Sometime before the end of this year, traffic cameras will be installed in various parts of San Jose, which will cause problems.
This week, I had to laugh when I learned that sometime before the end of this year the Policía de Tránsito (traffic police) are expecting to put in cameras to control traffic and ticket offending drivers in various parts of San Jose.
The areas targeted for this is Parque La Paz, the autopista General Cañas and the autopista Florencio del Castillo and other “unnamed” locations.
Cesar Quirós, the director of the traffic police, explained the cameras will photograph drivers not wearing seatbelts, not having the current marchamo or riteve (vehicle inspection) and committing offenses like not stopping at stop signs or running red lights.
So what does this mean? Well, we predict it will be huge headaches on both the prosecuting and offending party.
Some people will say, the real purpose of traffic cameras is to let cops spend more time in doughnut shops. Cynics might contend that the devices are mostly intended to boost traffic-fine revenue. But cameras that photograph the license plates of cars running red lights or speeding–resulting in a citation in the car owner’s mailbox–are stirring up world-wide controversy as they become more common.
Parque La Paz, aera of San Jose, Costa Rica will be one of the first to install traffic cameras
Quirós went on and explained that the tickets are the same as other traffic tickets and that they can be appealed by drivers, although the cameras will provide the traffic court judges with undisputable proof of the offence. According to the director, they are being installed not to intimidate, but rather to demand from drivers respect for the rules of the road.
Hummm … intimidate and demand respect? Get real, when has any Costa Rican and expats respected the driving laws, let alone be intimidate by them. And try an enforce the motorcycle driver, Costa Rica motorcycle drivers are consider some of the worse in the world.
Tourist Tip: For those tourist that have vehicle rentals, be careful, because those photos of you running a red light, the fine can be charged to your credit-card.
If you have ever driven in San Jose it is a fricken nightmare and a total war zone when it comes to driving in that dog-eat-dog metropolis.
I have no doubt that some Costa Ricans motorists will be taking matters into their own hands. Various devices of dubious legality are sold to drivers to render traffic cameras ineffectual, including reflective sprays and polarized license-plate covers that promise to make the photos illegible. (In Europe, the GPS-based Talex Speed Camera Alert System warns drivers approaching areas known to be camera-equipped.). Some motorists have resorted to vandalism, shooting or spray-painting the cameras.
I can see it right now, the first day the tickets will peel off like a spinning out of control roll of toilet paper and within a year the cameras will be nothing but rusted ornaments.
Now, since the new traffic laws, the Policía de Tránsito are also looking into installing video cameras on their patrol cars, so beware!
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