The new traffic law of Costa Rica

The new law which provides stiffer monetary fines for traffic violations becomes effective March 2010. In 2011 the traffic fines haven been increased again. The fines have been increased by 14%, the increased fines are being applied since January 2012! Changes to the new traffic law were applied again on September 18th 2012.

The highest traffic fine is now ¢280.000 and not ¢468.000 as it used to be. The lowest fine for a traffic violation is now ¢20.000 and not ¢46.800 like before. The posted fines are still without the 30% surcharge for PANI (Children’s welfare agency). For example: The fine for overtaking in a curve is ¢280.000. The 30% surcharge for PANI (Children’s welfare agency) is ¢84.000. So in total it is ¢364.000. The point system is in effect again. It differentiates between new drivers, professional drivers and normal drivers. The expiration date of the driver's license is scales according to these three categories. A driver's license that is valid for 6 years starts with 12 point, a driver's license that is valid for 4 years starts with 8 point and a driver's license that is only valid for 3 years stats with 6 point. A traffic ticket can cause you to loose points off your driver's license. The point system is used to identify habitual reckless drivers and promote safety on the road. Depending on the offense of the traffic violation point are subtracted from the driving license.

Particularities of the Costa Rican traffic laws

In Costa Rica it is allowed to overtake with a motorcycle between two lines of vehicles, as long as one is not going faster than 25km/h! Article 108 g of the Costa Rican traffic law refers to this. Between 10pm and 5am one does not have to wait until the traffic lights turn to green! It is necessary to stop and give other vehicles and pedestrians the right of way, but if the traffic situation allows it, it is legal to go through a red light. Article 104 c of the Costa Rican traffic law refers to this. Right turns on red are permitted in Costa Rica. One must come to a complete stop, check the intersection for vehicles and pedestrians, and proceed to make a right turn when the traffic situation allows it. Turning right on red is prohibited if a sign at the intersection prohibits it. Article 104 b of the Costa Rican traffic law refers to this. Many fear that with the new traffic law, that includes stiffer penalties and fines for traffic violations, the amount of corruption will increase. The MOPT (Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes) will conduct stings to identify cops who solicit bribes. One can denounce a corrupt traffic policeman in the offices of the MOPT (Ministerio de Obras Publicas y Transportes). Therefore you have to present the name and the number of the official. The number is visible on uniform of the traffic policemen. The number plate of the car of the official can help to identify him. Complainants may file a written complaint at the central office of the MOPT (avenue 20 and 22 street 9, San Jose, phone 2257 7798) or by fax 2257 5247.

Traffic Offence	Deducted Point	Fine
Violating the vehicular restrictions that were implemented to slow the spread of COVID-19		¢107.768
Speaking on the cell phone while driving	6	¢280.000
Making a u-turn where it is not allowed	6	¢280.000
Not complying with San Jose downtown vehicle restrictions		¢20.000
Driving 20 km/h or more over the speed limit		¢47.000
Driving 40 km/h or more over the speed limit	4	¢189.000
Not keeping braking safety distance between moving cars		¢20.000
Running a red light or stop sign	4	¢189.000
Overtaking on the right on double-lane roads	6	¢280.000
Driving or riding a vehicle on the beach		¢47.000
Driving without lights between 6pm and 6am	4	¢49.000
Contamination of public roads		¢20.000
Honking the horn unnecessarily		¢20.000
Driving with broken wipers or lights		¢20.000
Driving without a windscreen		¢20.000
Use of loudspeakers, to make announcements, without the proper permission		¢20.000
Use of rotating lights without the proper permission		¢20.000
Riding bicycle or motorcycle without wearing a reflective vest		¢47.000
Riding bicycle or motorcycle without using a helmet	4	¢94.000
Driving with expired marchamo		¢47.000
Driving a vehicle with an expired riteve		¢47.000
Not paying at the tollbooth		¢20.000
Driving without a valid driver’s license	6	¢280.000 and confiscation of the vehicle
Driving with an suspended driver’s license	6	¢280.000 and confiscation of the vehicle
Driving with an expired driver’s license	6	¢280.000
Offering public transport without the proper permission	6	¢280.000
Driving with a foreign driver's license for more than 3 months	4	¢94.000
Driving or riding a vehicle and not carrying your drivers license with you		¢47.000
Driving without carrying 2 warning triangles, a fire extinguisher and a refelctive vest with you		¢20.000
Driving or riding a vehicle and not carrying the vehicles documents with you		¢20.000
Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between .05 and 0.74	6	¢280.000
Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.75 or more	6	¢280.000 Between 1 and 3 years imprisonment or social work, confiscation of the vehicle and suspension of the driver's license for 2 years
Driving faster than 120 km/h	6	¢280.000
Driving faster than 150 km/h	6	¢280.000 Between 1 and 3 years imprisonment or social work, confiscation of the vehicle and suspension of the driver's license for 2 years
Participation in illegal races	6	¢280.000 Between 1 and 3 years imprisonment or social work, confiscation of the vehicle and suspension of the driver's license for 2 years
Fail to yield the right of way		¢47.000
Taxis that do not have a taximeter, have a modified taximeter or that do not use the taximeter	4	¢94.000
Not stopping at a cross-walk		¢47.000
Driving on the bus lane without a permit		¢47.000
Carrying children under 5 years of age on a motorcycle	4	¢189.000
Motorcycle riders that ride between lanes with a speed above 25km/h	4	¢189.000
Overtaking on roads with double line or in curves	6	¢280.000
Transporting children less than 12 years of age that are smaller than 1,45m in a vehicle without a proper child restraint system (child safety seat)		¢189.000
Not wearing a seatbelt	4	¢94.000