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Charles

Sep 13, 2001, 5:19 PM

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Licence Plate in Mexico City

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What are the rules about driving through Mexico City.
The odd Even plates rule.
Do they apply to out of the country plates ?
My personalized plate begins with a C and ends with a D

Ernie Gorrie

Sep 13, 2001, 6:42 PM

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Search Reveals

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The following page has the information that interests you.

sermextr

Sep 14, 2001, 12:18 PM

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The situation is more confused than the referenced web page reveals. Part of the law says that additional restrictions can be announced. As tourists, we are unlikely to know whether or not such an announcement has been made. Also, the restrictions aren't enforced just in Mexico City or even in DF. Some of the adjoining municipalities also enforce the restrictions but there is no published list of which municipalities. I know that because I asked at the headquarters of all the major police agencies in Mexico City. The Mexican Tourist Board SECTUR doesn't have a list and neither does Guia Roji.As you can easily imagine, this confusion leads to many abuses by police. You could be stopped on any day and told you are violating an "announced additional restriction". Further, you could be outside the driving zone and be told that you're within it.As far as I'm concerned, this is only one more reason not to drive in or near MC.: The following page has the information that interests you.

dianne

Sep 16, 2001, 7:30 PM

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Licence Plate in Mexico City

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Even if you carry the rules, they will say you did something else wrong. Also, make sure you wear your seatbelt. We have paid the fine 3 times. Do not carry a lot of cash. Have a certain amount to pay the bribe in US and or pesos. Just say the only other currency you have is travelers checks if you get stopped. If it is legitimate, they will take the travelers checks. However, the fine is about $140 - 200. If they are just bribing you, they will negotiate for a lot less. I agree, if at all possible, avoid it, but for a direct route, that it difficult to do. I'd rather just pay a flat out fine reasonable fine than be intimtidated with several cops with guns surrounding me.

RexC

Sep 17, 2001, 11:19 PM

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Licence Plate in Mexico City / information sites

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Click on the link below for the general rules re: a day without driving, in Mexico City. There is a lot of info on this site. Pollution standards, the pollution readings for the day, etc. It is a commecial site, but the info is good. Go to http://www.cccav.org for info re: the rules in Puebla. They are identical. Basically, you are required to observe this law anywhere in the Valle de Mexico, and The City of Puebla.As you approach the last cuota (toll booth)leading to Mexico City, you will see a large sign designating which days you may drive your car in the city. Here in Cuernavaca, there is a similar sign as you leave town. The information is also listed in the first pages in the local phone book here. The driving restriction for the day starts at 5 AM, and ends at 10 PM. You will usually see many vehicles, mostly trucks, parked at the side of the road just before the cuotas. They are waiting for 10 PM, so they can enter the city.I wouldn't be too concerned about the Doble Hoy No Circula days, when the no driving days switch from your ending licence plate number, to the ending odd or even numbers. Those extra polution alerts are few, and far between. I can't remember when the last one occured.They are always announced on radio, TV, newspapers, etc. If your have any doubts, or need more information, call this phone number in the city, 5 658 1111. If there is a polution alert, which triggers the Doble No Hoy circula, you can find out if it will start with an odd, or even number. The colored stickers mentioned in the law refer to stickers issued to locally registered cars. There are exemptions available to this law for newer, locally registered cars only. 1993 and older cars are not eligible for this exemption.If you have personalized license plates, with all letters , and no numbers, you may drive all week with no non driving days. There is a myth that those cars can not be driven on Fridays. This is not true. The law makes no mention of that type of plate. I am sure that there will be some people that will post to say that is wrong, they always do. I have read the law, and it is really not mentioned. If you are nervous about it, certainly you can't get in trouble for not driving on a friday.Don't worry about the police harassing you over this. I have never heard of that happening to anyone that was not driving in the city on the wrong day. My wife is from Mexico, D. F., and I have been visiting there for over 15 years. We lived there for a few months this year, before moving to Cuernavaca. We have two American registered cars here, we have never been singled out by any police. If you have any problems making phone calls here, a good number to have with you is the tourist information number, it is 090. It is good all over Mexico. The operators all speak English, and can tell you how to place 800 or 888 or collect calls to the USA, etc.I hope this helps, if you are used to driving in any large city, you will have no problems here. Try to learn what the local traffic signs mean, if you are aproaching a green light, and it begins flashing, it means it is about to change, think of it like it is an amber light in the USA. That one was a mystery to me for quite a while. Have a good visit, Rex : What are the rules about driving through Mexico City.
: The odd Even plates rule.
: Do they apply to out of the country plates ?
: My personalized plate begins with a C and ends with a D

