Tamaulipas Governor Calls Nuevo León’s Tourist Pass a Restriction on Constitutional Freedom of Movement
The decision by the Government of Nuevo León to implement a “tourist pass” starting October 21 has sparked controversy with Tamaulipas and other states.
The governor of Tamaulipas, Américo Villarreal Anaya, described the measure as a restriction on the constitutional right to freedom of movement and said it should therefore be analyzed from a constitutional standpoint.
During his visit to Matamoros, where he participated in the delivery of 160 homes in the Las Arecas housing development, the governor stated that he did not have sufficient information, but reiterated that, if that were the case, the measure should be reviewed.
In recent days, the Government of Nuevo León, through the Vehicle Control Institute, published an administrative provision that, citing security and traffic order, seeks to regulate the growing circulation of vehicles with out-of-state license plates.
Although the government of Nuevo León indicated that the measure concerns security and traffic order, there are two common problems in states with high economic activity: the evasion of local taxes and traffic congestion caused by residents who have not registered their vehicles in the state.
For this reason, it established that vehicles with out-of-state license plates must have a tourist pass, intended for short stays of one to 30 days per year, which can be processed through the digital system at no cost.
The other option is the extended-stay registration, for those who exceed 30 days per year for work, academic, or business reasons, and it involves a more formal process.
The measure was published on September 4, and the requirement to carry the permit in the vehicle will take effect on October 21, providing time for registration.
However, the Tamaulipas governor stated:
“All Mexicans have freedom of movement throughout the Mexican Republic; therefore, it will have to be analyzed, because I do not have the full context of this news,” he said.
Tamaulipas is the entry point for merchandise from the southern United States, while Nuevo León is the region’s distribution and manufacturing center, meaning that the flow of vehicles between the two states is constant.
“I believe that they increasingly need to pass through us; they need to have a greater presence because of the logistical opportunity that Tamaulipas provides, but I do not think we should enter into a condition regarding that positioning; furthermore, we are part of this great pact that is the Mexican Republic, and we respect the established constitutional provisions,” he said.
The controversy takes on greater relevance given the deep interconnection between Tamaulipas and Nuevo León.
The governor pointed out that there is significant traffic through Nuevo León, both for work and tourism, while Tamaulipas offers important logistical advantages for the region.
Source: excelsior
