No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveSeatbelt Law Took Effect

Seatbelt Law Took Effect

IN the hopes of reducing the number of deaths and injuries in traffic accidents, legislators this year passed a law making seatbelt use mandatory for drivers and passengers. Drivers risk being fined more than ¢5,000 ($11) if they or their passengers are not using seatbelts. According to law, which went into effect in May, the fine is 5% of the minimum wage. Congress passed the law April 13 after the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court (Sala IV) reversed a seven-year opinion and said such a law is constitutional. In Costa Rica, an average of one person dies every day in highway accidents, according to Ministry of Transport and Public Works (MOPT) statistics. Apparently not everyone took the new seatbelt law seriously. Three in four fatal accident victims this year were not wearing their seatbelts when they died, MOPT reported at year s end.

Popular Articles

Costa Rica Faces Backlash Over Migrant Detentions and Rights Abuses

Costa Rica violated the rights of over 200 migrants deported by the United States—including 81 children—according to a report by the Center for Justice...

MegaCon 2025 Brings Global Pop Culture to Costa Rica

MegaCon 2025, Costa Rica’s largest pop culture convention, kicked off yesterday, at the Costa Rica Convention Center. Running through Sunday the event is expected...

Costa Rica’s Record Meth Bust in Tibás Raises Concerns

Costa Rican authorities seized 48 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in Tibás, marking our country’s largest synthetic drug seizure. The operation, conducted by the Drug...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles