This Friday morning, an altercation broke out in front of the Hospital de las Culturas in San Cristóbal de Las Casas. A patient’s family member attacked Municipal Traffic officers after they issued a traffic ticket to a vehicle parked in a prohibited area.
The incident occurred on Javier López Moreno Highway 3, where traffic officers, upon noticing a vehicle parked illegally, proceeded to seize the ticket and request a tow truck to remove it. This angered the vehicle’s owners, who, accompanied by a group of Indigenous people, began to protest aggressively and ended up attacking the officers.
As a result, two people were arrested, and the vehicle was seized and taken to the municipal headquarters.
Since January 2025, the San Cristóbal City Council has posted signs prohibiting parking on this stretch, as it is a fast-track road that previously caused traffic problems due to double-parked vehicles. The measure aims to facilitate vehicular traffic and allow only rapid boarding and deplaning of passengers.
Despite the warnings, it is common for Indigenous visitors to this city to park anywhere, even in restricted areas. In this case, the driver claimed to have a patient in the hospital, but the administrative offense had already been committed, so the officers acted in accordance with the law.
Following the attack, Municipal Police officers arrived at the scene as reinforcements, confirming the transfer of the detainees and the removal of the offending vehicle. Authorities reiterated that parking, much less double parking, will not be permitted on this expressway to avoid accidents and ensure road safety.
As of Friday morning, normal vehicle traffic has been restored in the area.
Source: oem