RexC

Sep 17, 2001, 11:36 PM

Post #6 of 8 (1460 views)

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Licence Plate in Mexico City / information sites/ This link sould work, sorry about that

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: Click on the link below for the general rules re: a day without driving, in Mexico City. There is a lot of info on this site. Pollution standards, the pollution readings for the day, etc. It is a commecial site, but the info is good. Go to http://www.cccav.org for info re: the rules in Puebla. They are identical. Basically, you are required to observe this law anywhere in the Valle de Mexico, and The City of Puebla.: As you approach the last cuota (toll booth)leading to Mexico City, you will see a large sign designating which days you may drive your car in the city. Here in Cuernavaca, there is a similar sign as you leave town. The information is also listed in the first pages in the local phone book here. : The driving restriction for the day starts at 5 AM, and ends at 10 PM. You will usually see many vehicles, mostly trucks, parked at the side of the road just before the cuotas. They are waiting for 10 PM, so they can enter the city.: I wouldn't be too concerned about the Doble Hoy No Circula days, when the no driving days switch from your ending licence plate number, to the ending odd or even numbers. Those extra polution alerts are few, and far between. I can't remember when the last one occured.: They are always announced on radio, TV, newspapers, etc. If your have any doubts, or need more information, call this phone number in the city, 5 658 1111. If there is a polution alert, which triggers the Doble No Hoy circula, you can find out if it will start with an odd, or even number. : The colored stickers mentioned in the law refer to stickers issued to locally registered cars. There are exemptions available to this law for newer, locally registered cars only. 1993 and older cars are not eligible for this exemption.: If you have personalized license plates, with all letters , and no numbers, you may drive all week with no non driving days. There is a myth that those cars can not be driven on Fridays. This is not true. The law makes no mention of that type of plate. : I am sure that there will be some people that will post to say that is wrong, they always do. I have read the law, and it is really not mentioned. If you are nervous about it, certainly you can't get in trouble for not driving on a friday.: Don't worry about the police harassing you over this. I have never heard of that happening to anyone that was not driving in the city on the wrong day. : My wife is from Mexico, D. F., and I have been visiting there for over 15 years. We lived there for a few months this year, before moving to Cuernavaca. We have two American registered cars here, we have never been singled out by any police. : If you have any problems making phone calls here, a good number to have with you is the tourist information number, it is 090. It is good all over Mexico. The operators all speak English, and can tell you how to place 800 or 888 or collect calls to the USA, etc.: I hope this helps, if you are used to driving in any large city, you will have no problems here. Try to learn what the local traffic signs mean, if you are aproaching a green light, and it begins flashing, it means it is about to change, think of it like it is an amber light in the USA. That one was a mystery to me for quite a while. : Have a good visit, Rex : : : : What are the rules about driving through Mexico City.
: : The odd Even plates rule.
: : Do they apply to out of the country plates ?
: : My personalized plate begins with a C and ends with a D

RexC

Sep 17, 2001, 11:40 PM

Post #7 of 8 (1460 views)

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Licence Plate in Mexico City / information sites/ third times the charm?

