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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Photo via Ministry of Public Works and Transportation (MOPT).
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Published
on Monday, February 3,
2025
By
the A.M. Costa Rica
staff
The public school year will kick off on Wednesday, February 5, with approximately 1 million students from 5,000 public schools across the country. The operation involves over 300 traffic officers monitoring key roads around schools to ensure the safety of children traveling by car, school bus, or public transportation. Police remind drivers that the Traffic Law sets a maximum speed limit of 15 mph on roads near schools. Officers will be using speed cameras to enforce this regulation. Additionally, officers will issue tickets to drivers who park illegally, including those who stop next to yellow lines, near hydrants, at street corners, or in front of driveways. Drivers carrying excess passengers or cargo will also face fines. For students traveling by school or public bus, officers will ensure that drivers park properly at bus stops and wait until all students are safely on board or have exited before moving. Drivers who park in unauthorized zones, fail to stop completely at bus stops or do not allow for safe student boarding or disembarking will be fined. Officers may stop drivers to check documents, such as a driver’s license or a permit to transport students. If the documents are not in order, the driver will be fined, the vehicle will be impounded, and the students will not be able to continue their journey to school on that bus. Police will also be monitoring for drivers transporting children under 12 years old without the required safety devices, such as car seats or booster seats, appropriate for the child’s size and weight. Not using the proper safety device is one of the heaviest fines under the Traffic Law, with a penalty of about $500 plus the loss of four points on the driver’s license.
According
to the law, all children under 12 and
shorter than 145 centimeters must use an
appropriate booster seat based on their
size and weight.
Infants
and toddlers must ride in a rear-facing
seat until they reach the highest weight
or height limit set by the
manufacturer of
their car safety seat.
Most convertible seats allow children to
ride rear-facing for up to two years or
longer.
Once
toddlers and preschoolers exceed the
rear-facing limits, they should transition
to a forward-facing seat with a harness
for as long as possible, up to the highest
weight or height allowed by the car seat
manufacturer. Many seats can accommodate
children up to 65 pounds or more.
School-aged
children who have outgrown the
forward-facing limit should use a
belt-positioning booster seat until the vehicle’s
seat belt fits properly—typically when
they reach 4 feet 9 inches in height and
are between the ages of 8 and 12.
When
children are large enough for a vehicle
seat belt, they should always use both the
lap and shoulder belts for the best
protection. All children under 13 should
ride in the back seat.
Police
are also warning
drivers that transporting children under 5
years old on a motorcycle is prohibited by
law. The fine for this violation is
approximately $500, in addition to a
four-point penalty on the driver’s
license.
Authorities
urge all drivers to follow the rules and
take precautions to prevent accidents,
especially when transporting young
children.
Anyone
who sees a child being
transported
without a safety device can report it by
calling 911.
Officials
reported that Costa Rica recorded 505
traffic-related deaths in 2024.
The
Ministry of Public Works and
Transportation (MOPT) is a government
agency responsible for planning and
managing roads, airports, and maritime
ports. It also oversees public
transportation regulations.
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