Heavy-handed in Mexico City: Brugada's war on the 'viene, viene'

The Prime Minister proposes arrests of up to 36 hours without fines for "franeleros." Discover the details of the initiative that seeks to reclaim the streets.

Mayor Clara Brugada has submitted a bill to the Mexico City Congress to reform the Civic Culture Law. This bill seeks to eradicate the practice of "franeleros" (a type of vehicle that is used to transport drivers) by imposing a non-transferable arrest of up to 36 hours for those who demand payment or coerce motorists on public roads.

This "heavy-handed" proposal addresses one of the most persistent and frustrating complaints for residents of the capital: the illegal appropriation of public space. The initiative, which is already in committee for analysis, has sparked intense debate between those who applaud the measure as a necessary step toward restoring order and those who consider it a criminalization of poverty.

The core of the reform is to eliminate the legal loophole that allows "franeleros" to reoffend. Currently, a civic offense can be punished with a fine, which must be paid before the person can return to the same activity. Brugada's proposal seeks to fundamentally change this:

• Non-transferable Arrest: The main sanction will be an arrest of up to 36 hours, which cannot be substituted by a fine.
• Sanctioned Conduct: The law will focus on three specific actions:
• Reserving parking spaces on public roads without authorization.
• Obstruct or prevent the use of public space for parking.
• Demanding, coercing, or intimidating in any way to obtain payment for parking, guarding, or washing vehicles.
• Link to crimes: The city government justifies the harshness of the measure by linking these practices to crimes classified in the Penal Code, such as extortion, threats, and assault, which would allow the most serious cases to be escalated to the criminal courts.

Anticipating criticism, the Prime Minister has framed the initiative as part of a comprehensive strategy that combines punishment with social support.

“Public space is a right, not a commodity, nor should it be a privilege. We will not allow abuse, control, or illegality of the streets,” declared Clara Brugada when presenting the proposal.

To counter the narrative of criminalization, the city government announced that, in parallel, a program will be implemented through the Ministry of Labor and Employment Promotion and the Ministry of Economic Development. This program will offer formal employment alternatives, training, and entrepreneurial support to people who currently rely on this informal activity.

The problem of "franeleros" is especially acute in areas with high parking demand, such as Polanco, Roma, Condesa, the Historic Center, and around stadiums and concert venues, where fees can be exorbitant.

The initiative is a political move that addresses a visible and tangible problem that affects the quality of life of a large number of residents of the capital. By proposing a direct and "heavy-handed" solution, the government seeks to show quick results on an issue that generates widespread discontent.

The proposal is already before the local Congress, and it will be decided in the coming weeks whether this "war against 'viene, viene'" becomes law, setting a precedent for how Mexico City manages its public spaces and addresses informality.