The new traffic law of Costa Rica

The new law which provides stiffer monetary fines for traffic violations becomes effective March 2010.

The point system was eliminated from the new traffic law of Costa Rica. The initial idea was that the law creates a license point system. Each driver would have started with 50 points, which would have been reduced for each violation. With zero points one would have lost his driver's license for two years.

Emblems of the traffic police and the M.O.P.T..
Emblems of the traffic police and the M.O.P.T..

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
Driving 20 km/h or more over the speed limit
 20 ¢170.250
Not keeping braking safety distance between moving cars
 5 ¢68.100
Running a red light or stop sign
 25 ¢170.250
Stopping in the middle of an intersection
 15 ¢113.500
Contamination of public roads
20 ¢113.500
Driving with broken wipers or lights
 5 ¢68.100
Driving without a windscreen
 10 ¢90.800
Use of loudspeakers, to make announcements, without the proper permission
 10 ¢22.700
Use of rotating lights without the proper permission
10 ¢22.700
Riding bicycle or motorcycle without wearing a reflective vest
 10 ¢90.800
Driving with expired marchamo
 20 ¢170.250
Not paying at the tollbooth
 0 ¢22.700
Driving without a valid driver’s license
 50
¢227.000 and confiscation of the vehicle
Driving with an suspended driver’s license
 50
¢227.000 and confiscation of the vehicle
Driving with an expired driver’s license
 5 ¢68.100
Offering public transport without the proper permission
10 ¢22.700
Driving with a foreign driver's license for more than 3 months
0 ¢68.100
Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) between .05 and 0.74
   ¢227.000
Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.75 or more
 50
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 150 km/h
50
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
50
Between 1 and 3 years imprisonment or social work, confiscation of the vehicle and suspension of the driver's license for 2 years