Court refuses to halt plan to allow long-distance Mexican trucks

By Paul M. Krawzak
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE

6:14 p.m. August 31, 2007

WASHINGTON – A federal appellate court on Friday refused to temporarily block an administration plan to allow Mexican trucks to roam freely throughout the United States beginning next week.


The decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means nothing stands in the way of plans to begin a controversial pilot program – possibly as early as Thursday – to test the safety of Mexican trucks on U.S. highways.

The Teamsters union and several other groups opposed to the border opening filed suit Wednesday to block the program, which the groups claim does not fully comply with congressional requirements.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco disagreed. In a brief order released shortly before the court closed for the Labor Day weekend, a three-judge panel said the request for an emergency motion was denied.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said earlier this week it expects to open the border to long haul Mexican truck traffic as soon as Thursday.

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