Cancún, Quintana Roo — A city councilman has accused the Cancún traffic police and tow truck companies of operating a system of abuse that leaves drivers paying exorbitant fees, often under pressure after accidents or traffic stops.
Samuel Mollinedo, the councilman for Urban Development and Mobility in Benito Juárez, said that despite a 2020 state law giving the Quintana Roo Mobility Institute (Imoveqroo) authority to regulate tow trucks, the agency has failed to enforce transparent pricing and procedures.
“Many times the citizen just wants to get out of the situation and ends up paying excessive amounts,” Mollinedo said.
He alleged that traffic officers maintain direct ties with tow truck operators, creating a system where drivers are steered toward specific companies. Official towing fees range from 800 to 900 pesos plus mileage, but Mollinedo said drivers have reported paying up to 3,000 pesos, largely because impound lots are located far from the city center.
Mollinedo also criticized the absence of Imoveqroo inspectors at accident scenes, leaving oversight entirely in the hands of traffic officers and tow truck companies.
“If the institute that should supervise is not present at the accident, obviously that’s where the tow truck driver and the traffic officer win,” he said.
In response to rising complaints, the city council is preparing reforms to the mobility regulations and a new Traffic Agent Law that would convert current traffic police into “mobility agents.” The changes would also require tow trucks to display visible rate sheets to prevent discretionary pricing.
