The Traffic Police have begun training to use 199 new breathalyzers, which will soon be distributed nationwide. The goal is to prevent accidents and save lives by improving alcohol testing for drivers on the roads.
Martín Sánchez Agüero, deputy director of the Traffic Police, said that staff started a gradual training process last week to learn how to operate the devices. He stated, “With this training process, we hope that in a few days, a couple of weeks, we will have them in service throughout the country, which is particularly beneficial with the start of the school year on February 23 and provides us with an excellent work tool for our regular operational tasks as well as for the upcoming high vacation season, such as Easter Week at the end of March and beginning of April.”
Sánchez also expressed enthusiasm about replacing old equipment that has not been updated in 12 years. He explained that acquiring these new devices was possible due to an allocation of ¢249 million from the Road Safety Council.
Currently, only 64 breathalyzers are available for use across Costa Rica. The new devices are expected to improve control over drunk driving cases throughout the country.
In 2025, there were 26 deaths attributed to traffic accidents involving alcohol-impaired driving. Last year, police conducted 10,431 breath tests using breathalyzers or ethylometers. Of those tested, 314 people showed low levels of alcohol that did not require penalties; 241 received fines of ¢364,000; and 1,643 were referred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for suspected reckless driving due to high blood alcohol levels.
For every person who died in an alcohol-related road incident last year, police detected another 85 drivers under the influence and prevented them from posing further risks on the road.