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: : Click on the link below for the general rules re: a day without driving, in Mexico City. There is a lot of info on this site. Pollution standards, the pollution readings for the day, etc. It is a commecial site, but the info is good. Go to http://www.cccav.org for info re: the rules in Puebla. They are identical. Basically, you are required to observe this law anywhere in the Valle de Mexico, and The City of Puebla.: : As you approach the last cuota (toll booth)leading to Mexico City, you will see a large sign designating which days you may drive your car in the city. Here in Cuernavaca, there is a similar sign as you leave town. The information is also listed in the first pages in the local phone book here. : : The driving restriction for the day starts at 5 AM, and ends at 10 PM. You will usually see many vehicles, mostly trucks, parked at the side of the road just before the cuotas. They are waiting for 10 PM, so they can enter the city.: : I wouldn't be too concerned about the Doble Hoy No Circula days, when the no driving days switch from your ending licence plate number, to the ending odd or even numbers. Those extra polution alerts are few, and far between. I can't remember when the last one occured.: : They are always announced on radio, TV, newspapers, etc. If your have any doubts, or need more information, call this phone number in the city, 5 658 1111. If there is a polution alert, which triggers the Doble No Hoy circula, you can find out if it will start with an odd, or even number. : : The colored stickers mentioned in the law refer to stickers issued to locally registered cars. There are exemptions available to this law for newer, locally registered cars only. 1993 and older cars are not eligible for this exemption.: : If you have personalized license plates, with all letters , and no numbers, you may drive all week with no non driving days. There is a myth that those cars can not be driven on Fridays. This is not true. The law makes no mention of that type of plate. : : I am sure that there will be some people that will post to say that is wrong, they always do. I have read the law, and it is really not mentioned. If you are nervous about it, certainly you can't get in trouble for not driving on a friday.: : Don't worry about the police harassing you over this. I have never heard of that happening to anyone that was not driving in the city on the wrong day. : : My wife is from Mexico, D. F., and I have been visiting there for over 15 years. We lived there for a few months this year, before moving to Cuernavaca. We have two American registered cars here, we have never been singled out by any police. : : If you have any problems making phone calls here, a good number to have with you is the tourist information number, it is 090. It is good all over Mexico. The operators all speak English, and can tell you how to place 800 or 888 or collect calls to the USA, etc.: : I hope this helps, if you are used to driving in any large city, you will have no problems here. Try to learn what the local traffic signs mean, if you are aproaching a green light, and it begins flashing, it means it is about to change, think of it like it is an amber light in the USA. That one was a mystery to me for quite a while. : : Have a good visit, Rex : : : : : : : What are the rules about driving through Mexico City.
: : : The odd Even plates rule.
: : : Do they apply to out of the country plates ?
: : : My personalized plate begins with a C and ends with a D

Carl Franz

Oct 27, 2001, 8:58 PM

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The comments below are "right on". After being stopped well west of the D.F. for having the wrong plate number, I went to the Federal Highway police at the DF airport and asked for clarification. They were unable to tell me where the enforcement zones are... and they made several unsuccessful phone calls to their superiors and other agencies. By the way, I simply refuse to pay bribes -- in the incident above it took me at least twenty minutes to convince the cops that I would not give them any money. But, in the end they let me go. Don't let them frighten you -- avoid insults and temper tantrums, just dig in your heels and refuse to pay. Carl FranzThe situation is more confused than the referenced web page reveals. Part of the law says that additional restrictions can be announced. As tourists, we are unlikely to know whether or not such an announcement has been made. Also, the restrictions aren't enforced just in Mexico City or even in DF. Some of the adjoining municipalities also enforce the restrictions but there is no published list of which municipalities. I know that because I asked at the headquarters of all the major police agencies in Mexico City. The Mexican Tourist Board SECTUR doesn't have a list and neither does Guia Roji.: As you can easily imagine, this confusion leads to many abuses by police. You could be stopped on any day and told you are violating an "announced additional restriction". Further, you could be outside the driving zone and be told that you're within it.: As far as I'm concerned, this is only one more reason not to drive in or near MC.: : The following page has the information that interests you.