Law Enforcement in Costa Rica

[Jim]

When this forum addresses the problems cause by the narcotrafficers in Colombia for gringo safety, I thought a little Costa Rica perspective might be in order.

Costa Rica's live in fortresses behind three or four padlocks, barbed wire and are in costant fear of being mugged or robbed in downtown San Jose. I was talking to my dentist about how ineffective and useless CR police are and she agreed calling them LOS POBRECITOS. I mentioned that no one used US police and pobrecitos in the same sentence.

What accounts for the incredible amount of petty crime.

(1) CR being relatively prosperous has a major illegal immigrant problem (Nicaraguans #1, Colombians #2 plus lots of others).

(2) No street addresses. Imagine calling 911 and giving your address as 600 meters East of Burger King and 25 meters south of the tree which used to be on the corner before they chopped it down.

(3) No army which is generally good (no military coups or interference with domestic politics) but also no military tradition which would train police to menace criminals.

You are not likely to be kidnapped in CR although a few gringos have been murdered. It's just that no where in Latin America is completely safe. I personally walk anywhere in downtown San Jose and I definately wouldn't do that in Phoenix.

PURA VIDA!!!

Jim

[Bryan]

Jim - why you like CR over Colombia? How do you compare the two in danger terms?

[Clay]

"I personally walk anywhere in downtown San Jose and I definately wouldn't do that in Phoenix"

I would be willing to bet that you don't walk to all the same places at night

[Jim]

I do walk all over downtown San jose at night but I certainly can't attribute that to sanity. I look around and am aware of my surroundings but I don't like to take cabs.

I like CR because I can travel all around the country. Rich gringos who live there are occasionally murdered, there is lots of petty crime but it is relatively safe.

I find Colombians and Costa Ricans to be equally friendly. I don't like the tons of gringos who live and travel to CR but it does make the country rather accomodating to a gringo who speaks Spanish.

Women don't particualarly want to leave CR which can be an advantage (fewer women want to use you to get a visa) and a disadvantage (fewer women want to date gringos). I first went there in 1969 so I guess familiarity was part of the reason.