## Merchants Report CESPT for Unjust Fines Due to Their Mistakes
A group of business owners from various parts of the city have raised their voices against the State Commission of Public Services (CESPT). They claim to have received notifications about fines for not complying with certain requirements. However, many of these infractions were due to errors made by the commission itself.
“I received a notification concerning a fine of 100 UMAS (Measurement and Update Unit) – which translates to 10,857 pesos – for allegedly not having the required documentation for my grease traps, even though I have everything in order. It’s been a huge struggle to comply with all the regulations,” said Larry, an American restaurant owner in Playas de Tijuana. “CESPT inspectors initially told me that my trap was too small, so I replaced it. Now they say they lost the records and I have to pay. I was naive to trust them.”
Dozens of other business owners, mostly from the downtown area, have approached CESPT offices to resolve their situation. According to the affected parties, the commission issued fines indiscriminately, often amounting to more than 10,000 pesos, for non-existent issues or errors caused by the commission.
“It feels like they are trying to extract money from us any way they can. The notifications demand that we prove compliance within 15 days. How is it possible that they don’t have records of their own work?” Larry continued.
One business owner managed to avoid a fine because CESPT made a mistake with the address. “They removed my fine after I proved it was an error on their part; they had the wrong address. However, they would have been right to fine me because I hadn’t renewed my registration for 2023, which I plan to correct now,” said the owner of a downtown business.
The CESPT office on Federíco Benítez Boulevard was crowded with people trying to sort out their situations. Various businesses, from cafés and restaurants to event halls and barbershops, were called in one by one to clarify their standings.
As of now, CESPT has not commented on these grievances.
### Additional News: Ongoing CESPT Controversies
Meanwhile, CESPT continues to face criticism over its handling of public services. Just last week, the commission announced partial closures on La Benton Avenue for maintenance work. This has stirred frustration among local residents and commuters who claim the agency lacks proper planning, resulting in frequent and disruptive road closures. Fishermen on Isla Espíritu Santo have also expressed alarm over a prohibition that affects their livelihood. With problems piling up, CESPT is under intense scrutiny from the public.
Local merchants in La Paz have also felt the effects of CESPT’s operational hiccups. As construction projects drag on, businesses are seeing a noticeable drop in foot traffic, hitting their bottom lines during an already challenging time.
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**Author:** Ángela Torres Lozano
Ángela is a Communication graduate from UABC and has been a journalist since 2008. She specializes in science and health journalism and is a member of the Mexican Network of Science Journalists since 2017.
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