Costa Rica Travel Posts

Costa Rica’s New Traffic Laws

By Patrick Brunelle ⋅ March 7, 2010 ⋅  Email this post ⋅  Print this post ⋅ Post a comment

Be careful if you have already traveled to Costa Rica and rented a car, having enjoyed the loose traffic rules and regulations as things have drastically changed! Fines used to be so small that no one feared being pulled over. Fines now can get to as much as $550 USD depending on the offense. Speaking on your cell phone, not wearing your seat belt, or speeding will coast you dearly if you get caught!

Costa Rica is also thinking about introducing a new point system – much like the ones in effect in the U.S. and Canada–that could lead to the temporary or permanent suspension of a driver’s license. In fact, anyone caught speeding over 120 kph (the maximum legal limit is 100 kph) will now face the possibility of an automatic suspension of their license for two years. Repeat offenders could lose their license for good.

Costa Rica is doing their best to curb their terrible record in terms of traffic deaths. There is no question something had to be done, but creating fines that equal monthly salaries for some is a little over the top for me. I was thinking that Costa Rica could possibly look at changing their law that permits people to be drinking and driving in a moving vehicle, rather than focusing on people driving without proper documentation. Of course, they can’t be drunk, but that definitely does not make me feel safe on long road trips.