A new law was signed yesterday by Costa Rican President Oscar Arias that will make big changes in the penalties on traffic violations. These traffic violations include drunk driving, speeding and driving without a valid license. Even forgetting to wear a seatbelt, holding a cell phone, or ignoring traffic lights carry a hefty fine.

On average, one person dies in a road accident in Costa Rica every day and so authorities hope that by bringing in this new law the accident statistics will be dramatically reduced. Oscar Arias commented on the laws stating “I know this law is harsh, but rather than get scared, we should thank law makers for passing it. We have let drivers get away with too much”.

With the new law in place, drunk drivers automatically lose their license for 2 years and could face imprisonment for up to 3 years. Cars driving over 150 mph will also face the same penalty. Other related laws restrict certain car modifications in an attempt to target the informal drag races that continue to go on in San Jose’s streets and have cost several lives.

The 1993 legislation stated that there was a $36 fine for traffic offenses, which has now been considerably raised to $410. For forgetting a seatbelt, using a cell phone or ignoring traffic lights, you can incur a charge of up to $310.

The actual fines will come into full effect in September once the Public Works and Transport Ministry have had time to inform drivers of the changes. So buckle up and watch your speed!

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Filed under: Costa Rica News on December 19th, 2008