DOES NOT APPLY IF YOU ARE ON A FEDERAL HIGHWAY
Have you heard about the tourist pass? We explain how you can enter CDMX with your car with foreign license plates without being fined.
The issue of Vehicle Verification and Hoy No Circula has some peculiarities that you should know, especially when you have a vehicle with license plates from a state that does not belong to the so-called “Megalopolis”.
This region is made up of the states of: Mexico, Morelos, Puebla, Hidalgo, Querétaro, and Tlaxcala, in addition to Mexico City.
How the verification program applies and how you can use the tourist pass in the Megalopolis
1. WHAT IS THE MEGALOPOLIS?
It is an area defined by the federal government, which includes these entities to deal with issues related to the interconnected “operation” of a group of cities that are increasingly closer to each other and that encompass around 30% of the national population. .
This is to define coordinated operating strategies for these “interconnections” and jointly solve problems such as housing, transportation, water supply, resource management, and air quality.
2. HOW DOES HOY NO CIRCULA APPLY TO VEHICLES IN THE MEGALOPOLIS?
Before understanding the tourist pass, you should know what the Hoy No Circula program is. In this program it is established that the cars stop circulating one day during the week, according to the completion of their plate, and periodically one or two Saturdays a month applies in the Metropolitan Zone of the Valley of Mexico, which includes the 16 mayorships of the capital of the country, as well as 18 conurbation municipalities of the State of Mexico, where the majority of the population that lives or works in Mexico City is located and they are:
- Atizapan of Zaragoza
- Coacalco de Berriozabal
- Cuautitlan
- Cuautitlan Izcalli
- Chalco
- Chicoloapan
- Chimalhuacan
- Ecatepec de Morelos
- Huixquilucan
- Ixtapaluca
- Peace
- Naucalpan de Juarez
- Nezahualcoyotl
- Nicholas Romero
- Tecamac
- Tlalnepantla de Baz
- Tultitlan
- Chalco Valley
Outside this zone, cars can circulate daily, but they must respect the verification program established in the entity.
In the rest of the states, there is no Hoy No Circula, and each one determines the vehicle verification standards.
Cars with license plates of these entities can freely enter the Valley of Mexico, as long as they have their verification hologram.
However, cars that have plates from other entities outside the Megalopolis will be subject to special guidelines.
This is to prevent them from being “obviously polluting” and entering a conflictive region over this issue.
Thus, cars from Guerrero, Jalisco, and Veracruz, for example, must undergo a special verification to be able to enter their vehicle in any state that is part of the Megalopolis.
3. VERIFICATION PROGRAM FOR VEHICLES THAT DO NOT LIVE IN THE MEGALOPOLIS
In Mexico City, the Traffic Police will not be able to infracte vehicles with license plates of:
- Mexico state
- Hidalgo
- Morelos
- Puebla
- Queretaro
- Tlaxcala
- Guanajuato
- Michoacan
The exception is that they have a verification hologram granted in their places of origin.
However, they must adapt to Hoy No Circula: if they have Hologram “1” or “2”, they will rest on the day that corresponds to them.
While for “foreign” vehicles that do not have a verification hologram, they will not be able to circulate under this scheme:
- Monday through Friday from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- They cannot circulate on any Saturday from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
- According to the completion of their license plate, they do not circulate on a weekday from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
4. PENALTIES IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TOURIST PASS
According to the guidelines established by the Ministry of the Environment of Mexico City, vehicles that circulate will be sanctioned:
- No verification in your home state
- Cars that are ostensibly polluting
- That violate the guidelines of Hoy No Circula for foreign cars
The amount of the infraction will be 24 Units of Measurement and Update, that is, $2,027.76 pesos during 2019.
While the penalty for an untimely verification for cars that live in the Valley of Mexico will be 20 UMA ($1,689.80 pesos).
We remind you that traffic violations are suspended in several municipalities of the State of Mexico, due to corruption issues:
- Naucalpan
- Cuautitlan Izcalli
- Tlalnepantla
- Atizapan
This measure will apply approximately during the first quarter of 2019.
5. VOLUNTARY VERIFICATION
As we saw before, each entity of the Megalopolis has its own guidelines on vehicular verification.
However, the “voluntary verification” model is used so that cars from states belonging to the Megalopolis or states that have associated themselves with the verification standard can enter the Valley of Mexico.
These states are: Hidalgo, Morelos, Puebla and Tlaxcala, as well as: Guanajuato, Michoacán, Querétaro.
It also works for vehicles with federal plates.
This hologram can be obtained at any Verificentro in the Valley of Mexico (CDMX or State of Mexico).
To do this, an appointment must be scheduled electronically and not breach any of the restrictions indicated in point three.
We remind you that in Mexico City, the verification will cost $524 pesos during 2019.
For its part, in the State of Mexico, the cost varies according to the type of hologram that is granted:
- Holograms 1 and 2: $292 pesos
- Hologram 0: $365 pesos
- Hologram 00: $730 pesos
- Exempt (electric cars, among others): no cost
For holograms “0”, “1” and “2”, the validity will be 180 days from the date of issue.
