Questions about public security are common among those considering relocation to Costa Rica. Recent murders of United States citizens, Kurt Hergis in La Fortuna this week and Stephen Rutkiewicz in Guanacaste in December have brought the topic to the center of attention. Unfortunately, objective answers can difficult because so many who respond in English have […]
Archives for February 12, 2014
Court will evaluate, for the first time performance of the judges
The judiciary will evaluate, for the first time, the work of judges and the sentences they hand down. The goal is to put the assessment system in place within year. It will apply to all judicial employees, including prosecutors, public defenders, and judicial police investigators. The plan calls for training and more direct supervision for […]
Condo without sewage plant is at risk of closing
About 200 families in the Vila del Lago condominium project in El Coyol de Alajuela suffer the uncertainty of whether they could be evicted from their homes, due to the the absence of a wastewater treatment plant. In July of 2013, the Ministry of Health issued an order that suspended any further construction until a […]
Investigators rule out narcotics as motive in killing of U.S. Citizen
Investigators from the Judicial Investigation Organization (OIJ) have ruled out drug trafficking as the potential motive for the murder of United States citizen Kurt Hergis near La Fortuna. Francisco Segura, director of the Judicial Police, said that data collected at the scene and the victim’s lack of a criminal background suggest another motive. Hergis who […]
Irregular immigration and slums stir conflict according to vice minister
Irregular immigration and the formation of squatter homes in Guácimo and Pital de San Carlos have been identified by the Ministry of Security as the main factors that fuel the wave of violence in these communities. According to Walter Navarro, Deputy Security Minister, “Such settlements do not create a new culture, or provide a new […]
Fully occupied vehicles exempt from restriction
According to executive order, fully occupied vehicles are exempt from circulation restrictions in San Jose, during peak hours. For example a normal passenger vehicle that transports five people must have at least four people. The order overrides license plate restrictions. Peak hours are defined as from 6 am and 8 am, and between 4:30 pm […]