Costa Rica traffic law sees 1st big bump in the road

A woman arrested with a blood-alcohol level three times the legal limit is temporarily off the hook after a judge suspended all reckless driving trials until discrepancies between the newly passed Traffic Law and the country´s Penal Code can be resolved.

David Hernández, a judge in the fast-track court, known as the Tribunal de Flagrancia, says the new law does not specify sufficient criteria, including what and where a person is driving, to judge the event.

Crisan Acuña was arrested at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 1. She allegedly registered a 2.24 blood-alcohol level, well above the 0.75 legal limit, and is charged with reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol. She is free until the courts resolve the matter and can address her case again.

This is the first serious legal challenge to the much-criticized reformed Traffic Law, which was enacted Dec. 23.