Anti-tobacco bill moves
into legislative first place


Lawmakers moved an anti-tobacco bill to No. 1 position on the priority list Wednesday clearing the way for a vote today. The measure had been in 82nd place.

This is the measure with which Costa Rica accepts an agreement with the World Health Organization, approved by 122 other countries, to restrict tobacco use.

There is money involved. The measure will establish and finance a mechanism to coordinate the control of tobacco, sort of like a tobacco police. The country also promises to adopt other measures to reduce the consumption of tobacco and public exposure to tobacco smoke. Saturday is a world day against smoking, and some lawmakers wanted to have the measure passed by then.

The measure also would restrict even more smoking in public places and forbid any cigarette advertising or promotional activities.

Country wins a long delay
in passing terrorism bills


The country has until next March to pass anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering legislation, Casa Presidencial said Wednesday.

José Torres, a vice minister in the Presidencia, held meetings with members of the Egmont Group during the organization's international meeting in South Korea and won the concession, Casa Presidencial said.

Had the country not been given an extension of the original May 20 date, law enforcement officials here would not have been able to access the various data bases maintained by the group and the nation would have been considered a financial outlaw.

Costa Rica has had since 2004 to pass the necessary legislation, and even a plea by the nation's chief prosecutor and others could not get the measure onto the floor of the Asamblea Legislativa this month.

Four held in car hijackings
in La Sabana and Pavas


Judicial agents, prosecutors and the Policía Municipal staged five raids Wednesday in Pavas centro, Rincón Grande and  Finca San Juan to arrest four of five suspects in vehicle hijackings. A fifth person still is being sought.

One of those detained was a juvenile who officials said had an active role in the crimes. He also is being questioned about a recent murder case, officials said.

The hijacking cases involve events that took place in La Sabana and Pavas from October to this month. At least three motorists lost their vehicles to men who stuck guns in their faces, and one person was held hostage for a time, officials said.

Involved in the raids was the Unidad Especializada en Robo de Vehículos of the Ministerio Público, the independent prosecutorial agency.
 
Agents removed boxes of car parts from the various locations that were raided.

Frontier will charge $25
for second bag of passenger


Frontier Airlines said it will charge $25 for the second checked bag of airline passengers who purchase tickets after June 10. The charge will include international flights. The airline has a San José-Denver, Colorado, direct flight.

The company announced the charge and other cost-saving actions and other fees over the weekend, but it was unclear until Wednesday if the bag charge would apply to overseas flights. American Airlines has announced a similar series of fees but they do not apply to international flights.

In addition to the second checked bag fee, Frontier also said that the policy for pets traveling in the aircraft cabin will be discontinued, effective June 10, but all existing reservations will be honored. The fee for children traveling alone will
increase from $40 to $50 per segment, the airline said.  However, they will be allowed to travel via connection to more destinations within Frontier's system, it added.

A Frontier spokesperson said that other airlines charge for the second bag even internationally. Continental charges for the second bag to México and South America, Northwest assesses the fee for México and the Caribbean, and Spirit charges for the second bag on all flights, said the spokesperson.