More
than 300.000 Vehicle Owners Exposed To Fines
and Confiscation For Not Paying the 2010
Marchamo
As of the close of business Monday the
Instituto Nacional de Seguros (INS) reports
that 322.837 vehicle owners have yet to pay
the 2010 Marchamo - vehicular circulation
permit, that was due on December 31, 2009.
And the Policía de Tránsito report that 655
drivers got to their destination of foot in
the first several days of the year, found
driving without the Marchamo.
Each driver was fined the ¢10.000 colones
plus cost and had their vehicle license
plate confiscated, which now means a tedious
process for recovery, which has to
personally then visit the local traffic
court office in the jurisdiction where the
plate was confiscated.
Germán Marín, the director of the Policía de
Tránsito, confirmed the fines and
confiscations, adding that spot checks will
continue until after Semana Santa to detect,
not only vehicles without the Marchamo, but
drunk drivers and curd speeding and reckless
driving during the holiday season.
The majority of drivers fined told Tránsito
officials that they could get an appointment
for or failed Riteve, the vehicular
inspection that is required prior to paying
the Marchamo. Some drivers said that it had
been paid, but for one reason or another it
was not in the vehicle.
In the past the Policía de Tránsito gave up
to 15 days grace period, that is although
the Marchamo was due on December 31, they
would begin issuing fines until the middle
of January.
However, that was at a time when the
Marchamo could only be paid at an INS
authorized insurance agent or INS offices,
that began with long lines at the beginning
of every December. Today, the Marchamo can
be paid at more than 1.000 points of sale
that include all state and private banks,
plus the internet.
Thus, unlike in the past, there is no excuse
not to pay the Marchamo on time and as such
the Policía de Tránsito has stopped giving a
grace period.
The process to recover a license plate is as
follows:
1. Pay the ¢13.000 colones fine at any
office of the Banco de Costa Rica (BCR) or
other bank
2. Obtain a certificate from the Cosevi
central offices in La Uruca or any regional
office that shows that there are no
outstanding fines against the license plate
and the driver's license of the owner of the
vehicle.
3. Pay the 2010 Marchamo (and pass the
Riteve inspection if not done)
4. The owner of the vehicle and not the
person driving the vehicle at the time of
the confiscation, has to personally visit
the Juzgado de Tránsito (traffic court)
office in the jurisdiction where the plate
was confiscated
5. Get an order to release the license
plates by a judge
6. Return to the Cosevi office, with
documents in hand, to retrieve the plates
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