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Published Thursday, January 28, 2021
1,500- plus drivers fined for not
using child safety devices
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
In 2020, despite the ban-on-driving rule, 1,521 drivers were fined for carrying children without the proper safety devices, the Traffic Police reported.
According to the police statistics, almost 3 drivers a day were sanctioned for carrying children under 12 years of age without the safety devices based on their weight and size as carrycot seats or booster seats.
The penalty for not using safety devices is one of the most expensive established by the Traffic Law, equivalent to $360. The fine is in addition to getting four points deducted from your driver's license record.
These numbers represent an increase compared to the same period of 2019 when 973 penalties were registered for the same reason, but there wasn't the ban-on-driving rule implemented.
The pandemic is one of the reasons drivers don't use safety devices when transporting kids. Because children are spending more time at home, adults just forget to install the safety devices in their vehicles.
In 2020, 112 fines were for transporting children under 5 years of age by motorcycle, also prohibited in Traffic Law. Compared to 2019, the number of fines has increased by 23.
Every child under 12, measuring less than 145 centimeters must use a safety device in the car related to age, weight and height.
The Traffic Police call on drivers to respect the law and take precautionary measures to avoid accidents, especially when transporting children.
Police also reported last week that 2,383 drunk drivers were taken before a judge of the Public Ministry for breaking the Traffic Law. This from January to December 2020,
despite the ban-on-driving rule, the closure of bars, stores and places
to buy liquor.
According to the police, in 2019 when there were no pandemic
restrictions, 2,138 drunk drivers were arrested, which means in 2020
there was an increase of 245 cases, equivalent to 11% more.
Drivers
who test positive for drunk driving with over 0.75 grams in the breath
alcohol test must be arrested, according to the Traffic Law. The vehicle
must be seized. And the driver must pay a fine of approximately $530,
plus take the penalty of 6 points on their driving record.
When a
driver is penalized with 6 points on their driving record, they are
forced to take the driving course again and must score a minimum of 80
points out of 100 to renew the license.
In 2020, 14,964 breath
alcohol tests were applied to drivers suspected of being under the
influence. Of those, only 245 drivers had a low alcohol level that the
driver was not fined. In this case, the breath alcohol test result must
be less than 0.20 grams of alcohol, equivalent to a glass of liquor.
Also,
236 drivers ranged in alcohol results between 0.20 and 0.75 grams in
the test. They must pay the same fine of about $530 plus the penalty of 6
points on their driving record.
In 2020, 11 drunk drivers died in car crashes, according to the police.
People can report any case of a child carried out in a vehicle without a safety device or drunk drivers to the 911 emergency line.
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What is the drunk driving penalty in your country? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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