Speaking of crossing the street.....
Crossing the street in CR is about to get real expensive (along with numerous other infractions), according to some new laws which will be start being "enforced" this year. Maybe this should be in the "Muy Tico" thread. This is in today's
Inside Costa Rica:
Not Yielding To Pedestrians or Insulting A Taxi Driver Is Subject To Fine
Under New Ley de Tránsito flipping the finger at your taxi driver or insulting the driver of the bus you are riding in could cost you ¢140.000 colones under the new Ley de Tránsito that went into effect on December 23, 2008. Although only the drunk driving and reckless driving provisions that deal with as criminal offences are being enforced,
the rest of the provisions will begin to be enforced in August or September of this year, the ministerio de Transportes is gearing a public campaign to explain the rules and regulations and fines under the stricter traffic laws.
Some of the changes in the rules and regulations in the new Ley de Tránsito are items like Ch*ldren under the age of 12 must wear restraints and ride only on the back seat of a vehicle,
passengers riding a vehicle - bus, taxi or passenger vehicle - drunk or smoking can also be fined by Tránsito officials.
Pedestrians have to also change their habits on using public streets. For instance, pedestrians not using pedestrian crossings of jumping out into moving traffic will get a ticket, as well as standing in front of or behind a vehicle with the motor running. The fines under the new Ley de Tránsito are steep, going as high as ¢200.000 colones for many offences, ¢350.000 colones for failing to obey a direct order of a Tránsito official.
Carlos Rivas, legal advisor to the Consejo Nacional de Vialidad (Conavi), however, feels that most of the fines established in the new law, like throwing trash from a moving vehicle, for example, are adequate. Pedestrians, according to Rivas, will be issued a ticket based on the document they are carrying, like a cedula or passport. According to Marvin Jiménez, of the Tránsito de San José delegation, traffic officials, as well as pedestrians and drivers, will have to wait and see the actual regulations that will be in place in the coming months.
Some of the practices on today's roads that are common driving practice but soon be subject to a fine are:
- Driving on a public beach
- Failing to yield to pedestrians
- Buses taking on or letting off passengers in places other than official bus stops
- Motorcyclists or riders of bicycles not using a helmet
- Passing on the right
- Incorrect use of headlights - driving with high beams on, for instance, or not turning lights on at night
- Carrying more than the maximum number of passengers as per vehicle registration
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