Authorities to Revoke Airport Taxis’ Permits

Costa Rica’s Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) said last week that it will revoke in 2010 all airport operation permits held by Taxis Unidos, the company that provides service at the JuanSantamaríaInternationalAirport, northwest of San José.

ARESEP said the action will be taken because the company does not use mandatory taximeters.

A recent investigation conducted by the regulatory authority revealed that not one of the orange fleet’s 75 airport taxis uses a price meter, known as a maría, when providing rides.

According to Costa Rican law, all taxis must be equipped with “a measuring system that allows the user to know the sum to  pay,” making use of the meter obligatory.

Taxis Unidos has been charging customers a flat rate upon entering the taxi and handing clients a receipt, according to the general regulator at ARESEP.

In March 2010, the transport company must hand over the public service license plates that it uses at the airport. The three-month delay is designed to give the Public Works Ministry (MOPT) time to find other means of filling the transportation gaps that may be created by the revocation of Taxis Unidos’ permits.

–Mike McDonald