The service will be offered along the central corridor of the San José Greater Metropolitan Area, from Lindora to San José to Curridabat, and Heredia staring Friday afternoon, the company announced.
Vice Minister of Transport Sebastián Urbina told La Nación that any cars operating with Uber would be considered “pirates” and could face fines of ₡99,000 (roughly $185) and lose their plates.
Advertising spaces along streets and at bus shelters around Costa Rica's capital have gone blank and will be removed. Some are illegal; others must be scrapped, city authorities say, because the contract governing them doesn't say who owns them now that the contract is up.
Casa Presidencial said the change would free up traffic police to address other issues and clear the country’s congested roadways from unnecessary traffic jams.
Traffic jams and blockades likely will return to Costa Rica's roads as private chauffeurs, or porteadores, announced they will resume protests next week. Unlicensed taxi drivers, or piratas, may join the demonstrations.
An audio recording of a conversation calling on private chauffeurs, or porteadores, to intimidate Traffic Police officers started circulating on social media this week.
“I warned them once. That means I will keep my promise,” President Solís said, referring to orders not to allow more blockades, which he issued two weeks ago.
All lanes on the stretch of Route 27 between Ciudad Colón and Pozón de Orotina will flow in the Puntarenas - San José direction from 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday.
Lawmakers revived the bill to replace prison time with monetary fines for blocking roads the day before private chauffeurs or "porteadores" protested a new special taxi regulation by blocking public roads across the country, snarling traffic.
