After just six weeks on the job as the chief officer of the Lake Chapala area division of Jalisco’s Secretaría de Movilidad (SeMov), Pedro García Aguilar is making good on his promise to reach out to the expatriate community.
As a clear sign of his desire to build public trust in the traffic department’s force, he has given his seal of approval for the use of a standard bilingual complaint form that is now available at the offices of the Lake Chapala Society (LCS), 15 de Septiembre 16-A, and the lakeside area branch of the Guadalajara Chamber of Commerce (Canaco), Calle Aldama 14, both located in Ajijic.
Garcia outlined the innovative complaint procedure during a May 20 meeting with local reporters hosted by Canaco Delegate Yolanda Martinez and officer manager Juan Manuel Rosales. “Anyone who feels he or she has been subject to abuse of authority should feel free to voice it in any language,” the commander stated firmly.
He explained that the form has blank spaces to register specific information concerning any incidents in which motorists experience negative encounters with traffic officers.
The essential data should include the date, time and place that the incident occurred, the identification number displayed on the patrol vehicle involved, the name and number shown on the officer’s official ID badge and a summary of what happened.
Although inclusion of the complainant’s name, address and other personal information is optional, omission will make it impossible for Garcia to personally respond to the grievance.
Garcia is adamantly opposed to the all too common practice of on-the-spot mordida payoffs to settle traffic violations. He says he will not tolerate corruption practiced by officers under his command and urges motorists to take responsibility for traffic violations by taking tickets and paying fines through proper channels.
“Of course, if a ‘negotiation’ is considered by both parties, I won’t hear about it,” he admitted with a wry smile.
As a word of warning, Garcia advises drivers to keep a close eye on the speedometer as they head out of Chapala toward Guadalajara. He notes that hundreds of drivers have been snared for speeding violations by SeMov video cameras operating regularly on the stretch of highway running along the outskirts of Ixtlahuacan de los Membillos.