Legislators Assure Quick Passage of New Ley de Tránsito Amendments
September 4th, 2009 | by admin |Costa Rica’s legislators agreed on fast tracking the amendments to the new Ley de Tránsito that is to take effect on September 23. The application of article 208bis last night limits the number of motions, sessions and words by legislators to get quickly to the voting.
The new traffic law was passed last December and aside from the drunk driving and reckless driving provisions, the full effect of the law, including the new fines, take effect in less than 20 days.
The law in its current state is flawed in many areas, including the technicality of number of clauses that could cause it to be struck down by the Constitutional Court with the first appeal by citizens.
Legislator Andrea Morales made the motion on Wednesday to fast track the amendments.
And although the majority of legislators have assured to approve the amendments quickly, one legislators, Mario Mario Quirós of the Movimiento Libertario, objects to fast tracking a “bad law”, a law that his fellow legislators want to approve with its flaws and all.
Some of the problems with the law are the introduction of high fines, fines that according to Movimiento Libertatio party legislator, Luis Antonio Barrantes, are not realistic for the country.
Barrantes said he agrees for harsh sanctions against drunk and reckless drivers and drivers who particiapte in “piques” (street racing), but more realistic for the rest of the sanctions.
Jorge Méndez, Liberación Nacional party whip, assures that the amendments will be ready for voting by September 13.
Méndez added that the process of reform has become and “endless ordeal”, a situation caused by a few legislators to object to a couple of articles and stall an important matter for the country.
Méndez assures that his party – the ruling party – will do the impossible to get the amendments voted on.
“The people have to know that if the new traffic law does not go into effect on September 23, the country will be with noting as the old was repealed by the legislature”, said Méndez.
The legislator’s comments refer to the fact that the new Ley de Tránsito was approved last December and what is being discussed now are reforms and September 23, the current traffic law no longer will exist.
“Yes, we have made mistakes”, said Arguedas, who blames the Liberación Nacional party for the mess, since it is them who have not brought forward any solutions to the problem and is now asking for support to make the corrections and to act responsibly.
Altough legislators continue with their politicking, the minsitra de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT), Karla González, assures that her officials and the Policía de Tránsito will be ready to enforce the new law come September 23, with or without the amendments.
