New Law Would Make Drivers and Bar Owners Think Twice about Alcohol Consumption.

Bar and Cantina owners will be held responsible if patrons are caught driving over the legal blood alcohol limit or have an accident while under the influence of alcohol. They will not receive a criminal offense but they will still be accused of taking part in the crime.

The Legislator Alexander Mora who presented this new motion declared that as far as he is concerned, when the owner of an establishment selling alcohol continues to serve a client who is evidently already quite intoxicated, in full knowledge that this customer is indeed driving, they have to take some responsibility in the case of an accident. Should the case be taken to court, it would have to be proven that the owner carried selling alcohol to a patron irresponsibly, seeing the client was already well over the legal limit, and possibly also unable to drive without causing an accident.

A new system will also be established for drivers, similar to that in the states; each driver will be given 50 points when acquiring their new license, and will be loosing a certain amount of these points whenever there is an infraction. Fines will go up to almost $450, and this includes drinking and driving. Prison sentences will also be given in certain cases, as for example if it is proven that the driver drank more than six alcoholic beverages. It is hoped that these strong measures will succeed in reducing the appalling number of accidents in this country.

The headlines related to this theme are heart-wrenching and constant: “Drunk Driver Kills 10-Year-Old Boy”, “Drunk Driver Kills Family of Four”, “Drunk Motorcyclist Runs Over Traffic Cop”, and yet the problem continues. As many public awareness campaigns as the government can put together, most drivers will tell continue to tell themselves that “it won’t happen to me.” Whereas citizens of other countries have been conditioned to fear legal repercussions, the Costa Rican transito (traffic cops) seem all but absent, especially at night. When they do come out in full force at large events, headlines read “64 Cars Revoked for Drunk Driving at Palmares”, proving that drunk driving is a common practice, but there is a lack of resources to catch people in the act.

While it is without a doubt that alcohol plays a big part in these atrocious accidents, there are other factors here that should be taken into account. Shouldn’t there be more emphasis on the dangers of alcohol when driving? Shouldn’t the roads also be in a better state, when driving at night here is a complete hazard, whether under the influence of alcohol or not? Potholes big enough to swallow a car, lack of road markings, poor quality and lack of signs all add up and the result is that Costa Rica transportation can be quite dangerous.

There is no smoke without fire and this reputation doesn’t come out of nowhere! Holding the owners of bars, clubs or cantina responsible has its place, but neither can they be held responsible when a grown up human being decides to go out drinking and use their car to get there; it is assumed that they are responsible for what they are doing, as they are still in full possession of their senses.

Why are there so many car accidents here? It is probably a combination of all these factors. Another strong argument is the lack of well-organized public transportation. If taxis have to be used, then going out at night becomes unaffordable for most people. The inconvenience of the buses is not even worth mentioning, especially since they stop running around 10 p.m., leaving no option for returning. So we are looking at more information and education, better bus service, better roads and signposts. Any chance of this becoming a reality in the near future? Time will tell.

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on September 5th, 2008