by Rod Hughes

UPDATE: (Fri., June 27) At least 944 drivers got nicked the 5,000 colon fine yesterday, the first day of the ban on circulating in the center of San Jose during rush hours, on Thursdays applied to motorists with license plates ending in 7 or 8. Some drivers complained they could not reach their destinations with alternate routes and some truck drivers expressed angry opposition to interference with their commercial routes. But the measure did appear to eliminate traffic jams in many places furing the morning, reported La Nacion, although bottlenecks reppeared in the evening rush.)

New traffic regulations go into effect Thursday, June 26, so don’t say we didn’t warn you, Motorist. The new rules are aimed at reducing jams at traffic circles and thus saving precious fuel consumed in idling as you wait your turn. The government wants to keep your car out of the center of San Jose one day per week. The plan is based on an innovation put into effect during the term of President Abel Pacheco, who turned over the reins to Oscar Arias in 2006.

To follow the rules, keep one eye on the calendar and the other on the last number on your license plate. The prohibition applies only to peak traffic hours of 6 to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 to 7 p.m. The Ministry of Transport (MOPT) has assigned 25 police especially to the duty of fining infractors 5,000 colones for each violation. (This is hardly back-breaking, only about $10, but repeat offenses mount up.)

The schedule is as follows: Monday the prohibition apples to plates ending in 1 or 2, Tuesday 3 or 4, Wednesday 5 or 6, Thursday 7 or 8, Friday 9 or 0. The idea, according to Deputy Minister Vivana Martin, is not for drivers to find alternate routes but for them to keep their cars in the garage for one day per week. Those who drive their cars to work may take public mass transit, taxis or car pool with fellow workers.

Drivers may want to rethink their hopes if they think that, like so many Costa Rican government “campaigns,” the authorities may relent or fail to enforce the ban after the first week. MOPT plans to evaluate the plan after it has been in practice for two weeks—not to see if it is worth it, but to see if more traffic cops are necessary or if the schedule needs to be extended. It sounds as if the Arias Administration is serious about the matter.

The prohibited area extends in a tight ring around San Jose encompassing Pavas, Hatillos, La Uruca, Alajuelita, San Sebastian, Paso ancho, Y Griega, Zapote, San Pedro, La Bandera, the Guadelupe intersection, Calle Blancos main thoroughfare, Cinco Esquinas de Tibas and the radial at La Uruca at Burger King. It would take a Houdini to plan an alternate route around this rim to cross the main metropolitan area.