### Drastic Decline in Platform Vehicle Registrations; IMOS Issues Warning
The director of Baja California’s Sustainable Mobility Institute (IMOS), Jorge Alberto Gutiérrez Topete, expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of registration for rideshare platform drivers. Since the extension of the registration period was announced, there has been a staggering 90% drop in newly registered drivers. The original intent of the extended deadline and reduced cost was to encourage compliance, yet the warning from IMOS is clear: operations will continue to target unregistered vehicles across Ensenada, Mexicali, and Tijuana. Come January, platforms can expect rigorous enforcement actions if they remain noncompliant.
Initially tracking over 11,000 registrations, the number of daily new entries has dwindled from 1,000 to a mere 100. By the end of this year, drivers still have the opportunity to register without incurring penalties, but starting January 2025, noncompliance could lead to fines as steep as 56,000 pesos and potential license cancellations for repeat offenders.
Vehicle owners need several documents to complete their registration: a valid circulation card, mechanical inspection certificate, insurance policy, driver’s license, official ID, tax ID, application registration proof, and a pay a fee of 2,497 pesos. Drivers must also undergo a narcotics test and provide a criminal background certificate, amidst other documentation, for a smaller fee of 334 pesos.
### Additional Information on Ride-Sharing Safety Concerns
Data from the Secretariat of Municipal Security and Citizen Protection (SSPCM) shows a concerning trend: between 2022 and 2024, 15 rideshare drivers from various platforms, including Didi, Uber, and inDrive, were arrested in Tijuana. Charges range from attempted murder and drug dealing to sexual assault, extortion, and theft. This highlights the critical need for thorough background checks and regular regulatory updates to ensure public safety in the ride-sharing sector.
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