While for “00” holograms, the validity will be 1 year from the day of purchase of the unit.
You should verify this information with a copy of the car invoice.
6. TOURIST PASS
Another modality to enter the Valley of Mexico without being infracted for lack of verification is the Tourist Pass.
It is a procedure that is granted to foreign vehicles or vehicles that do not belong to the Megalopolis.
The objective of the tourist pass is to allow passers-by who incur in these situations, to enter their car for recreational purposes.
The advantage is that it avoids the verification process of the car and they do not enter Hoy No Circula.
Applies to private gasoline and gas vehicles, models 2003 onwards.
The validity of this document can be for seven or 14 days.
There is also a Tourist Pass valid for three days, which applies only on long weekends (March 21 and November 20) or any other that is determined in this way by the General Directorate of Air Quality Management.
You can process a Pass valid for 14 days once a year, two for seven days each semester or passes for three days, as long as they are official breaks.
The tourist pass restrictions are:
- Does not apply in environmental contingency situations
- Nor does it apply to vehicles with plates from: CDMX, State of Mexico, Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Michoacán, Morelos, Puebla, Querétaro and Tlaxcala
- Business, government, school, or foundation vehicles
- Cars without a license plate or with a provisional driving license
Requirements for the tourist pass:
To process the Tourist Pass, you must enter the page: http://www.paseturistico.cdmx.gob.mx/pasetur/
In this portal, you must register an email address (preferably the owner of the car).
The system will send an access link to this address. Once there, personal data must be entered.
Then, it will send an access code, which will be used to enter securely. The user will be the email.
When accessing, you must write the access code (it is in a green box on the right side).
The system will request the data of the car that is in the circulation card, as well as the plates.
The next step is to determine the validity of the Tourist Pass (three, seven or 14 days).
You must generate the pass from the first day the vehicle enters the Valley of Mexico.
A valid document will be generated in the State of Mexico and one more for the State of Mexico.
Once the document is issued, you must print it and show it to the Transit authority, if required.
If the vehicle data does not match the Circulation Card, the document will be invalid and you could be penalized.
7. CAR INSURANCE AND TOURIST PASS
Remember that another requirement established by the authority is to have Civil Responsibility insurance.
This policy is mandatory to circulate on federal highways throughout the country and in some entities such as CDMX.
There are several products on the market, such as the Compulsory Civil Liability Insurance that covers damages to third parties.
However, we recommend a more robust coverage to protect other risks such as damage to the vehicle, theft or medical care for the vehicle’s occupants.
In addition, these coverages have assistance services throughout the country such as a tow truck, locksmith, power supply, among others.
CDMX Traffic Regulations, what you should know
Being in front of a wheel is undoubtedly a feeling of satisfaction and adrenaline. However, you should also know that it is a great responsibility. It is not enough to bet on the experience of having years as a driver. Among the main recommendations is knowing your rights and obligations. For this, the best way is to take a look at the traffic regulations.
In addition, if you are one of those who should walk the streets of Mexico City, you must take into account that the traffic regulations of this metropolis have changed. Possibly not the same one you knew when you learned to drive a car .
WHY IS THE TRAFFIC REGULATION IMPORTANT?
Undoubtedly the term rule for many is synonymous with limitation. However, we must understand that when talking about traffic regulations it is related to the concept of prevention. In other words, they are measures to guarantee the protection of the life and physical integrity of people.
It is worth mentioning that said protection is at a general level. Both drivers, companions and especially vulnerable street users, such as pedestrians.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), each year around 1.3 million people die in traffic accidents around the world. Official data also reveals that between 20 and 50 million suffer from disabling injuries.
Even, according to data from the National Institute of Public Health (INSP), Mexico ranks seventh worldwide and third in the Latin American region in deaths from road accidents . On the streets of our country, up to 22 deaths of young people between 15 and 29 years of age are reported per day, and an average of 24,000 deaths per year.
If you still doubt the importance of the correct execution of traffic regulations, we have another piece of information that is more impressive. Road accidents are the first cause of death in young people between 5 and 29 years of age. In addition, it is the fifth cause among the general population. How many lives do you think would have been saved by complying with 100% of traffic regulations?
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS IN ALL TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
Although the traffic regulations describe with clear and precise rules on the behavior of a driver. There is also a list of elements that every motorist should know. Mainly because they are the axis of the rules behind the wheel:
Pedestrian
The pedestrian is one of the essential elements that is sought to be safeguarded. Hence, it should take precedence in almost any situation. Mainly because of all the elements involved in traffic, it is the most vulnerable. Consequently, in Mexico, an average of 5,000 people per year die from being run over.
Seat belt
Now it’s the motorist’s turn and how to safeguard his integrity and that of his companions. Hence, within the traffic regulations you will find a reference to this accessory. Wearing a seat belt cuts the risk of death in half.
Speed
Speed is one of the factors that accompany road accidents . Therefore, they are one of the situations that any traffic regulation monitors. It is a risk factor, along with distraction and alcohol, and one of the main causes of traffic accidents.
