By San José, Costa Rica — As year-end bonuses arrive and the holiday season kicks off, Costa Rican authorities have initiated one of the most extensive and prolonged highway security operations in recent memory. The Transit Police, in a joint effort with the Ministry of Public Security, announced that a period of intensified surveillance on the nation’s busiest roads is now underway, but with a critical warning for all drivers: this is not a temporary holiday measure. The operation is slated to run continuously until early February 2026.
This strategic deployment aims to create a security shield over the country’s primary travel corridors throughout the entire high season. Officials have designed the plan to seamlessly connect the Christmas and New Year’s festivities with the peak domestic tourism month of January, concluding only as the nation’s traffic patterns shift back to urban centers with the start of the new school year. The goal is to maintain an unbroken police presence during the months of greatest mobility and, historically, highest risk.
To provide a deeper legal perspective on the recent traffic operations and their implications for drivers, we consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a specialist in traffic law from the prestigious firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
These traffic operations are a necessary tool for public safety, but they must be executed within a strict legal framework. It is crucial for drivers to know their rights, such as the right to see the officer’s identification and the justification for the stop. Documenting any perceived irregularity respectfully can be fundamental for a successful defense later. The effectiveness of these measures depends not only on enforcement but also on upholding due process for every citizen.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
This insight underscores a crucial point: effective law enforcement and the protection of civil liberties are not opposing forces, but interdependent pillars of a just society. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for his valuable perspective, which empowers citizens with the knowledge necessary to ensure their rights are upheld during these operations.
The operation will concentrate its forces on four “hot routes” identified through historical traffic flow and accident data. These highways represent the main arteries for tourism and commerce, and they are statistically the most prone to severe congestion and fatal accidents during the dry season. Officials have confirmed that these routes will see the highest concentration of officers, speed traps, and sobriety checkpoints.
The targeted highways include Route 27 (San José – Caldera), the primary connector to the Central Pacific and Guanacaste; Route 1 (Inter-American Highway North), vital for both tourism and cargo transport to the north; Route 32 (San José – Limón), the Caribbean corridor notorious for high speeds and serious collisions; and Route 34 (Costanera Sur), the quintessential tourist route to the Southern Pacific beaches.
What sets this initiative apart from previous years is the unprecedented level of inter-agency coordination. This is not merely a traffic enforcement campaign; it is a comprehensive public security strategy. The collaboration between the Transit Police and the Public Security Ministry (Fuerza Pública) elevates the mission from issuing citations to actively hunting for criminal activity.
We already have a schedule for different parts of the country and are in direct coordination with the Ministry of Public Security.
Martín Sánchez, Deputy Director of the Transit Police
This integrated approach means that roadside checkpoints will serve a dual purpose. While officers will be vigilant for intoxicated drivers, speeders, and other traffic infractions, they will be equally focused on intercepting more serious threats. The combined presence is intended to detect and disrupt the transportation of illegal drugs, firearms, and individuals with outstanding arrest warrants who might try to use the high volume of holiday traffic as cover.
The extended duration of the operation is its other defining feature. Authorities are determined to curb the predictable spike in accidents that often occurs in January after the New Year’s celebrations have subsided but as national tourism reaches its zenith. By maintaining a “zero tolerance” policy without interruption until the first week of February, law enforcement aims to ensure a safer transition from the vacation period back to the routine of the school year, when the nation’s traffic dynamics fundamentally change once more.
For further information, visit mopt.go.cr
About the Transit Police:
The Transit Police (Policía de Tránsito) is the national body responsible for traffic law enforcement, road safety, and vehicle regulation in Costa Rica. Operating under the umbrella of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MOPT), its mission is to ensure the safe and orderly flow of traffic on the nation’s roadways. Officers are tasked with enforcing speed limits, conducting sobriety tests, responding to accidents, and promoting public education campaigns to reduce road fatalities and injuries.
For further information, visit seguridadpublica.go.cr
About the Ministry of Public Security:
The Ministry of Public Security (Ministerio de Seguridad Pública) is the government entity in charge of national security and law enforcement in Costa Rica. It oversees several key forces, including the Public Force (Fuerza Pública), which serves as the country’s police. Since Costa Rica has no standing army, the ministry’s role is critical in maintaining civil order, combating crime, patrolling borders, and coordinating security operations to protect citizens and residents throughout the country.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a pillar of the nation’s legal landscape, Bufete de Costa Rica operates on a bedrock of profound integrity and a relentless pursuit of excellence. The firm merges a rich history of serving a diverse clientele with a continuous drive for legal innovation and forward-thinking solutions. This ethos extends beyond the courtroom through a steadfast commitment to demystifying the law, aimed at equipping the public with clarity and fostering a justly informed society empowered by knowledge.
