QCOSTARICA – What is a family with two cars, both with restricted access to San Jose on the same day, to do? Get special permission so that one of them can change to the following day.
According to the Ministry of Transport – Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes (MOPT) – to qualify for a special certificate, the applicant must submit a request, accompanied with proof of ownership and relationships, to be verified by transport officials.
In addition to the special permit, passenger vehicles at full occupancy are excluded from the vehicular restrictions of San Jose between 6:00am and 8:00am and 4:30pm and 7:00pm.
The maximum number of occupants is included in the Marchamo (vehicular circulation permit), and used by Transitos (traffic officials) to make the exemption.
This is stipulated in Executive Order (Decreto in Spanish), No. 36547-MOPT of April 28, 2011.
The vehicular restrictions of San Jose applies Monday to Friday from 6:00am to 7:00pm, starting with plates ending in 1 and 2 on Mondays, 3 & 4 on Tuesdays, 5 & 6 on Wendesdays, 7 & 8 on Thursdays and 9 & 0 on Fridays.
The restrictions do not apply to (legal) holidays falling during the week. Suspension of the restrictions are also applied during holiday periods, the dates announced by the MOPT as they apply to a particular period.
The fine for not respecting the restrictions is ¢21,963 colones.
