Taxi drivers have criticized ARESEP in several occasions for not regulating the illegal transport and for not blocking Uber app. In fact, taxi drivers’ strike is just a consequence of that.
Roberto Jiménez, general regulator, declared that ARESEP doesn’t have the legal authority to regulate a digital platforms.
Jiménez assured that the institute tries to guarantee and promote the use of legal transportations, but he admitted that they lack of more authority and power. As a result, they will request to the Executive a bill that allows them to strengthen their role as regulators so they can control illegal services.
Since 2015, ARESEP is studying 70 cases where people were caught offering an illegal service. Penalties could be a 2,000,000-8,000,000 colones fine.
ARESEP representatives have gone to Tilarán, Cañas, Puriscal y Paso Canoas to explain people the disadvantages of illegal transports.