Two sectors greatly affected by the expanded vehicular restrictions of San José are hearses and car rental companies.
In the case of funeral cars, drivers have little or no option to choose an alternate route to churches and cemeteries located in the restricted area. According to Tránsito (traffic) officials, the law is the law and though some traffic officials allow funeral cars to proceed without being fined, they are exposed to the ¢5.000 colones fine like all other vehicles violating the restriction.
As to rental vehicles, the problem is that most tourists do not know of the restrictions and/or are not able to make a choice of alternative routes.
The director of the Apoyo al Consumidor del Ministerio de Economía (consumer help centre), Cinthya Zapata, says the obligation is on the car rental company to advise their clients on the restrictions and should add to the rental contract a map of the restricted area and times.
The obligation to pay the fine is the responsibility of the car rental company, which passes on the cost to the client and in most cases with an added administration cost, which is automatically charged to the customers credit card.
Some car rental companies say they give their customers a map and warn them of the restriction and the fine they will be exposed to for violation and that if the customer fails to heed the warning it is their fault and will be forced to pay the fine.
Back to the funeral cars, the funeral homes say they are greatly affected as they have no choice of an alternate route. Karla Carvajal, manager of the Funeraria Polini in downtown San José, says her business affected, as at times they don’t have cars available because of the restriction.
The only vehicles excluded from the restrictions are public transportation vehilces, like buses and official taxis, motorcycles and emergency vehicles.
