www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Taxi fares are about to take a 11.5 percent jump
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Taxi fares are going up again, mostly due to the continuing rise in the price of gasoline.

The Authoridad Reguladora de Servicios Públicos said Thursday that the rates would go up about 10 percent. However, A.M. Costa Rica computed the hike for a 3-kilometer taxi ride to be 11.5 percent, from 1,045 ($2) to 1,165 ($2.24).

Taxi rates are computed automatically by a meter in the vehicle. The rate has four components.

The first is the price for the initial kilometer or less of travel. That went from 365 to 405. Passengers pay this rate even if the taxi goes but a block.

The second rate is the price for each additional kilometer. That went from 340 to 380. The meter usually assesses this charge in 10-colon increments.

Other charges include the hourly fee for waiting with the motor off: from 2,015 to 2,205. The last is a charge assessed by the meter when taxis are caught in traffic under 10 kph. That went from 3,400 to 3,800 colons per hour. This amount also is prorated for the time the taxi is delayed.

New taxi rates
now will be
First kilometer 365 405

Subsequent
kilometers 340 380

Waiting
(per hour) 2,015 2,205

Rural and handicapped vehicles are slightly different

The new rates will take effect when they are published in the La Gazeta official newspaper sometime next week.

The regulating agency reminded taxi patrons that the fees are fixed despite the condition of the road, the nationality of the passenger or where the ride initiates.

Many hotels and malls have deals with taxi drivers who do not have meters in their vehicles. They charge what the traffic will bear. These drivers and their cars are very visible, but the regulating agency issues warnings but does not crack down. These drivers say they have to kick back a significant part of their fare to the hotels or malls.

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[url=http://www.amishrakefight.org/gfy/]

And then there's the flat gringo rate. "You want to go to Mall San Pedro from the Del Rey? That's 20 dollars amigo."

Berk.....

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

It's not the rates that bother me, but rather the rate of speed of some of the meters

I agree, some of those meters have definitely been sped up. A ride that always costs 675, sometimes costs 900.

I recall an article awhile back, in one of the local newspapers, that one of the things that they checked during the Rietve (annual emissions & safety) inspection were the taxi meter. Over 30% of them were fast.

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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

What was the penalty for a fast meter?

I can probably guess... NADA!

They flunked the inspection so that had to go borrow a correctly calibrated meter from an amigo and go back for reinspection

I guess they got their meter recalibrated and got it passed and then went and got it uncalibrated

Take your pick, I am sure both were in play.

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

"The regulatory authority reminds taxi users that these fares do not vary according to road conditions, trip length, the user's nationality, holidays or whether the trip originated from a hotel or other tourist destination."

From Today's Tico Times

Wishful thinking

BKTUNA
I am never going home

Trip length does matter. If you're stuck in traffic, the meter doesn't stop, it keeps going.

As to trip length the article was referring to the practice of some taxi drivers to telling unsuspecting gringos that trips over a certain distance, gulch to Santa Ana for example, are not required to use a meter but are "flat rated".

Naturally the flat rate exceeds the meter rate.

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

what about all the taxis that don't have a meter?

All red cabs are suppose to have working meters. Those without meters, portadores and pirates, are ones that a tourist would not usually encounter or should avoid.

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