Guadalajara’s “Transito” cops have never been busier, or needed so many pens.
Since April, officers from the Jalisco Transportation Department (Secretaría de Movilidad or Semov) have issued a whopping 24,000 tickets to drivers of private vehicles who were not displaying “Control de Emisiones Vehiculares,” or smog check stickers/holograms.
But despite this high-profile clamp down on transgressors, only 13 percent of car owners have bothered to take their cars for the mandatory annual test.
Officially, vehicles should be tested during the month that corresponds to the last number on their Jalisco license plates. In reality, garages (talleres) approved to carry out the checks will almost always make exceptions. The cost of the test is around 350 pesos. The fine for not displaying an up-to-date sticker is 1,500 pesos.
The regulations determine that all vehicles in Jalisco must be tested, although traffic cops outside the Guadalajara metropolitan area rarely issue tickets. Owners of vehicles that are driven into Guadalajara – even on an irregular basis – would be wise to get the test.
For a full list of approved testing garages visit http://semadet.jalisco.gob.mx/medio, and click on “talleres acreditados.” All major auto agencies in Guadalajara will carry out the check. According to the Environment Department (Semadet) website, the only testing stations in the Chapala area are Taller Mecanico Elfega (No. Taller: 779), Zaragoza 375, Chapala; and Premier Auto Servicio (No. Taller: 755), Carretera Guadalajara/Chapala 220, Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos.