Costa Rica Driving Restrictions Shortened

driving update
The Costa Rica government Shortens Driving Restrictions Announced Monday.

The Costa Rican Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) announced today, July 9, that the driving restrictions for cars in San Jose would be reduced to a period of 13 hours rather than the 24 hour period that was originally announced to begin today. Now, according to the last number of the license plate, the majority of private vehicles will be restricted from driving in the urban center from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Today, for example, cars with license plates ending in 7 or 8 were restricted from circulation during the same 13 hour period. The fine for ignoring this law will still be 6,500 colones and violators of the law can be fined as many times as they are pulled over in any given day. The law was originally referred to as the pico y placa law when the restrictions were dedicated only to rush hours in the capital city.

When the goal of lowering the country’s consumption of fuel was met to an unsatisfactory level after the pico y placa law went into effect, the government decided to lengthen the restrictions to daily periods of 24 hours. However, they have since settled at a more reasonable 13 hours, in part for the early morning commuters who do not have access to public transportation, or who would be put in risk walking around in the dark.

Cargo trucks under 6 tons are not required to follow this newest change, and will remain on the pico y placa schedule, with restricted transportation once a week from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Motorcycles, buses, taxis, cars owned by handicapped persons, as well as emergency vehicles will not be held to any restrictions.

The restrictions again apply according to the day of the week and the last number of the vehicle’s license plates, as follows:

Monday: 1,2
Tuesday: 3,4
Wednesday: 5,6
Thursday: 7,8
Friday: 9,0

While the 13-hour restriction does not yet apply to any Costa Rica Travel routes outside of San Jose, MOPT will continue to analyze the effects of the new change and if it would be effective in other areas of the country.

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