www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Thank goodness Paulyvegas could read and pointed out an important point "SPOUSE" cause I was about to buy some manners 101 cousres.

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Living Life To the Fullest {Pura Vida}

Good job Pauly,i hope everybodys fears are put to rest.

Concerning the new law:

Arias said he was "...hoping for a change of heart among Costa Ricans and true equality and respect for women."

Issue #1: Does the new law provide for true equality?

It provides stiffer sentences for the murder of women than of men.

It makes insulting women a crime, but it does not make insulting men a crime.

It provides a prison sentence for a man who ridicules or frightens his female companion, but there is no penalty of any kind for a woman who ridicules or frightens her male companion.

The law protects women against psychological aggression, but does not protect men against psychological aggression.

George Orwell said it best in his classic book "Animal Farm": "Everyone is equal, but some are more equal than others".

Arias says he is hoping for "true equality", yet the law he signed unambiguously results in inequality.

Issue #2: Does the punishment fit the crime?

The new law imposes six months to two years in prison for a man who ridicules or frightens his female companion.

OUTRAGEOUS!!! Joseph Stalin is alive and well and is making laws in Costa Rica.

The article in inside costarica makes it clear,it is not a monger issue.It also states that some lawyer is already planning an appeal based on inequality.

Any judicial system that would implement such a law in the first place doesn`t go far to earn my confidence to properly interpret and apply it. But that`s just me.... Hey, life involves taking chances...

[quiote="Express321"]Any judicial system that would implement such a law in the first place doesn`t go far to earn my confidence to properly interpret and apply it. But that`s just me.... Hey, life involves taking chances...[/quote]

The branches of Government in CR are very similar to those of the United States. There are Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches. The law was passed by the Legislators and evidently is going to be challenged before the Judicial who will rule on the constitutionality. It is too early to blame the Judiciary.

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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

No soup for you

ID is correct this law still has to go though further vetting by the judicial branch before implemented.
It is aimed at men who have a relationship with a woman who is a spouse or live in girlfriend. NOT some girl who happens to piss you off in the Casino or Max y Menos or a bar and you give her a mouth full of venom. But the real concern would be what the policias interpration of the situation at hand will be.

One scenario (out of hundreds of possible scenarios):

An American guy has been living with a tica for a few months. Maybe the relationship is starting to unravel and the two of them exchange some unpleasant words occasionally. Finally the guy says something that the Tica feels is an insult, maybe something as simple as "your gallo pinto is the worst I've tasted in my seven years living in Costa Rica". This makes the Tica angry and she is ready to leave the guy anyway. She calls the cops. The Costa Rican cops come and listen to her story. These guys have the power to do about anything they want. It is certainly possible the guy could be taken to jail and charged with insulting the lady, which under the new law carries a penalty of possibly a year or two in prison. No bail is allowed in this country, so the guy stays in jail until the judicial system hears the case. It would not be an unusual situation in Costa Rica for the judge to decide to put the guy in jail for preventive detention for up to several months while the case is being investigated and then until the trial date BECAUSE HE IS A FLIGHT RISK! All gringos are considered flight risks because it is so easy for them to leave the country, and even simple investigations can take a very long time in mananaland. This is a very conceivable situation.

Some great points. All Gringos who are considering coming to Costa Rica, forget about it. Those already here, start packing. You will be in mortal jeapordy if this law passes! I wonder what the Del Rey will be like without y'all? Can't wait to find out.

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"The only normal people are those you don't know very well." Joe Ancis