combat the growing
drunk driving problem
facing the country, in
addition to a fine of
¢227.000 colones, a
drunk driver may face
from one to three years
in prison is driving
with a blood alcohol
content of 0.75 or
greater.
The limit is much lower
than the current current
rules of "pre-ebriedad"
that limit the fine to
¢20.000 colones for a
driver with a limit of
between 0.50 and 0.99.
Also, drivers travelling
over 150 kilometres per
hour will see a similar
fine and prison time.
That section of the
reformed law is
eliminate "picones" or
street racing that has
become a common practice
in many parts of the
country.
"If you are racing you
will go to jail", said
Karla González, ministra
de Transportes, and
promoter of the reforms
to the Ley de Tránsito.
In addition, racers will
be charged under the
current Código Penal
(Penal Code) in the
event of causing a
death, with a prison
term of up to eight
years and suspension of
the drivers license.
Although minister
González said last week
that it would take nine
months for her ministry
to prepare the
regulations before the
law could go in effect,
she announced last night
that if the approved
reforms are published by
December 19, the day
when central government
employees take their
Christmas break, the
jail provisions for
drunk drivers and racers
could be in effect by
Christmas.
"On the issue of
publication we have to
run to be ready and
allow the 15 days
required for its entry
into force. I think we
are in time", said
minister González, who
last night was pleased
of the final vote by
legislators.
The minister said that
the rest of the fines
and sanctions in the
reform will apply in
nine months time, in
which time her ministry
has to prepare all the
regulations, set up an
office to receive
complaints from the
public of corrupt
officials and hire 400
new traffic officers.
During the nine months,
González said that the
MOPT will be heading a
campaign to educate the
public on the new
regulations, obligations
of drivers and the
penalties.
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