German Marín, director of Tránsito, checks out the work of his officers at the Y-Griega intersection Thursday.



Traffic became knotted Thursday evening at the Y-Griega intersection when traffic officers enforced the no-drive rules in the expanded restricted zone of the metro area.

Reports from the scene said that traffic was snarled because tránsito officers were stopping cars and handing out tickets to those motorists whose license plates ended in 7 or 8. Vehicles with these numbers may not enter or move in the restricted area during peak hours under the rules that went into force Thursday.

Traffic police said they handed out nearly 1,000 of the 5,000-colon tickets Thursday to violators. Although the government plan was well-publicized, the vastly increased area covered by the rules was not, and nearly everyone was unaware that the Circunvalación four-lane highway south of the city was considered off limits.

A.M. Costa Rica had reported that the restricted zone was south to the Circunvalación, meaning that motorists with forbidden final digits could use the highway to circumvent the restricted zone. Even a map put out by the Ministerio de Obras Públicas y Transportes seems to show that the major highway could be used.

The Y-Griega intersection is on the Circunvalación at the main access to heavily populated Desamparados.

With the Circunvalación off-limits, there does not appear to be an easy way for motorists with targeted digits to enter the central city.

Reports from elsewhere in the metropolitan area said that traffic moved better Thursday due to the reduction in the number of cars and also heavy vehicles which also are being restricted by a separate decree.

The forbidden numbers for Friday are 9 and 0 and the restricted hours are from 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Symphonic orchestra honors
famous musician Ray Tico


The Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional will honor famous Costa Rican musician Ray Tico with performances of his songs today and Sunday at the Teatro Nacional.

The orchestra will perform reinterpretations of Tico's “Bésame amor,” “Eso es imposible” and “Romance en la Habana” among others, according to a Ministerio de Cultural, Juventud y Deportes release. Today's performance is at 8 p.m. and Sunday's will begin at 5 p.m. General admission is 2,500 colons (about $9.70) and tickets are available at the theater box office and online, according to the release.

Tico was born in Limón in 1928 and learned to play the guitar by the time he was 6 years old. He later became a well-known Latin American musician and songwriter, whose works have influenced the region . He died in August.

Running water will be cut
for many daytime Sunday


Residents of sections of the metropolitan area will not have running water from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, according to the Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados.

The water company said the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad has to inspect a tunnel at dam Río Macho, and the water must be shut down. The utility company plans to inspect the walls of the nearly mile-long tunnel and repair damage.

Affected areas will be most of the city of San José east of Calle 1, Curridabat, Desamparados, San Pedro de Montes de Oca, La Union, Moravia and Coronado.

A.M. Costa Rica/Greg Golojuch

U.S. Centers for Disease Control