No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveLegislative Assembly Passes Seatbelt Law

Legislative Assembly Passes Seatbelt Law

THE Legislative Assembly voted Tuesday to make seatbelt use mandatory, Assembly representatives announced Wednesday.

If President Abel Pacheco signs the law, seatbelts will be required for both drivers and passengers. The driver of a car will be fined ¢8,000 ($19) if either the driver or any passengers are not wearing their seatbelts.

Lawmakers passed the law in first debate in December (TT, Dec. 24, 2003). In February, the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) reversed a seven-year opinion and said such a law is constitutional (TT, Feb. 20).

The court also said drivers cannot be held responsible for the use of seatbelts by adult passengers, but its opinion is not binding for lawmakers.

Under current law, minors under 18 and adults over 65 are required to use seatbelts. Children under 12 also are prohibited from sitting in the front seat of cars.

Libertarian party member Federico Malavassi called the law “unconstitutional.” But supporters, such as National Liberation Party deputy Luis Gerardo Villanueva, said they are trying to protect lives.

According to Social Christian Unity Party deputy Olman Vargas, approximately 700 people die each year in traffic accidents in Costa Rica, and another 1,000 to 2,000 people are injured on streets and highways.

The law making seatbelt use obligatory will not go into effect until it is signed by Pacheco and published in the official government newspaper La Gaceta.

 

Trending Now

Guatemala Offers Asylum to Nicaraguan Migrants Deported by U.S.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo announced on Friday that his country will grant asylum to Nicaraguan migrants deported by the United States who do not...

Hondurans March to Mark 2009 Coup as Election Battle Heats Up

Thousands of government supporters marched Saturday in the capital of Honduras to commemorate the anniversary of the 2009 coup that ousted then-leftist President Manuel...

Costa Rica’s Pride March 2025 Defies Restrictions and Celebrates Diversity

A large crowd gathered in Paseo Colón, San José, to participate in the LGBTIQ+ Pride March 2025. It began at noon, as people marched...

Climate Change in Costa Rica Devastates Coffee Farms in Los Santos

In Costa Rica’s Los Santos region, famous for producing nearly half the country’s coffee, farmers are reeling from heavy losses driven by wild weather....

Costa Rica Green Hotels Lead Global Sustainable Tourism

Costa Rica’s reputation as a leader in sustainable tourism grows stronger every year, with our green hotels setting a high bar for eco-conscious hospitality...

Costa Rica Hunts for Nicaraguan Hit Squad After Exile’s Assassination

Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) is investigating whether a hit squad tied to Nicaragua’s Ortega-Murillo regime is targeting exiled critics on its soil....
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica