Groups of motorcyclists performing stunts on public roads, blocking traffic and, in some cases, attacking drivers who confront them have become a serious problem in Costa Rica, a senior official with the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) warned. VÃctor Moreno, head of the Investigation Unit within the OIJ section responsible for crimes against physical integrity and traffic offenses, said during a press conference that the newest trend on our roads involves riders moving in packs. He described groups that perform tricks while they ride and obstruct the free flow of other vehicles.
Moreno said some of these maneuvers have already caused crashes with serious consequences, both for the riders involved and for other people on the road. He added that motorists who object to being held up have in some cases been assaulted by members of the groups.
The warning comes as motorcyclists account for the largest share of traffic fatalities in Costa Rica. Riders represent 58% of people killed at the scene of crashes, according to official traffic death figures, although those statistics do not show how many of the deaths involved illegal races or stunt riding.
Costa Rica had 572 deaths at crash sites in 2025, according to preliminary figures from the Road Safety Council (Cosevi), an increase of 67 over the previous year. Road deaths in Costa Rica have become one of our most pressing public safety concerns, with motorcyclists making up the majority of victims month after month.
Moreno acknowledged that while the OIJ coordinates with the Traffic Police on roadside alcohol checks, no specific operations have yet been carried out against the groups that take part in illegal races or ride at excessive speeds. He also pointed to a reform of the Traffic Law approved this year that targets people who use vehicles to perform stunts, tricks and other maneuvers that are not part of normal driving. Lawmakers gave the measure final approval in April with 41 votes in favor.
The reform moves stunt riding and similar negligent maneuvers into the category A tier of traffic fines, the most severe under the law, at more than 360,000 colones (about $750). It also adds six points to the offender’s driver’s license and allows authorities to remove the vehicle from the road.
Before the change, such conduct had no specific penalty and fell under a general provision carrying a considerably smaller fine. The bill’s sponsors argued that the old sanction did not reflect the danger that stunts pose to other road users. Authorities have not announced a timeline for operations targeting the motorcycle groups. People who are assaulted or threatened on the road can file a complaint with the OIJ, which also receives anonymous information through its confidential line at 800-8000-645.
