Central Pacific Women's Group Meeting
9 a.m., Balcón del Mar, Jacó. Info: 2643-2853.

Angelicus Chorale Choir
Performing a rock n' roll musical, 7 p.m., El Fortín amphitheater, Heredia; Christmas carols tomorrow, 7 p.m., Casa de la Cultura, Heredia.

Huba & Silica Drum Bass and Jungle party
By Los Acetatos, Poper, 8 p.m., Shakespeare Bar, next to Sala Garbo, Paseo Colón.

Malpaís in concert
Costa Rican singer-songwriters, tonight and tomorrow, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, San Pedro, info: 2253-8933, www.jazzcafecostarica.com.

Pink Floyd tribute
Tico classic rock cover band, tonight and tomorrow, 10 p.m., Jazz Café, Escazú, 2288-4740, www.jazzcafecostarica.com.

President Oscar Arias yesterday signed a law that will dramatically increase penalties for traffic violations and, authorities hope, reduce roadway accidents that kill on average about one person a day in Costa Rica.

Under the new law, drunk drivers automatically lose their license for two years and could be locked up for one-to-three years, although a judge can replace jail time with community service. Driving faster than 150 kph and racing other cars carry the same penalty.

The law, a reform to 1993 legislation, also raises the maximum fine for traffic violations to $410 from $36. A driver is charged $410 for speeding at 120 kph or driving without a valid license or permit. Forgetting to wear a seatbelt, holding a cell phone, or ignoring traffic lights carry a $310 fine.

“I know this law is harsh,” Arias said. “But rather than get scared, we should thank lawmakers for passing it. We have let (drivers) get away with too much. ”

In the coming days, the law will be published in La Gaceta, the official government newspaper, and criminal penalties will take effect two weeks later. Fines will take effect in September to give the Public Works and Transport Ministry (MOPT) time to inform drivers about the changes. 

See www.ticotimes.net/topstoryarchive/2008_12/121208.htm for more on this story.

Alvarion, an Israeli provider of wireless technology, has been awarded a $6 million contract by the Costa Rica Electricity Institute (ICE) to set up wireless WiMax Internet connections across the country.

ICE, the country's primary telecommunications service provider, expects WiMax to make connections faster and reach far-flung rural areas.

The Tico Times reported in April 2006 that wireless service was already becoming easily available – with user's setting up laptops at cafés and restaurants – in the city.

Telerad, Alvarion's local partner for this turnkey project, will deploy its WiMax platform to enhance Internet connections outside San José too, particularly in the countryside in the Caribbean province of Limón, according to a press release on Alvarion's Web site.

Costa Rican authorities announced yesterday they have frozen $2.6 million in assets in bank accounts tied to Colombian drug lord Edgar Vallejo-Guarín, also known as Jairo Gómez and “Beto the Gypsy,” who was detained in September in Spain.

Costa Rican Chief Prosecutor Francisco Dall'Anese said in a press conference that deposits totaling $2.6 million had been made under the name “Beto the Gypsy” in Costa Rica to the accounts of different businesses, a friend and girlfriend of Vallejo's.

Dall'Anese said Vallejo-Guarín was one of the five most-wanted drug lords by the U.S., but added that the investigation is continuing, and he did not rule out the possible existence of further funds in other accounts.

“Blows to the pocketbooks are the ones that hurt criminal organizations the most,” the chief prosecutor said.

In June 2001, a federal judge in Florida charged Vallejo-Guarín with various drug trafficking charges, and a $5 million ransom was placed on his head.

Spanish authorities, with information from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, arrested Vallejo-Guarín in Madrid on Sept. 4.