### Only 20% of Ride-Share Drivers in Baja California Have Completed Registration: IMOS
In the metropolitan area, only 2,563 cars and 2,639 drivers have been registered according to the latest data from IMOS.
The registration of cars and drivers operating through digital transportation platforms in Baja California has only progressed by 20 percent, stated Jorge Alberto Gutiérrez Topete, Director of the Sustainable Mobility Institute (IMOS). Official data shows that 5,391 vehicles and 5,132 drivers have been registered, having received a QR sticker and identification badge respectively, to legally operate.
In the metropolitan area, which includes Tijuana, Tecate, and Playas de Rosarito, 2,563 cars and 2,639 drivers have been registered according to the most recent figures from IMOS. “A single vehicle can have multiple drivers, and a single driver can operate several vehicles or on different platforms,” explained Gutiérrez Topete.
He also noted that according to data from Uber and Didi, 25,000 accounts have been active in Baja California in the past month. “We are slightly above 20 percent progress. What is happening? Naturally, it is a cleansing process. Who will continue to operate? Those who meet the requirements,” he said.
Drivers need to comply with both platform-specific and state requirements. These include a drug test, a criminal background check, and a driver’s license. Additionally, the vehicle must pass a mechanical inspection, and owners must present their Federal Taxpayer Registry (RFC).
Operating permits have been mandatory in Baja California since 2021, and in March, the state government issued a decree to waive 50% of the registration fees for both drivers and vehicle owners until August 30. Gutiérrez Topete mentioned that on Wednesday, they met with Uber and requested the platform to disable drivers who fail to get their permits by September 1 and to notify them of the mandatory regularization process.
“We asked them to mandate the process through the Institute for drivers to be active on their platform, as it is legally required, not optional. So, we need to tighten the screws,” Gutiérrez Topete stated.
State authorities have indicated that they will impose fines up to 56,000 pesos on drivers without the IMOS badge, while unauthorized vehicles will be towed. The state reinforced regulations and inspections of ride-share services following the murder of Paola Andrea Bañuelos Flores, 23, who disappeared on July 8 in Mexicali after taking a ride on Didi. Her body was found four days later.
### Additional Update
According to recent reports, over 25,000 ride-share accounts are active in Baja California, but only 4,000 have completed the mandatory regularization process as demanded by the state. This has led to drivers experiencing long delays, some up to five hours, to complete their registration at IMOS facilities.
Authorities have warned that enforcement actions, including fines and vehicle impoundments, will commence after the deadline. The move aims to ensure all drivers comply with safety and operational standards, protecting both passengers and drivers in the region.
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