MOPT
Begins Promotional Campaign To
Explain New Traffic Sanctions
That Go In Effect In September
The new Ley de Tránsito takes full
effect on September 23 and the
ministerio de Obras Publicas y
Transportes (MOPT) has begun a
promotional campaign to educate and
warn drivers. The ministra of the
MOPT, Karla Gonzalez, said that
there will be no excuse for drivers
to say they were not aware of the
changes.
In effect MOPT officials are adamant
that the law will not be forgiving
of "little indiscretions", like
talking on a cellular phone while
driving or not wearing as seatbelt.
Transport officials say that the
will deal with infractions seriously
in the way they are dealing with
drunk drivers, reducing the number
of deaths on the nation's highways,.
The reforms to the Ley de Tránsito,
for the first time in Costa Rica,
introduces a point system. Drivers
will all begin with 50 points and
reduced by infractions to the point
where a license can be cancelled,
from as little as two years, to a
lifetime ban for repeat offenders.
In addition, the reforms increase
fines of up to 20 times the current.
For instance, not yielding to
pedestrians, a common passtime among
drivers in Costa Rica, can mean a
loss of 20 points and a ¢170.250
(us$298) fine.
The same point loss and fine applies
to not wearing a seatbelt or are
driving with an expired marchamo
(annual vehicle registration).
Throwing thrash on public highways
can mean a loss of 20 points and a
fine of ¢113.500. Driving on a
beach, obstructing an intersection
or driving slow on a left lane of a
highway (two major driver passtimes
in Costa Rica) will mean a loss of
15 points.
Overcrowding a vehicle will land a
fine of ¢90.800 and 10 points. The
vehicle's registration clearly sets
out the maximum number of passengers
allowed in any vehicle, which also
is required to have the
corresponding number of seatbelts.
The Consejo de Seguridad Vial (Cosevi)
said it will have 13 offices around
the country for drivers to appeal
their tickets wihout having to
resort to the Tránsito courts, which
can take months or more just to get
a hearing.
Rocío Gamboa, directot of the Cosevi,
explained that a driver will have 10
days to file notice of appeal
against a ticket.
The MOPT, in its campaign, will be
explaining to drivers the changes
and the new fine and point system
before the September 23 effect of
the Ley de Tránsito.
Some of the changes include:
- Driving drunk or reckless: 50
points and ¢227.000 fine (this
sanction is in effect since December
23, 2008)
- Not using proper child restratin:
50 points and ¢227.000 fine
- Street racing: 50 points and
¢227.000 fine
- Failing to stop a red light: 25
points and ¢170.250 fine
- Not yielding to pedestrians: 20
points and ¢170.250 fine
- Motorcyclists not wearing a
helmet: 20 points and ¢170.250 fine
- Not wearing a seatbelt: 20 points
and ¢170.250 fine
- Passing on the right: 15 points
and ¢113.50 fine
- Following too closely: 5 points
and ¢68.100 fine
- Driving with an expired license: 5
points and ¢68.100 fine
Note, the current maximum fine for
above offences is ¢20.000 colones
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