Cancún Taxi Meter Plan Advances But Without Security Cameras

Cancún, Quintana Roo — Cancún’s plan to introduce taxi meters is moving forward, but the initial rollout will lack a key security feature: surveillance cameras in vehicles. The general secretary of the Andrés Quintana Roo Taxi Union confirmed that the first 1,000 taxis to operate under the new system will not have cameras, raising questions about passenger and driver safety.

Rubén Carrillo, who is also a local deputy, said the project will initially focus only on the fare measurement system. He explained that camera installation has been postponed due to technical problems with equipment configuration. Although the cameras have already been purchased, they had to be sent back to the United States for adjustments, preventing their integration in the first phase.

The union’s plan aims to have at least 50 percent of Cancún’s more than 8,600 taxis operating with meters by the end of the year. However, only 1,000 vehicles will start using the system initially, pending authorization from the Quintana Roo Mobility Institute.

Carrillo stated that the taxi meter responds to Cancún’s rapid growth and complex urban mobility, considering factors like distance, travel time, operating costs, and supplies. The goal is to establish clearer and more equitable fares for both users and drivers.

“We are in the final stage of the project and hopefully it will be approved soon because Cancún needs it,” Carrillo said. “The taxi meter will allow us to regulate the price of the service, taking into account all the factors that influence each kilometer traveled and each minute elapsed.”

However, separating the meter project from the surveillance system has caused concern. State authorities had previously indicated that camera use would be an indispensable requirement for offering a safer and more reliable service.

The union confirmed that once technical issues are resolved, it plans a pilot test with about 200 vehicles equipped with cameras. This phase would occur later and independently from the meter launch.

For now, the project awaits official approval, with promises to mark a turning point in Cancún’s public transportation, though challenges remain regarding security, regulation, and public trust.