www.CostaRicaTicas.com

They don't mail speed camera tickets in CR, they just publish a list of the license plates on the web that you're expected to check: http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/36/3606.asp

Supposedly they do this because there's no real postal-address system in CR and no way to mail the tickets to vehicle owners...smells like BS to me, even knowing that there's a "tico address" system in CR where you give directions by landmarks.

Also, the fines are $600...wtf?

For the practical angle for most of us, I wonder how this affects gringos who might rent a car while visiting CR. Normally if you get a ticket like this in the USA or Europe, they mail the ticket to the rental car agency and the rental agency dings your credit card for the fine. What do they do in CR? Are you going to get arrested if you try to go back and have an outstanding traffic fine that you didn't know about?

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"Buy the ticket, take the ride." --Hunter S. Thompson

The camaras are the hot topic with the ticos

15,000 in the first two weeks, but 1500 in the following week

If you get one in a rental... you will end up paying

One more reason not to rent a car

No address... the car can not renew its plates in Dec unless all fines etc are up to date

We don't need no stinking address

Apeal your ticket at 200 norte the big tree

Problem is easy to solve, don't speed!!!

Rental car companies are being given access to the tickets as they are written, almost in real time. So if you rent a car and get a ticket from the cameras, you will be billed for it by the rental car company when you return the car. The rental car company can bill your credit card or failing that, put a 'demanda' against you which would prevent you from leaving the country until the matter is taken care of.

Several problems with mailing tickets. First is the non-existent address system. For example, both my houses have the same 'directions' for anything sent here through the mail. Second is many cars are owned by corporations which may or may not have an address listed where mail can be received.

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

If there is any humor in this, it's that Banco Popular will make you an installment loan to pay the ticket. This is also known as "playing both ends against the middle".

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"A man accustomed to hear only the echo of his own sentiments, soon bars all the common avenues of delight, and has no part in the general gratification of mankind"--Dr. Johnson
"Amen, brother"-ED

dam I am getting to hate computers, it so much easier just to pay the cop when they stopped me, and they would make sure the money for the ticket got to the right place for me, no worries about getting it tacked on to my CC later by the rental company, or held up at the air port

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My best friend was the clock on the wall, and he turned out not to be much of a friend in the end

My driver back to the airport was lamenting this issue just the other day. It was very noticeable how everyone was obeying the speed limit on the autopista. The funny thing is how the speed jumps back and forth from 60 to 90 kmh within a couple hundred feet several different times!

And 600 per?!?!? Isn't the minimum wage rate about $400 a month? Maybe they got the rate from the diamond brokers

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In honor of Jimmy V week, "Don't give up, don't ever give up!"

Where are these cameras located?

(And just like everything else in CR, they probably don't work right and aren't very accurate.)

There are at least 2 sets on the highway between the airport and San Jose, they're pretty hard to miss.

There is also one set on the loop near the Zapote traffic circle, another right past the airport as you exit off into Alajuela and a the last I know of is somewhere in Heredia. However, they are planning on adding a LOT more, like 200 or so...

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

Ok are we going to take bets on how long before some one steals one of the cameras?

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My best friend was the clock on the wall, and he turned out not to be much of a friend in the end

I hope ticos steal them all. I hated cameras in the US and I hate them here too. At least in Houston we got them taken down with a referendum.

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Man I'm living life like a great white shark swimming with minnows! It's all about panocha, great scotch, fine cigars, loud-ass rock music and speed, speed, speed - plus spending as much time as possible in paradise on earth, Costa Rica!

Too late, it already happened to the one just as you leave San Jose Central for the airport. One day it was there, next it wasn't. Few days later, the authorities (MOPT?) were putting up a new pole/camera/radar a bit farther down the road where it isn't accessible from the service road.

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

Ok who has the winning date/time? Unlike Vegas we will honor your " I was going to bet but forgot to do it" bet

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My best friend was the clock on the wall, and he turned out not to be much of a friend in the end

Hey, thanks for posting this. I had a car booked for a mid-week trip to Manuel Antonio, but since I tend to be a little impatient, and speed a little, I cancelled the car and will seek other transportation; maybe a bus or van ride out there and fly back in time to catch the Shithawks get shitcanned at the HLH! I sure don't need a 600 dollar pain in the ass to worry about on the way out of country; the girls are tricky enough to keep me occupado!

Shithawk

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"In the poker game of life, women are the fuckin' rake" Worm, "Rounders"