Costa Rica traffic law curbed until March

The implementation of a controversial traffic law designed to eradicate bad motoring habits and reduce the accident death toll has been delayed until March 2010.

Offending motorists were liable to be fined and, in some cases imprisoned, as of Sept. 23 had the law not been postponed following a vote Monday at the Legislative Assembly.

Forty-six out of 57 legislators voted in favor of suspending the law so that Congress can modify its sanctions, deemed by the majority to be too severe.

Under the proposed law, drivers were liable to be fined between $39 and $388 for a range of offences which included driving while talking on a cellular and performing a U-turn.