New Costa Rican Transit Law Points
Transit Law- Passed in First Session
The reforms to the “Ley de Tránsito” included stiffer fines of up to ¢227.000 colones for offences such as D.U.I.’s , up from the current ¢20.000, and from six months to eight years in prison for manslaughter, death resulting from a traffic accident and driver’s license suspension 3 to 15 years.
The law also incorporates a point system. Each driver is given 50 points and points are deducted with each infraction. The demerit points are based on an established list of infractions. Once the driver reaches 0 points on his license, the license is suspended for two years and the driver must then go through the process of re-obtaining a license. The second time the suspension is for five years, the third time around the suspension will be for 10 years. In addition to the license suspension, the driver will be required to pay the corresponding fines and surcharges.
Drunk drivers will lose all 50 points and have their license suspended and must pay the ¢227.000 fine, which is a drastic sanction from the current fine of only ¢20.000 and no driver’s license suspension.
Pirate (unregistered cabs) taxi drivers will also face the ¢227.000 fine if found providing “illegal” taxi services.
Not respecting a traffic signal, such as running a red light, for instance, a common occurrence that was mainly a nightly issue, but has turned into a regular practice at any time of the day or at any given place, will be sanctioned with a ¢165.000 fine and 25 points. Not stopping at a stop sign or not giving pedestrians a right of way, will face the same penalty.
The fine for talking on a cellular phone which now is a ¢5.000 fine, was dramatically raised to a ¢165.000 fine and 20 points taken off your license once the Ley de Tránsito is approved in the second session and becomes law.
| Main Important changes | colones |
| Driving under the influence (D.U.I.) or drugs | 350.740,00 |
| Without a license, without learner’s permit | 350.740,00 |
| Public vehicles without permits | 350.740,00 |
| Driving with a suspended license | 350.740,00 |
| Children not in safety seats and properly restrained | 350.740,00 |
| Non use of helmets for children on | 350.740,00 |
| Carrying dangerous cargo without permission | 350.740,00 |
| Wreckless driving, excessive speed | 263.055,00 |
| Not heeding traffic signs | 263.055,00 |
| Unauthorized U-Turn | 263.055,00 |
| Running a red light | 263.055,00 |
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