Vehicle impound lots, better known as corralones, are these large lots where vehicles with traffic violations, abandoned vehicles, or vehicles involved in accidents are taken. Although their function should be regulated and supervised, a worrying reality has been detected in the state of Puebla: many of these sites operate outside the law and charge excessive fees, considered by some users to be outright extortion.
According to data from the Ministry of the Interior, there are 117 impound lots in Puebla, but only 17 of them comply with established operating guidelines. The rest exhibit multiple irregularities, ranging from a lack of basic infrastructure to abusive practices in charging for towing and storage.
One of the most critical areas is in the Periférico Ecológico area, where at least three impound lots operate, housing not only private vehicles but also trailers and cargo trucks.
Charges of up to 200,000 pesos: the testimony of those affected
The situation is becoming desperate for many residents of Puebla trying to recover their vehicles. Such is the case of “Pablo,” a fictitious name used to protect his identity, who has been trying unsuccessfully for three months to recover his vehicle.
“It’s an ordeal trying to get my car back. Supposedly because it was parked incorrectly, it ended up in a tow yard on the Periférico highway. To get it out, they asked me for 97,000 pesos… and then they wanted to charge me 40,000 more, or 137,000 pesos, because a week had already passed,” he said.
Cases like Pablo’s are not isolated. The Ministry of the Interior has received 62 formal complaints about excessive charges at these locations, where towing and storage fees of up to 200,000 pesos have been charged.
They Demand Regularization of the Impound Lots
Given this situation, state authorities have issued an ultimatum: within four months, vehicle depots must comply with a series of requirements to operate legally. These include:
Adequate perimeter fencing
Sanitary facilities
Security measures for the handling of vehicles
Protective insurance for the vehicles in storage
Furthermore, they will seek to establish fair and transparent rates, with the goal of ending the abuses and opacity that have characterized many of these spaces for years.
The impound lots in Puebla have become a headache for hundreds of citizens. While some comply with legal guidelines, most operate with serious irregularities, affecting both the wallets and the peace of mind of those trying to recover their vehicles.
Source: tvazteca
