Cozumel Carriages Must Go Electric Within a Year

Cozumel, Mexico — Carriage workers in Cozumel have a municipal council agreement that gradually requires them to replace horses with electric motors, Rafael Hernández Kotasek, director general of the Quintana Roo State Mobility Institute (Imoveqroo), announced today following a public hearing with Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa on the island.

He specified that the tolerated time for the change is one year, but some have already begun the transition, with five of ten horses replaced by electric carriages to continue operating. “If I remember correctly, the permit expires in June or July,” he added.

He emphasized that the change from horses corresponds to the implementation of the Animal Welfare Law, which is already in effect in Quintana Roo; therefore, each carriage operator has until mid-year to complete the necessary procedures and continue providing service.

On another topic, when questioned about the increase in permits for mototaxi operations in Cozumel, Hernández Kotasek reported that the census shows 540 units, and owners must comply with legal procedures to obtain license plates and receive the hologram required to work.

“A major concern for us is the rates they may charge; this legal process, which had not started, has now begun with these 540 units. If they do not have plates in the coming months, they will not be able to operate,” said the head of the state mobility institute.

He was reminded that the census from two years ago was 350 mototaxis, but due to alleged corruption by the Imoveqroo delegate on the island, who charged 30,000 pesos to include them in the new census, this number increased to 540.

Rafael Hernández explained that the official census is 180 per organization and invited citizens to report any acts of corruption, as there should be no charge to be included in the census.

He justified that the mototaxi service will be “well limited,” as it will cover areas where taxi drivers consider it unprofitable to go, which is why this service emerged so that people in neighborhoods are not left without transportation.

He recalled that the licensing process is very important so that everyone operates legally, as those without plates will be reported to the corresponding authorities. “This issue must be addressed for order, regardless of whether resources will be obtained; it is a matter of security and order,” he added.

Finally, the official stated that those who do not have a permit from the existing unions cannot operate, so if someone promises them a place “on the list,” “they are deceiving them.”