Transit Stints To Continue
in Guanacaste During Summer
(InfoWebPress ) – Even though school officially started this Feb.
16, Transit Police stints on the Pan American Highway North in
Guanacaste will continue throughout the dry season, when the
province’s beaches attract the highest number of national and
international tourists.
During the second weekend in February, officials focused on
controlling and regulating routes that led to popular beaches and
recreational sites in the Central Valley. Inspectors help regulate
vehicular traffic, especially as vacationers return to the San Jose
region from the coast, to make traffic flow a little faster.
The police has allocated 250 officers for this work on national
routes, in addition to another 130 for special stints and night
surveillance, both in the capital city and in other important
population centers.
According to transit authorities, the number of vehicles on certain
highways increases significantly during this time of the year —
including the roads leading to the Panama and Nicaragua borders, the
highway between the Manolo’s Bridge in San Jose and Orotina in
western Alajuela province, the Liberia-Nicoya route, San Jose-Limon
(Braulio Carrillo Highway), and the Pan American Highway South
section between Cartago and Perez Zeledon.
Officers have been enforcing the new Transit Law, trying to detect
individuals driving under the influence of alcohol, at high speed or
with more passengers than legally permitted. The officers are also
checking that cars have all of their papers up to date and are in
good mechanical and electrical conditions.
Statistics are showing a reduction in the number of tickets issued
for driving with a prohibited blood-alcohol level. Transit Police
officials believe such a reduction is due to the tougher sanctions
included in the new legislation and its enforcement on the roads.
However, the highways continue to be a death trap for many. Last
month finished with a tally of 34 deaths on the country’s roadways,
12 more than during January 2008 (a 54 percent increase). Most of
the accidents were due to pedestrians not being careful on the
roads. Other fatalities were caused by excessive speed, invading
opposite lanes, drunk driving and mechanical problems. Other
accidents have resulted from drivers falling asleep, lack of driving
skills, and improper passing.
Transit Police officers have decided to reinforce stints on the main
vacation routes this summer season, particularly on highways leading
to Pacific coast beaches. The new Transit Law calls for hiring 400
new Transit police officers throughout the country — although these
officers won’t be on the road anytime soon as they must first
undergo a selection process.
The Law has also allocated resources to give Transit Police stations
new patrol cars.
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