Parking illegally in San José will become expensive as the Municipalidad de San José begins applying strict parking controls effective on Monday, April 29.
Starting Monday, according to Muni officials, any and all vehicles illegally parked wil be fined. The fine is ¢47.000 colones (US$94 dollars).
Rafael Arias, municipal advisor, said the measure will apply to any and all vehicles and city wide, in an effort to reduce the public raods of San José from being a giant parking lot.
One of the measures that will be strictly enforced, for example, is the lining up of taxis waiting for customers. Arias said that only up to four taxis will be permitted at authorized taxi stops. The measures will also be applied to delivery vehicles. Arias explained that small trucks make deliveries must do so in the early hours of the morning (before rush hour).
One example of street parking out of control is the front of the Hospital Mexico. There, despite a new parking lot near the hospital, that offers free shuttle, many prefer to park on the street in front of the hospital entrance. At any given time of day, the hospital access road is narrowed to a tight channel between vehicles parked on both sides. Another area where illegal street parking is a serious problem, is in front of the court buildings in the city core.
The cost to use the parking a meter is ¢510 colones per hour, charged in half hour blocks. Currently there are 1.500 parking meters throughout the city, with an additional 3.100 coming next year.
Applying the strict parking measures is the Policía Municipal de San José (municipal police) and Oficiales de Tránsito (traffic police).