Justices highlighted that their ruling does not evaluate the constitutionality of Uber's operation in the country, but taxi drivers marched along the capital's streets in celebration.
Uber went live in Costa Rica Friday afternoon but within hours the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) announced that it had fined two of the ride-hailing service's drivers, according to a Facebook post from the ministry. As MOPT denounced Uber, it released a statement repudiating any violence against the company's drivers after photos of a car with smashed windows surfaced on social media in the pre-dawn hours Saturday, reportedly showing a vehicle that was damaged because it was working with Uber.
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.
Unions leaders are threatening to call a general strike in late September or early October if lawmakers move forward with a bill that would eliminate public worker bonuses and cash incentives.
