Political opposition to a controversial traffic law which would severely fine and, in certain circumstances, imprison offending motorists is expected to delay the law's proposed September 23 implementation date.

In order to discuss proposed amendments to the new law in more detail, independent lawmaker Andrea Morales asked the Legislative Assembly to push the law's start date to March 2010.

The decision of the lawmakers regarding the law will be published in La Gaceta, the official government newspaper, on Monday, Sept. 14.

“Some fellow legislators are an in agreement with the postponement as they've realized there is now no way to approve the amendments before the Sept. 23 deadline,” Morales said.

In spite of the potential delay, 800 traffic officers are already being briefed on their new roles under the law, policing the principal traffic routes throughout the country.

At a press conference Wednesday in San José, Vice Minister of Transport Rosaura Montero assured that “all human resources are in place for the official start date.”

See the Sept. 4 print or digital edition of The Tico Times for more on this story.