Despite the fact that the obstruction of communication routes is considered a federal crime in Mexico, which is punishable with penalties ranging from one to five years in prison and from 100 to 10 thousand days of fine, according to Article 167 of the Penal Code Federal, the seizure of roads and booths as a form of pressure against the authorities is becoming more and more frequent, where various civil society organizations have found in the so-called “blockade” a tool that has served as a bargaining chip to attract the attention of their demands, a case that certain groups of transporters do not escape.
Even when the motivations for this type of actions are not delegitimized, the blockades are a problem that goes beyond the long hours of waiting for motorists and transporters who are stranded, sometimes for days, on the communication routes.
“This causes disruption and chaos in terms of mobility. Specifically for motor transportation companies, the repercussions range from delays in delivery times, route deviations or reconfiguration in the operational planning of a route, which causes an increase in operating costs, greater mileage in the units and, therefore, loss of productivity. As well as impacts on the supply chain due to just- in-time movements , but above all it causes wear and stress on operators,” Ángel Hernández Gaytán, general director of STI , shares for T21 .
Also, blockades are a breeding ground for the commission of crimes, for example, the theft of the belongings of operators or motorists. Hernández Gaytán details that sometimes there is no surveillance and the absence of the security forces in charge of ensuring the maintenance of public order and the safety of citizens is noted, leaving people who suffer the consequences of the blockades abandoned.
While it is true that blockades are not a new issue and are a practice that many social organizations have carried out for a long time, in recent months the practice has intensified due to the lack of attention from the authorities…
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