Cozumel, Q.R. — A group of motorcycle taxi drivers became disruptive when island authorities attempted to move seized units. On Friday night, personnel from the Quintana Roo Mobility Institute (Imoveqroo) had several seized units being transported on the back of a flatbed tow truck when their owners intercepted the transfer.
The owners of the units accused Imoveqroo personnel of trying to steal the mototaxis. However Rodrigo Alcázar Urrutia, the Director of Imoveqroo, said the units were being transferred to the corral of Playa del Carmen since the Cozumel corral was full.
He explained that the corral of Cozumel is small and cannot handle any more vehicles, and since operations are constant, the Cozumel area was saturated, which is why they were relocating the excess vehicles.
“At no time was anything being stolen because the vehicles were in the custody of the authorities. They are guarded by authorities due to a violation of the Mobility Law, so it was not an issue of theft,” he explained.
It was around 11:00 p.m. when the commotion began. Three of the seized units were removed from the flatbed of the tow truck and driven away by angry owners.
Urrutia said the incident will be reported to the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE). Regarding the status of the motorcycle taxis removed from the tow truck, “that is an issue that the Attorney General’s Office will have to determine based on the complaints that are filed. The Attorney General’s Office will then have to make an arrest of the people responsible.”
On Thursday, island officials set up checkpoints on busy Cozumel roadways where they stopped vehicles to ensure drivers had licenses and the vehicles had up to date paperwork.
Eight motorcycles, three cars and a van for seized for lack of documentation, licenses and up-to-date license plates. Imoveqroo removed one motorcycle taxi from circulating on public streets due to lack of permission to operate.
