In Mexico City, driving like a Chilango gets expensive

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Many of you may remember our story on how perilous it is to drive in Mexico City, a metropolis without apparent traffic laws or anyone willing to enforce them.

This week, the governments of Mexico City’s Federal District and of the surrounding State of Mexico released the New Metropolitan Traffic Code. The new code aims to simplify the traffic laws and create new fines. The Mexico City paper El Universal gives commuters a list of 20 Things You Should Know About the New Traffic Code.

Among other things, it creates a new penalty point system: drivers who earn 12 penalty points will lose their licenses for three years. Driving in specially-designated bus lanes will earn the driver a 6-point penalty; driving while talking on a cellphone or listening to an Ipod will be a 1-point penalty.

New fines are established for bad behavior: running out of gas (and blocking traffic, a common Mexico City faux pas) will cost you the equivalent of $25. An illegal U-turn will be punished with a fine of about $100.

Will such new measures actually improve driver behavior? On the El Universal bulletin board, some drivers are hailing the new laws, but many think the only people who will benefit are corrupt traffic cops, who will demand higher bribes. One poster asked: What would a Mexican rather pay: 1,000 pesos for making a U-turn in a prohibited place, or a bribe of 100 or 200 pesos to the police officer so he doesn’t give you a ticket?

Posted by Hector Tobar in Mexico City