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anyone have an update on when they kick in?

Already have... They got something like 150 drunk drivers in the first couple of weeks.... Cars impounded, go to jail, it is serious now.... I don't even have a couple of beers and drive anymore...

The most serious ones drunk driving, racing and speeding faster then 150 kph are in effect. All carry potential jail time.

The less serious offensives, which carry considerable fines but no jail time, are suppose take effect in about 9 months after the bill passed. No exact date announced.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

ID, do you think the severe penalties are going to hold up? I read the other day that someone had challenged drunk driving in the Sala iv,because alcoholism is a sickness not a crime... Sounds silly, but ya know where we are.

I read about that appeal also but last I heard the supreme court had not decided on whether to accept the case. I would not like to see them rule that because alcoholism is a disease you can drive impaired. I would like to see a couple of changes though. (1) I think the .075 for drunk driving is low. (2) as far as I know they only submit you to a portable breathalyzer and do not do a follow up with either a full scale breathalyzer or blood alcohol level test. I doubt that they have very strict procedures for calibrating the portable machines. Given the low threshold, lack of more accurate follow up testing and unknown quality of the initial test equipment it is possible that someone could spend a couple of years in jail, lose his car, destroy his life and not really be impaired. I support the concept but think the enforcement procedures and penalties are flawed.

As to the fines for other offenses they are just way out of whack. 300 or 400 hundred dollars for no seat belt, driving with your interior light on, having a 4"6", 125lb, 11 year 8 month Ch*ld NOT in a Ch*ld restraint seat? These are just a few of the ridiculous things that carry draconian financial penalties. I think they really need to be looked at and made more reasonable. Granted the old fines were insufficient to get people to obey the law but the new ones are overkill.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

And the others are what I'm worried about because they are open for abuse and bribes... I'm a gringo with a pathfinder... I get pulled over and he tells me I am getting a ticket for talking on the phone (which I never do) or not wearing a seatbelt...... He winks at me in a knowing way that he is looking for a bribe... Doesn't matter if he is lying, who are they gonna believe. Like most things they will screw this up... And I am someone who believes in it in principle, because we all know that our roads are not very safe. good luck on catching me on something: I don't drink and drive, I drive like grandpa, don't talk on the cell phone.....

That's why I drive a '92 Hyundai Elantra. Every other Tico in the country has a car that looks just mine.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Tru dat Id.. you are exactly right!!

I would counter-argue that driving is a priviledge, not a right.


I like the new laws, but can someone explain to me what's up with requiring an 11 year old Ch*ld to use a child-restraint seat? Seriously???

What if the K*D is riding in a taxi? Do taxis need to have child-restraint seats??? LOL

Here in California the limit is Ch*ldren under 5 years old or under 40 lbs.

Thanks for your input.

Taxis are exempt. Before everyone start saying "muy tico" are taxis in your state required to have Ch*ld restraint seats?

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

If a person is that incapacitated with this "disease", they shouldn't be driving at all.

No argument here... But I know the mentality and they think punishment for anything is unfair... I can just see this law getting redefined and changed... I'm not playing with it... Left my car downtown for 4 days straight, because everytime I walked into town I had 4 or 5 beers and was not taking any chances...

AM Costa Rica has an article about drunk driving enforcement for the Palmeres festival. It appears that they are serious, I wonder what the new bribe figure will be.

They are very serious the Palmeres festival draws their attention every year. The only difference this year is the severity of the penalties attached. Based on their performance over Christmas and New years holidays bribes are not an option during these enhanced enforcement periods.

_________________
Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Try finding a Ch*ld restraint seat for a Ch*ld over 40lbs. My novia's son is 6. He is a small Ch*ld by US standards but weighs right around 40lbs and the "normal" Ch*ld seats just barely fit him. Their maximum weight restriction is 18kg/40lbs. More than that and you risk failure of the plastic base support in the event of an accident (that is why we are doing this drill, right?).

Every store that we have tried has been out of the "booster seats" (half a dozen all over San Jose). They say that they sell out as fast as they come in.

I'm sure the nice officer will understand when I tell him that we have searched high and low for a car seat with no luck.

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"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
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