Cancun, Q.R. — Once breathalyzers resume in Cancun, cars will be seized and driver’s fined a minimum of 10,000 peso. This month, the city intends to resume the roadside breathalyzer program around Cancun.
Drivers who fail the breath test will not be arrested as was the city’s practice in the past. This time, their cars will be towed and the drivers fined.
Jorge Aguilar Osorio, the General Secretary of the City Council of Cancun, says the city has made some modifications to its breathalyzer program. Drivers who fail will be handed a hefty fine that will start at 10,000 peso and increase depending on the alcohol-blood limit.
He said the program was abandoned due to the pandemic, but now, it is time to start again since the city is recording large amounts of infrastructure damage due to drivers. He said every weekend Cancun has to deal with damaged road infrastructure and knocked down poles and trees that are hit by drunk drivers.
He said many of those drivers are having accidents at excessive speeds. “In the worst case scenario, we have a serious accident or fatal injuries, which is why it was decided to resume the operation,” he said.
Aguilar Osorio explained that now, drivers will not be detained, but the vehicle will be towed to the corral and, according to the degree of alcohol consumption, the fine will be between 10,000 and 12,000 peso. The amount of the fine, he said, is still being worked out.
“In other parts of the world it is a crime that warrants jail, but here, it is an administrative offense,” he said.
Once the fine is paid, the driver can go to the corral to recover their vehicle. Drivers will be responsible for the cost of the tow, he added.
Drivers caught driving under the influence who are fined but cannot pay can opt for community service.
Next week, the modifications will be presented to councilors. He says that by the end of this month, they are hoping to implement the breathalyzer operation.