Drunk Driving in El Centro

[wholesalesurf]

In the last three months I have been stopped in road blocks screening for drunk drivers. The first in Paseo Colon and the second two blocks from Hotel Del Rey. Both road blocks were after 11:00 PM.

In both cases the Police were courteous and kindly as they sent me on my way. I was absolutely honest in response to their questions.

Send the chicas home in a cab if you have had more than a couple drinks!!

 

[Irvinrexs]

They run one on Fridays right before the Escazu exit about every other Friday and I had some friends hit one at LaSabana coming back form a party in Santa Ana. I always cab it here, but the going bribe rate seems to be about $20 bucks which is more than a days pay for a Pilice officer here.

BKTUNA
I am never going home

 

[ellen degenitals]

The going rate is 40$ and I should know . And yes on the weekends they are everywhere late at night.

I avoided a couple of road blocks that night but finally drove right into one. The cop made take the breathalyzer ,I flunked. He let me drive home after I paid but he insisted I put on my seat belt.

 

[East Bay Punk Mafia]

Glad to hear $40 got you off the charge, Zman. But remember to drive safely after you've been drinking. And wear your seat belt.

 

[stoofecerhgq]

They are planning to change the drunk driving fine to $700 dollar after some old Tico killed a girl and disabled another and was fine 15k and a week later caused a accident that killed the drive of a car he hit. Needless to say I don't think he'll be driving again but he got a week in jail pending investagation. It should be very intresting to see what happens if they do change the fine as 80% of the country drives above the alcohol level. :shock:

 

[Heywood Jablowmi]

They are planning to change the drunk driving fine to $700 dollar after some old Tico killed a girl and disabled another and was fine 15k and a week later caused a accident that killed the drive of a car he hit. Needless to say I don't think he'll be driving again but he got a week in jail pending investagation. It should be very intresting to see what happens if they do change the fine as 80% of the country drives above the alcohol level.:shock:

Does anybody know what the official DUI levels are in Costa Rica?

Last weekend I left the Monkey Bar in Jaco and got caught in a roadblock driving my Rav4 rental at 2:30 am. I was a little high, but not drunk. I was asked to walk over to a table on the other side of the street and take a breathalyzer test. The cop first showed me the device so I could see that the meter was at zero. I blew. The numbers came up 1.34. I thought, that's not a good number, I'm phucked. He then thanked me, said "No tengo problema", handed me the plastic mouthpiece, (nice souvenir!) and I was on my way...

Perhaps "1.34" does not signify .0134 % BAC? Maybe it's a different form of measurement?

PHX

 

[stephen518]

I am confused about this also. My number was .085 and the cop said I was a little over. So I am thinking the limit is .08.

But I was with a Tica once and her number was 2.34 , she flunked and this cop would take a bribe. If that was her blood alcohol level she would have been dead. So it seems some of the machines have different readings . Or the machines are all screwed up.

 

[Jioo Avy]

From .08 they have pre-boracho, where they will give you a ticket (not very much $) and let you drive. 1.0 and above is boracho and you lose car (unless you can find someone sober to drive it) and license (6 months). Not sure what they do if you have a US license. It will take one whole day of going from one municipality to another to get the paper work to get your car back. Whole thing might cost around $150.

 

[GoldenDafadills]

From .08 they have pre-boracho, where they will give you a ticket (not very much $) and let you drive. 1.0 and above is boracho and you lose car (unless you can find someone sober to drive it) and license (6 months). Not sure what they do if you have a US license. It will take one whole day of going from one municipality to another to get the paper work to get your car back. Whole thing might cost around $150.

Pre-boracho is .05. No seizure of your car, just a ticket for about 10,000 colones and on your way.

 

[Roger S]

And why is this in the Massage Parlour section?

 

[Cumhaodala]

Prison for drunk driving
proposed in legislature

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

The executive branch has proposed to increase the fine for drunk driving from the present 20,000 colons ($38.50) to 300,000 colons ($575), but one legislator said that this increase in not enough.

The lawmaker, Mario Quirós Lara of the Movimiento Libertario, has proposed that those caught driving on a license suspended because of alcohol violation face from one to five years in prison. In addition to the fine, a driver now can lose driving privileges for six months. But most continue to drive, even sometimes drunk, because of the lack of enforcement.

Anyone who pays attention to traffic reports knows that motorists die every weekend and alcohol usually is involved. Oct. 7 a driver believed drunk slammed his car into one containing three young women. He fled the scene but the three women died. That early morning crash took place on Calle 9 at Avenida 8 in the heart of the downtown.

Those involved in traffic death cases usually never serve any time because the possible penalties are light. A man who was at the wheel when a boy, 10, was run over was freed on his own recognizance this week to await further action. Last year 329 persons died on the nation's roads and alcohol was deemed the cause of the second highest number of deaths after excessive speed.