Puerto Vallarta (PVDN) – Protests against Puerto Vallarta’s vehicle verification program will continue despite the recent blockade that caused trouble for many tourists. The president of the Association of Workshops for Vehicle Emissions and Repairs (ATERVAC) in Jalisco announced that the next demonstration will take place on April 21, with no confirmed meeting point yet.
The protests are ongoing due to the opposition of dozens of citizens to the vehicle verification program. However, the organizers have stated that they will not resort to blockades, such as the one that occurred on March 31, which caused the closure of Francisco Medina Ascencio Avenue for over seven hours.
The president of ATERVAC urged the protesters to maintain a peaceful and non-violent demonstration to avoid being labeled as aggressors or violent individuals by the state government. He emphasized the need to prevent attacks on verification centers, as such actions would only hurt their cause.
Another demonstration is planned for April 29, although no details have been given yet.
During a recent meeting held in Puerto Vallarta to clarify doubts about the verification process, one participant expressed the frustration of the citizens, who feel “trampled on” by the authorities. Some are urging for unity among the people to reject the program completely and take action to rescue the tourism industry in the area.
The previous blockade of Francisco Medina Ascencio Avenue on March 31 disrupted 681 tourists from 32 flights, causing some to have to get off their buses or taxis and walk. Mayor Luis Michel Rodríguez declared the following day that the verification center had been closed to prevent a potential alert being issued in the United States to avoid tourists traveling to Puerto Vallarta. The mayor explained that if the city were to be blocked in that way, it could potentially harm the city’s reputation internationally. Despite this, the verification center remains open and operational.
