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FUERA PUNTOS! Point System Eliminated From New Traffic Law

Citing the inability of the Cosevi and the MOPT to administer correctly the points system in the new Ley de Tránsito, a majority of the legislators on Tuesday afternoon approved removing of the points from the sanctions of the new law.

By a vote of 25 in favour to 21 Against of the 46 legislators present, at 6:11pm Tuesday, the point system was dropped from the Ley de Tránsito, leaving only the economic sanctions for traffic violations, with the exception of drunk driving and reckless driving, where violators are subject to criminal prosecution and prison.

The approval goes against the arguments of the MOPT minister, Marco Vargas, who considers the elimination of the point system a weakening of the traffic law that has only been in full effect for two full days.

The absence of four Partido Liberación Nacional (PLN) legislators meant that the legislators of the Partido Acción Ciudadana (PAC), PUSC, Movimiento Libertario, Restauración Nacional and one independent, who were opposed to the inclusion of the points system, obtained a majority of the votes.

The objections came from PLN legislators, who opposed the proposal by PUSC legislator, Lorena Vásquez. And with four legislators missing from the voting, they could not hold their ground at the time of the vote.

The Movimiento Libertatio party whip, Carlos Gutiérrez, said “this is the most sensible thing that has been done so far. The corrections to the traffic law is on track. Fortunately common sense is emerging”.

Although the point system is dead in the water today, it could make a come back in the near future.

Legislators commented that the point system could be re-introduced once the MOPT has had time to fully evaluate and reconsider the system and up to the new legislative body takes over their work on May 8.