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Photo by Hendi Kaf,
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  #1  
Old 12 Jul 2013
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costa rica reflective tape laws

Seems there is a new law that you must have reflective tape or jacket on both rider and passenger. Can anyone confirm this and how it applies to us?


My jacket used to be reflective but it's got a bit dirty...
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Old 12 Jul 2013
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Hola!

We're still in Costa Rica... no one told us no one asked us.
Cop's rode behind us for a while didn't care.

We've got a bit of reflection on the jackest aswell, but the Camel back over it.

Should be allright.


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Old 12 Jul 2013
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awesome

Thanks for the heads up. I'll do the same I think. Would minds getting some reflective tape to refresh the stuff that peeled off the bike though.
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Old 15 Jul 2013
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Hi, I live in CR and its true, you have to wear an reflective vest or something like that, and use the ligths on all the time.

thanks!!
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Old 15 Jul 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hornet600 View Post
Seems there is a new law that you must have reflective tape or jacket on both rider and passenger. Can anyone confirm this and how it applies to us?


My jacket used to be reflective but it's got a bit dirty...
Reflectives only required at night...FWIW
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  #6  
Old 18 Jul 2013
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confirming what Oscar said, reflective vest or strips ALL HOURS. you would be unlucky as a foreign biker to have problems.


there is also a law under discussion in Panama for the use of reflective vest with bike reg printed on it AND reg number on helmet. All of us who live hear are doing our best to get it thrown out & there is no mention of how foreign bikes would be treated
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Old 15 Aug 2013
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I picked up reflective tape in Costa Rica at a hardware store. The store sold the tape by the meter from a large roll, which was much cheaper that buying tiny rolls made by 3M. The new tape was added to my helmet, luggage and handle bar protectors.
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Old 17 Aug 2013
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Originally Posted by panavalk View Post
you would be unlucky as a foreign biker to have problems.
No issue for us in Costa Rica, we followed moto cops who guided us around blind corners to overtake safely, we were followed by moto cops who overtook us and gave us the big thumbs up, we were followed by car cops who did absolutely nothing.

We have reflective tape and stickers on our cases, that is it, not saying you won't get busted but they appeared not to be concerned by foreigners.... and we look alien to them for sure.
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Old 26 Jan 2014
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Though this is the law in CR, the police that enforce usually dont care to hassle a foreign plated motorcycle, as they figure you dont speak spanish...they can enforce this law on you, if your are speeding or in an accident, so its best to stop and get a reflective vest or tape..the #1 cause of death on the roads in CR, is motorcycles, 28%.


If you seen the way Ticos drive in CR, and Central America in general,its best to have one anyway, promise. Especially on the Pan AM HWY CA-1 CA-2.
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Old 4 Feb 2014
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We rode around Costa Rica for 3 weeks a little over a year ago, and discovered when arriving that it is required (reflective vest or equivalent). However, we also discovered that absolutely nobody bothers with it or cares about it anywhere outside the major population areas.

We bought a couple of them at the start of our trip for something like $4 each. They were really just reflective straps sewn into a shape you can wear over your shirt or jacket. We never wore them when on dirt roads, and we had no problem. We also never rode at night.

We had a wonderful time, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.
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