Traffic Police headquarters in San José and offices across the country are closed this week for in-person services due to the Holy Week holiday, the Road Safety Council (Cosevi) announced.

The government has issued a decree allowing most public-sector employees in non-essential services to take Holy Week vacations.

All Cosevi offices nationwide will remain closed throughout the week and will resume normal business hours at 7 a.m. on Monday, April 21.

Individuals needing to file claims or handle matters related to vehicle licenses, license plates, or traffic fines must wait until the offices reopen.

However, drivers may submit claims by email at recepcion-impugnaciones@csv.go.cr No digital signature is required to file a complaint.

Cosevi also noted that drivers who are sanctioned during the holiday week and have their vehicles impounded, license plates seized, or licenses expired, will not be able to recover them until next week.

Under Traffic Law, vehicle owners must pay the corresponding fine, plus two additional charges: a towing fee and a daily custody fee.

The towing fee is calculated based on the distance from the location where the vehicle was seized to the police impound lot. The base cost is approximately $15 for the first three miles, with an additional $8 charged for every extra mile. The custody fee is $10 per day for each day the vehicle is stored at a Cosevi vehicle impound lot.

Traffic fines do not expire for seven years. Therefore, owners of impounded vehicles must pay the outstanding fine, towing charges, custody fees, and any other unexpired penalties to recover their vehicle or license plates.

To schedule a recovery appointment, drivers must use the Cosevi website.

The Traffic Police will be conducting nationwide patrols as part of a broader surveillance operation to ensure road safety during the holidays.

Meanwhile, traffic police have issued warnings for common infractions in beach areas, including driving or parking on the sand and irresponsible use of jet skis. Beachgoers are urged to follow regulations to avoid fines or accidents.

Notably, traffic fines were reduced this year after the Court Superior Council approved adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index.

In a related announcement, Authorities announced that the contraflow reversible lane on Route 27, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, will be activated on Sunday, April 13 and Sunday, April 20 to ease traffic congestion during the Holy Week holiday period.

Additionally, officials confirmed there will be no vehicle restrictions in San José between April 11 and April 20 in recognition of the holiday period.

Recent police data shows that over 200 drivers were arrested for driving under the influence in recent months, following nearly 1,500 DUI tests.

The country has also seen a rise in traffic-related fatalities, with 102 deaths recorded between January and February 2025.

The Road Safety Council (Cosevi) is a government agency under the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT) responsible for enforcing Costa Rica’s traffic laws.

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