In a move considered by many to be a big step backwards, the Chamber of Deputies passed the bill to introduce changes in the police system. The bill moves to the Presidency for signing into law. Among the changes is a return of the traffic police to the national force. During the Fernandez administration (1996-2000), the Metropolitan Transport Authority traffic force was created, with men and women hired with minimum high school educational levels. A police officer is only required to have an eighth grade education level. As a result of the AMET, the nation then enjoyed a traffic force that was known to refuse bribes, that was courteous and helpful. Gradually, during the Mejia administration, regular police agents have been recruited into the AMET, where wages are higher, and the service in general has begun to come under fire for its arbitrariness and incidents of police brutality that law enforcement agents are known for here. PLD Deputy Abel Martinez said that the approval of the bill is akin to suicide for public security because it grants too many powers to the chief of the police. He criticized the bill’s authorizing the police to use its weapons to safeguard the security of the state. In the past, officers were only allowed to use weapons to protect lives. The bill establishes that the AMET will now be directed by a general of the police.