  Using heuristic arguments and numerical simulations it is argued that the
critical exponent $\nu$ describing the localization length divergence at the
quantum Hall transition is modified in the presence of spin-orbit scattering
with short range correlations. The exponent is very close to $\nu=4/3$, the
percolation correlation length exponent, the prediction of a semi-classical
argument. In addition, a region of weakly localized regime, where the
localization length is exponentially large, is conjectured.
