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Dear Abby,

I park illegally very often. Should I stay with my car or disappear to avoid it being towed?

Confused in San Jose

From Inside Costa Rica Tuesday July 22, 2008

Tránsitos Cannot Tow Illegally Parked Vehicles
Due to a recent Sala IV (Constitutional Court) decision, the Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) cannot tow illegally parked vehicles unless the owner of the vehicle is present.

Viviana Martín, the vice ministra de Transportes, assures that the only option available to Tránsitos (traffic officials) is to issue a fine if the owner if nowhere to be found. The vice-minister added that of the average 180 fines issued daily, only five vehicles end up being towed.

"We have our hands tied", said Martín.

The vice-minister says that her traffic officials only rely on Article 129 of the Ley de Tránsito that allows the issue a ¢5.000 colones fine and assures that in many cases the vehicle owners hide from the officials to prevent their vehicle being towed.

Illegal parking is a major problem in San José, contributing to much of the downtown congestion, as vehicles parked on the narrow street impede the flow of traffic or large vehicles like buses or delivery trucks from getting by, creating bottlenecks.

From AM Costa Rica Wednesday July 23, 2008

Part of tow truck routine
voided by high court
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The Sala Constitutional has ruled that transit police of the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes can only tow an improperly or illegally parked vehicle if the driver is not present.

The transportation ministry had argued that article 138 F of the traffic laws provided for Policía de Tránsito officers to tow an improperly parked car when the driver is not present or if he or she refused to move the vehicle, according to a ministry release.

The court has declared the second clause is invalid, meaning officials will only be able to write the standard 5,000-colon fine to drivers who decline to move their vehicle, the release said. Legislative representatives are still considering a proposal to raise the fine to 60,000 colons, said the release.

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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

Sounds like a great business opportunity for the Boot Salesman. Throw a boot on the car and wait for the confused bastard to call it in for help. Then tow it on in.

For advanced play levels, when applying the boot break a head light, phuck up the wheel, and scratch the hell out of the paint etc... oops

Do you have a contact we can call on and present our business model?

Elroy, I agree. Boots whould totally confuse and dismay the locals. Could be fun watching though.

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