Vehicular
Restrictions Of San Jose Begins Tomorrow. Be
Prepared!
"I forgot the restrictions began this week",
"didn't realize today was my plate", "isn't
today Monday?", are some of the excuses that
could be used if pulled over by a Tránsito
official (traffic cop), but none will
probably get you off the hook from getting a
ticket.
The director of the Imprenta Nacional
(National Printer), Nelson Loaiza, confirmed
that the decree to reinstate the vehicular
restrictions of San Jose will be published
today, Monday, July 20, and as such will go
into effect beginning at 6am tomorrow,
Tuesday, July 21.
The ministra del MOPT, Karla González, said
last week that the vehicular restrictions
will begin this week, possibly Tuesday and
that the Policia de Tránsito is all set to
uphold the restrictions.
On June 12 this year the Constitutional
Court struck down the decree that restricted
the circulation of vehicles in the San Jose
area dependent on the last number of the
license plate. The Court said the
restriction violated the right of free
circulation, following an action brought by
the former director of the OIJ.
Transport officials reacted quickly to draft
a new decree and put it in place in only 5
weeks, something of a record in Costa Rica.
The new decree, which may be subject to
another Constitutional Court challenge, is
basically the same as the decree struck
down, but with a different fil number.
The decree restricts the circulation of
vehicles with a license plate ending 1 & 2
on Mondays; 3 & 4 on Tuesdays; 5 & 6 on
Wedensdays; 7 & 8 Thursdays; and, 9 & 0
Fridays.
The hours of the restriction are from 6am to
7pm, Monday to Friday, save legal holidays
and cover the area bordered by the
Circunvalacion on the west, south and east
and Calle Blancos and La Uruca on the north.
The fine for violating the restrictions is
¢5.000 colones, for now. On September 23,
when the full effect of the new Ley de
Transito begins, the fine jumps to ¢34.700.
Ministra González said last week the high
fine is to deter drivers from mocking the
restrictions with the current low fine,
which for many is cheaper than taking a taxi
to and from San Jose.
Other than the increased fine come
September, there are some changes in the new
decree that are important to note:
- A driver can be fined multiple times in
one single day. Previously traffic officials
let off a driver who had already been fined.
- Only private vehicles are covered in the
restrictions. Emergency vehicles -
ambulances, police, fire trucks, etc -
transport vehicles (buses and taxis),
motorcycles, public service vehicles (AyA,
ICE, school buses, and vehicles carrying the
disabled, authorized by the Consejo Nacional
de Rehabilitación).
- All Heavy trucks will continue to be
restricted between 6am and 8:30am, after
that the restriction is based on the last
number of the license plate.
- Traffic tickets can be challenged at any
Transito delegation (police station) or at
the Cosevi offices. Drivers have 10 working
days to file a complaint. |
