Comments on: The New Driving Laws in Costa Rica http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2009/02/13/the-new-driving-laws-in-costa-rica/ The Blog for Travelers, Retirees, Expats and anyone who needs to know the REAL Costa Rica. Tue, 17 Nov 2009 01:00:32 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Tim http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2009/02/13/the-new-driving-laws-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-16609 Tim Fri, 18 Sep 2009 16:21:57 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=618#comment-16609 This law has been delayed until March 1 2010 (excluding drunk driving which is effective now. This law has been delayed until March 1 2010 (excluding drunk driving which is effective now.

]]> By: Shorty http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2009/02/13/the-new-driving-laws-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-16564 Shorty Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:06:39 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=618#comment-16564 The changes coming Sept 23rd 2009 are pretty big changes. I've had friends all over the country telling me they've already been targeted by Transito officials trying to get bribes for citations that won't even be in effect for another month. So, here it comes. Everyone needs to get informed and be prepared, which includes learning how to file complaints, pay tickets, appeal tickets, and know exactly what'll be required of them. You may see the site I listed by clicking on my name, or see InsideCostaRica.com for the ebook, in English, to get the information. Happy Motoring! ROFL. The changes coming Sept 23rd 2009 are pretty big changes. I’ve had friends all over the country telling me they’ve already been targeted by Transito officials trying to get bribes for citations that won’t even be in effect for another month. So, here it comes. Everyone needs to get informed and be prepared, which includes learning how to file complaints, pay tickets, appeal tickets, and know exactly what’ll be required of them. You may see the site I listed by clicking on my name, or see InsideCostaRica.com for the ebook, in English, to get the information. Happy Motoring! ROFL.

]]> By: Jim Gaudet http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2009/02/13/the-new-driving-laws-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-16550 Jim Gaudet Fri, 21 Aug 2009 18:13:43 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=618#comment-16550 Is this really .75 for blood alcohol? What happens if you are less, it's ok? Isn't that a huge difference from the .08 in the US? Is this really .75 for blood alcohol? What happens if you are less, it’s ok?

Isn’t that a huge difference from the .08 in the US?

]]> By: Cenado´s Caves Costa Rica http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2009/02/13/the-new-driving-laws-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-16367 Cenado´s Caves Costa Rica Sat, 02 May 2009 19:20:12 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=618#comment-16367 Really is was necessary the new rules because many people was driving whithout precaution, drinking alcohol or too fast whithout Seabelt. Drivers Please Take care yourself and Take care the other people in the streets. Really is was necessary the new rules because many people was driving whithout precaution, drinking alcohol or too fast whithout Seabelt.

Drivers
Please Take care yourself and Take care the other people in the streets.

]]> By: Ken http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2009/02/13/the-new-driving-laws-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-16242 Ken Mon, 23 Feb 2009 19:21:27 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=618#comment-16242 If you are interested, Tihany is in town and would suggetst a delightful couple of hours in Zapote. I saw this about 10 years ago and was pleased when I heard it was here while I was here. I have been told that Costa Rica does not allow any entertainment using wild beasts of any type. How civil...This "under the tent" show (for animals)has dogs, cats and birds only, however it is a small Las Vegas high flying presenation and worth the experience. Tihany is actually an excellent magician from an helicopter appearing to attractive women just walking into thin air. Take the time, take it in for how can 1,000 people be intimate no matter where you sit? Somehow it is latin and the closeness is there. Enjoy If you are interested, Tihany is in town and would suggetst a delightful couple of hours in Zapote. I saw this about 10 years ago and was pleased when I heard it was here while I was here. I have been told that Costa Rica does not allow any entertainment using wild beasts of any type. How civil…This “under the tent” show (for animals)has dogs, cats and birds only, however it is a small Las Vegas high flying presenation and worth the experience. Tihany is actually an excellent magician from an helicopter appearing to attractive women just walking into thin air. Take the time, take it in for how can 1,000 people be intimate no matter where you sit? Somehow it is latin and the closeness is there. Enjoy

]]> By: Move, Live, Travel, Reside, Retire in Costa Rica » The New Driving Laws in Costa Rica at The REAL Costa Rica Blog http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2009/02/13/the-new-driving-laws-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-16232 Move, Live, Travel, Reside, Retire in Costa Rica » The New Driving Laws in Costa Rica at The REAL Costa Rica Blog Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:32:53 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=618#comment-16232 [...] Excerpt from: The New Driving Laws in Costa Rica at The REAL Costa Rica Blog [...] [...] Excerpt from: The New Driving Laws in Costa Rica at The REAL Costa Rica Blog [...]

