Mazatlán asks riders to report cellphone use and alleged abuse by transport drivers

Reporting and context

Mazatlán’s Delegation of Roads and Transportation is asking public-transport passengers to report driver misconduct, including cellphone use while driving, suspected extortion and alleged abuse of authority. According to Noroeste Mazatlán, the request was made during the presentation of the “Attention Is Life” campaign, which covers taxis, pulmonías, aurigas and urban buses. Passengers can report a vehicle through WhatsApp at 669 994 7388 and should provide identifying details when possible.

Noroeste Mazatlán reported that Juan de Dios Mendoza, the delegation’s director in Mazatlán, said the agency can open a procedure and apply regulatory measures when it receives a complaint involving a public-transport unit. Officials said drivers are responsible for carrying passengers safely and that phone use during a trip creates a risk for both the driver and passengers. Carlos Alberto Ordóñez Sandoval, head of the Road Education Department, said operators are told during training not to use a cellphone while driving, even when a passenger asks them to handle the device.

Authorities also asked residents to report suspected extortion or abuse by traffic personnel. Óscar García Peinado, deputy director of Municipal Transit, said complaints should be filed with the appropriate offices, including the Public Security Secretariat’s Internal Affairs unit or the Public Prosecutor’s Office when applicable. Officials said some people have reported being asked for money and were directed to formal complaint procedures. They added that social-media posts do not replace a formal report, although residents may document an intervention and submit that material as part of an investigation.