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Authorities in Quintana Roo are clamping down on taxi drivers in Quintana Roo, particularly in the southern city of Chetumal. It was reported by local news this week that the Mobility Institute of the State of Quintana Roo (Imoveqroo) will increase the supervision of taxi drivers in Chetumal starting this week in order to protect international tourists and other passengers, keeping a keen eye out for any drivers that are working while under the influence.
The announcement comes following an incident where a Chetumal taxi driver was driving while intoxicated on Calzada Del Centenario, which in turn posed a serious risk of a traffic accident.
As a result, the Imoveqroo reported that they will show no tolerance for this kind of conduct. According to their data, a large number of car crashes and collisions in the region are the result of drivers operating their vehicles while intoxicated with alcohol.
New Sanctions Include Checkpoints, Revoking Of License
Among the new measures, checkpoints will be put in place at stations throughout the day and in the evening to check the blood alcohol level of local taxi drivers. If any are found to be under the influence, their driver’s license will be revoked.
There are currently 1,936 taxis in operation in Chetumal, the capital city of the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.
According to the local news report, Imoveqroo’s Licensing Department will take charge of the enactment of these new procedures, prioritizing the health and safety of passengers in the region of Chetumal.
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All About Chetumal – Information For Travelers
On top of being the capital city of Quintana Roo state, Chetumal is a popular stopping point on the way to Belize and the rest of the Central American continent. It’s also a quick drive away from Bacalar, one of the biggest tourist destinations in Quintana Roo.
While the city is approximately 250 miles south of Cancun, the local Quintana Roo news report asked whether these types of measures on local taxi drivers will be applied in Cancun and the surrounding area.
As it stands, this new guidance will only apply to taxi drivers located in and operating in Chetumal, but the guidance could be implemented in other areas at any time.
Chetumal Taxi Drivers Will Have To Take A Training Course
On top of these new measures that will be put in place immediately, some Chetumal taxi drivers will also be subject to an additional training course. The report states that 34 local operators will be given the course, whether they go in to renew their license or are applying for the first time going forward.
“This first course was taught by Commander Alberto Notario Nuñez. The course lasts five hours and ends on November 5 with another five hours, which will allow the certificates to be awarded to the participants,” an Imoveqroo official reported.
Measures May Soon Apply To Public Transportation Drivers In Chetumal
As for public transportation guidance in the region, some officials have also agreed to increase measures to prevent taxi drivers from drinking and operating their vehicles.
Following the announcement, the General Secretary of the Single Union of Rental Car Drivers in Chetumal, Julio César Castilla Zapata, commented that tightened “supervision operations” will soon be in place to prevent local public transportation drivers from driving under the influence.
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