Time to pay up: Drivers caught speeding by traffic cameras will have to pay fines this month

The Roadway Safety Council (COSEVI) announced Monday the agency will begin collecting some 6,000 fines issued to drivers caught speeding by surveillance cameras on highways from January to November 2011.

Collection of the fines had been put on hold pending a ruling by the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court, or Sala IV, which reviewed several appeals by drivers and consultations by government officials, including President Laura Chinchilla.

The 16 cameras were installed on three major highways: Florencio del Castillo, which connects San José with the eastern province of Cartago, General Cañas, which connects San José with the province of Alajuela and the Circunvalación, a belt route around the city.

At the time drivers were caught on camera, a traffic violation for speeding was ₡308,000 ($610). But the Sala IV considered the fine disproportionate to the infraction, and reduced it to ₡20,000 ($40). COSEVI is waiting for a separate court ruling to determine which amount will be applied.