Children Under Five Cannot Travel by Motorcycle in Costa Rica and Other Traffic Law Changes

Costa Rica News – Well congratulations Costa Rica government for passing a law that makes sense, even though it should have been passed years ago, I guess it is better late than never.  Perhaps the days seeing a parent of sibling put their child or brother or sister in between their legs, start up their dirt bike, and take them to kindergarten might be coming to an end. 

The new traffic law, passed last Tuesday, prohibit children under five years traveling by motorcycle, to avoid the risk of fatal accidents.

Whoever violates this provision shall be fined ¢ 189,000 and also accumulate 12 points on your record.

At 12 points, the offender will lose the right to drive for a year.

This is just one of the innovations of the next traffic law, which will come into effect between three to six weeks.

Silvia Bolaños, director of the Road Safety Council (Cosevi), and Mauricio Lara, one of the drafters of the law, answered other questions about the new laws

How does the points system work?

The points system changes. Now you add up points (for each offense) rather than subtract and if you accumulate more than 12 points you lose your driver’s license.

If you accumulate 12 points, is the first sanction is for one year?

The first penalty is for 12 months, the second for 24 months and the third for 36 months.

What items are required in the cart and which are no longer required?

Eliminate the emergency kit, the jumper cables (“lizard”) and the toolbox. MANDATORY is the extinguisher, triangles or cones and vest.

Interesting to see how they enforce the last part and what this does for police bribes. My guess would be this would make it so even native Costa Ricans, not just gringos, will be paying of cops to keep their drivers licenses.  Good time to become a cop especially since if you get caught taking bribes you get 6 months paid vacation like the 13 officers sentenced this past week.