MOPT Reviews Cost of Vehicle Inspection

The Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) is studying a new method for calculating rates charged by Riteve SyC, the private company in charge of the mandatory vehicle inspection required to obtain a circulation permit, or marchamo.

MOPT contracted the University of Costa Rica (UCR) Economical Sciences Investigation Institute to study the way the fees are calculated and propose a new system, said MOPT spokesman Fitsroy Villalobos.

A draft of the institute’s proposal was published in the official government daily La Gaceta Jan. 24, and was then subject to a 10-day review period during which private companies and the general public made comments and suggestions, Villalobos explained. Afterward, the proposal was returned to UCR. The university now has until the end of February to consider the suggestions, revise the proposal and send it back to MOPT. The ministry will then decide whether to sign it into effect, Villalobos said.

The proposed system considers several factors to calculate vehicle inspection rates, including inflation, operational costs and evaluation of the inspection company’s productivity. For example, if Riteve inspects more vehicles than predicted for the year, increasing its income, inspection rates would have to be lowered, according to a statement from MOPT.

The controversial inspection system drew renewed attention recently as transport and agricultural workers unified under the so-called Civic Movement protested against Riteve, calling it a monopoly and demanding that it leave Costa Rica (TT, Jan 20).

Meanwhile, Transit Police are again removing license plates from cars lacking an up-to-date circulation permit after a grace period that ended Feb. 1.