WHATS NEW IN THE LAWS OF COSTA RICA

BE CAREFUL DRIVING PEOPLE! WE IN COSTA RICA WENT FROM NEARLY NO LAWS IN COSTA RICA TO SOME VERY STRICT DRIVING RESTRICTIONS-ALTHOUGH IF YOU SAW THE DRIVING BEFORE YOU WOULD SAY IT IS DEFINITELY NEEDED. READ BELOW TO GET A FEEL FOR THE POINTS AND $ THAT WILL BE AT STAKE. AND TAKE IN MIND THE EXCHANGE RATE APPROX 570 COLONES TO A DOLLAR


¢227.000 + 50 points in some cases

- Driving over 120 km/h
- Driving under the influence of alcohol blood level of between 0.50 and 0.75
- Driving under the influence of narcotics
- Illegal Passing
- Driving without a license or learner's permit
- Driving with a suspended license
- Driving a pirate (gypsy) taxi
- Not using a child restraint for children 12 years of age and under
- Transporting dangerous material without a permit


¢170.250 + 20 points in some cases

- Driving in excess of 20 km/h over the posted limit
- Driving faster than 25 km/h in a school zone
- Making an illegal "U" turn
- Runing a red light or stop sign
- Talking on a cellular phone while driving
- Bus drivers taking on/letting off passengers on non approved bus stop
- Driving a vehicle with the wrong license plates
- Not wearing a seatbelt
- Not having the "marchamo" (circulating) permit current


¢113.500 + 15 points in some cases

- Passing on the right
- Driving too slow in the passing lane
- Driving a heavy vehicle without reflectors
- Overcrowding a punblic vehicle
- Altering a VIN number
- Driving on a beach


¢90.800 + 10 points in some cases

- Failure to give the right of way
- Motorcyclists and passengers without a helmet
- Too many people in a private passenger vehicle
- Driving without a windshield, obstructed visibility and tinted windows
- Driving a racing car on a public road
- Parking illegally in handicapped spot
- Blowing a horn excessively within 100 metres of a hospital
- Taxi drivers not using a meter or altering a meter


¢68.100 + 5 points in some cases

- Following too closely
- Driving with an expired license
- Driving with a foreign drivers license for more than 3 months
- Vehicle not having a license plate


¢45.500 + 5 points in some cases

- Driving without a license (license was left home, etc)
- Driving without vehicle registration
- Bus and taxi drivers insulting to customers
- Pedestrians jaywalking

¢27.000 + 5 or 10 points in some cases

- Blaring speakers outside of a vehicle
- Using a siren or flashing emergency lights without authority
- Driving a vehicle without a muffler
- Throwing garbage from a vehicle
- Driving in restricted area of San José