]]> By: miguel http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2009/02/13/the-new-driving-laws-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-16228 miguel Sat, 14 Feb 2009 23:28:43 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=618#comment-16228 Except for those biggie's...looks like three strikes and your out! Better have your gratuity in hand! Except for those biggie’s…looks like three strikes and your out! Better have your gratuity in hand!

]]> By: Bob Gieser http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2009/02/13/the-new-driving-laws-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-16226 Bob Gieser Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:00:23 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=618#comment-16226 Food for thought. If you might be able to make the policeman go away for a fraction of the fine, then the possibility of them being so tied up in the money maing business instead of the law enforcement business increases the possibility of them not being around when you really need one. Calling in the license number of each vehicle stopped allows supervisors to match up stops with tickets/warnings and sometimes makes officers a little more accountable. Previous surveys showed that female traffic officers were less inclined to put the bite (mordida) on the driver. Maybe not the case here, but woth reflecting about anyway. Food for thought. If you might be able to make the policeman go away for a fraction of the fine, then the possibility of them being so tied up in the money maing business instead of the law enforcement business increases the possibility of them not being around when you really need one.

Calling in the license number of each vehicle stopped allows supervisors to match up stops with tickets/warnings and sometimes makes officers a little more accountable.

Previous surveys showed that female traffic officers were less inclined to put the bite (mordida) on the driver.

Maybe not the case here, but woth reflecting about anyway.

]]> By: Francisco Papia http://blog.therealcostarica.com/2009/02/13/the-new-driving-laws-in-costa-rica/comment-page-1/#comment-16225 Francisco Papia Fri, 13 Feb 2009 19:44:13 +0000 http://blog.therealcostarica.com/?p=618#comment-16225 We were there when the laws were being changed and so heard about most of them. I truly hope that these laws were instituted to help rearrange the thinking habits and practices of many drivers in Costa Rica. I simply do not drive at night because of the inherent risks involved. I truly enjoy all of my appendages being attached to my body, as God intended and driving at night only elevates the possibility of some of them becoming violently disassociated from their rightful place. What I worry about is that the government is not thinking of the benefits to society that accrue from these draconian fines but in their own ability to have a larger discretionary income. The fines are simply too high, to restrictive and way out of scope. We are not in Italy, France, Great Brittan or the US. As stated in the article most of these fines are higher than the monthly income (before tax) of the individuals. Here, in Oregon, a fine for not wearing a seat belt is about $150.00. It would hurt but not kill to receive a fine of that nature. On a $4000.00 per month gross income a fine of $150.00 is about 3.75%. If we reverse the calculation and say that I received a fine of 277,000 colones for not wearing a seat belt I would have to be earning 7,386,500 colones per month. Or, 13,250 dollars per month. Perspective???? I did get a fine in 2007 for not wearing a seat belt some where between Esparza and Canas. The fine was 10,000 colones and 3,000 for tax as I remember. Do I remember the fine? Yes. Do I wear my seat belt now? Yes. Do I need a fine of approximately $500.00 to get me to change my ways? Absolutely not. This is what makes me believe that the government has a different agenda than the betterment of Costa Rican society. We were there when the laws were being changed and so heard about most of them. I truly hope that these laws were instituted to help rearrange the thinking habits and practices of many drivers in Costa Rica. I simply do not drive at night because of the inherent risks involved. I truly enjoy all of my appendages being attached to my body, as God intended and driving at night only elevates the possibility of some of them becoming violently disassociated from their rightful place.

What I worry about is that the government is not thinking of the benefits to society that accrue from these draconian fines but in their own ability to have a larger discretionary income. The fines are simply too high, to restrictive and way out of scope. We are not in Italy, France, Great Brittan or the US. As stated in the article most of these fines are higher than the monthly income (before tax) of the individuals. Here, in Oregon, a fine for not wearing a seat belt is about $150.00. It would hurt but not kill to receive a fine of that nature.

On a $4000.00 per month gross income a fine of $150.00 is about 3.75%. If we reverse the calculation and say that I received a fine of 277,000 colones for not wearing a seat belt I would have to be earning 7,386,500 colones per month. Or, 13,250 dollars per month. Perspective????

I did get a fine in 2007 for not wearing a seat belt some where between Esparza and Canas. The fine was 10,000 colones and 3,000 for tax as I remember. Do I remember the fine? Yes. Do I wear my seat belt now? Yes. Do I need a fine of approximately $500.00 to get me to change my ways? Absolutely not. This is what makes me believe that the government has a different agenda than the betterment of Costa Rican society.

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