Alcohol and steering wheel
As we have seen in other articles in ARCA , alcohol is one of the most common factors in tragic accidents. Alcohol is a psychodepressant substance that, even in small doses, impairs the driver’s skills. It is estimated that prevention and punishment for those who drive while intoxicated reduce deaths from traffic accidents by up to 30%.
Distractors
We mainly refer to drivers who use cell phones . Despite being marked by the regulation, few have analyzed that the risk of doing so is approximately four times greater than being involved in an accident. A driver who texts while driving is 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash.
Use of helmet
In the case of motorcyclists . In Mexico at least, riding a motorcycle represents a 6-fold increased risk of serious injury. In short, the correct use of a helmet reduces the risk and severity of head injuries by 72%.
Cyclist
Nearly two-thirds of cyclists killed or seriously injured were involved in crashes. Believe it or not, the traffic regulations, especially those of Mexico City, refer to it. The main reference is the factor of space with courtesy and safety that both cyclists and motorists must provide.
DETAILS OF THE CDMX TRAFFIC REGULATIONS
You already know the importance of traffic regulations. We will now take a look at the details of the new traffic regulations in Mexico City. This one that was modified in the new administration under the charge of Claudia Sheinbaum. Therefore, after its publication in the Gazette of Mexico City , some changes and adjustments were announced.
If you are not yet familiar with the new regulation, here we explain it to you:
The Regulation has been in force since 2019, and contemplates a system that subtracts points from CDMX car plates when committing an infraction. These infractions will apply from April 22 and will be captured through the City’s technological systems .
The sanctions to which the drivers will be creditors will be reprimands. There are also online courses and a face-to-face awareness course of up to 10 hours of work in favor of the community.
In the event that you are infringed under this scheme, you will be notified by email, by message on your cell phone or by post.
You will be able to repair the fault even before carrying out the vehicular verification ; If you have a sanction, you will not be able to carry it out.
HOW MANY POINTS DO I HAVE AND HOW OFTEN CAN I RENEW?
Each semester the license plates of the vehicles will be assigned 10 points. However, they will be subtracted with the infractions that are captured through speed radars and cameras. What used to be called fotomultas, do you remember them?
When the first and second infractions are committed, only one warning will be issued. In the third and fourth infractions the sanction will be to take a basic and intermediate online course, respectively; in the fifth it will be a face-to-face awareness.
From the sixth offense onwards, vehicle owners must report for two hours of community service.
How many points will they take away from me?
One point is subtracted for each infraction, only in case of speeding is the sanction different. If the permitted speed limit is exceeded by 40 percent, five will be subtracted. For example, if the permitted speed is 80 km/h and is slightly exceeded, one point is lost, but if you drive over 110 km/h (40 percent more) five points will be deducted.
If you thought that with the issue of civic sanctions you would get rid of economic fines , you are wrong. To understand how much you will have to pay, we elaborated the following table. Taking as reference the Unit of Measurement and Updating ( UMA ) in force:
| VIOLATION OF THE REGULATION | ESTIMATED AMOUNT |
| Invading pedestrian crossings, bicycle paths, waiting areas for cyclists and motorcycles 20 to 30 times UMA | From $1,689.8 to $2,534.7 |
| Turning prohibited, 20 to 30 times UMA | From $1,689.8 to $2,534.7 |
| Circulate against flow, 40 to 60 times UMA | From $3,379.6 to $5,069.4 |
| Invade confined lanes, 40 to 60 times UMA | From $3,379.6 to $5,069.4 |
| Carrying children in the front seats, 5 to 10 times UMA | From $422.45 to $844.9 |
| Circular in the opposite direction, 10 to 20 times UMA | From $844.9 to $1,689.8 |
| Using distractions while driving such as phone, putting on makeup or using GPS, 10 to 20 times UMA | From $844.9 to $1,689.8 |
| Not respecting the red light of the traffic light, 10 to 20 times UMA | From $844.9 to $1,689.8 |
| Not wearing a seat belt, 10 to 20 times UMA | From $844.9 to $1,689.8 |
IMMOBILIZERS ONLY FOR FOREIGN CARS
Where there seems to be a relief for those who live in Mexico City is that the immobilizers are over. In the parking meter area, cars with CDMX plates will be exempt from placing the “spiders”. Although they will not evade the infraction for exceeding the paid time.
On the other hand, cars with foreign license plates may be creditors of immobilizers and to remove them, they must cover the cost of this infraction and all those previously owed.
Officials authorized to issue or impound the vehicle for Hoy no circula violations
THEY MUST IDENTIFY THEMSELVES WITH THEIR NAME AND PLATE NUMBER (and if they don’t tell you, ask them first. We recommend you write it down in case you have any problems).
THE ECOGUARDS: they are people trained by the Executive Directorate of Road Surveillance and you can distinguish them by their white uniforms with military green and their units that wear these same colors and the logo of the DF Environment Secretariat (Sedema)
THE TRANSIT POLICE: You know them well, they are all uniformed with fluorescent yellow vests.
In case you have never been detained, here we tell you how the competent authorities should act, in accordance with the provisions of article 38 of the Metropolitan Traffic Regulations and the Procedure for Applying Sanctions of the Vehicle Verification Program:
