15 Drunk Drivers Surprised By Traffic Cops
During First Days of Semana Santa
Costa Rica
Taken Off Blacklist Of Haven For Tax
Evaders
Women's Prison
Without A Gynecologist
Incofer Takes
Delivery of Heredia Commuter Trains
Cañas Joins Effort To Fight Dengue
15 Drunk Drivers Surprised By Traffic Cops
During First Days of Semana Santa
Semana Santa for 15 drivers began with a
visit to the local jail for driving under
the influence of alcohol. The sub-director
of Tránsito, Huanelge Gutiérrez, confirmed
that the drivers were surprised by spot
checks in Limón, Jacó, Guanacaste and Pérez
Zeledón.
Gutiérrez added that since Saturday, the
beginning of the Semana Santa exodus, some
900 drivers were issued tickets for all
sorts of Ley de Tránsito infractions.
However, the worst of the offenders are the
drunk drivers, who under the new Ley de
Tránsito that went into effect last December
23, are committing a criminal offense and
subject to a prison term, in addition to
losing their license and vehicle.
In the past, drunk drivers only faced a fine
and walking home. Now, drunk drivers - any
person driving a vehicle with a blood
alcohol content of 0.75 or higher - are
immediately placed under arrest and taken to
the nearest jail to wait for a court
appearance, where a judge will determine if
the person will be set free on bail or be
held in detention until trial.
In addition, the new Ley de Tránsito allows
for authorities to confiscate the vehicle.
The same sanctions are applied to any driver
going over 150 Kilometres her hour.
To assure a safe holiday on the roads 750
Tránsito officials - practically the entire
police force - is on duty, of which 150 a
permanently assigned to road blocks and spot
checks in different parts of the country.
It is estimated that some 1.5 million people
will be on the move during Semana Santa,
visiting the beaches, resorts and mountains.
The director de Tránsito, Germán Marín,
explained that his officers will be working
around the clock in eight hour shifts.
"We will first focus on the exodus, then the
officers will be making patrol of the beach
and mountain areas, day and night, and
especially focusing on Wednesday to Sunday,
the peak Semana Santa period.
Road blocks like at the Naranjo toll booths,
that allow Tránsito officials to stop every
vehicle, will be operating around the
various highways and units with radar and
breathalyzer testing equipment will be
checking for drunk drivers and speedsters,
according to Marín.
Last year 15 people died on the roads during
Semana Santa. |
|
|
|
|
