Since June 5, the Municipality of Querétaro has implemented the “Digital Closure” tool to monitor the closing hours of nightclubs and restaurants in the Querétaro capital.
This tool was designed by the municipal government and aims to ensure that more than 700 establishments comply with the closure measures established starting in November 2024, following a wave of violence that swept the state.
How does it work?
“Digital Closure” requires owners or representatives of establishments to record, in real time, the closure of their business by capturing three photographs within a 50-meter radius of the address registered in the application.
These images are validated with artificial intelligence and stored in a log accessible from the application.
Rains have affected initial assessment
In this regard, the president of the Association of Bars and Nightclubs, Rogelio Garfias Torres, commented that the rains have hampered the initial assessment of the application, as a 45% decrease in customer attendance has been recorded due to this meteorological phenomenon.
“I think right now it’s something inevitable, because it’s a force majeure of nature. Given the floods, most people don’t want to park their cars in potholes, because they’ll be left behind, and that’s very understandable,” he commented.
However, he acknowledged that it is a more robust tool than the previous mechanism, which consisted of sending proof of closure via WhatsApp.
Additional security measures remain in place
At the same time, he noted that other security measures implemented at the end of 2024 remain in place, such as the activation of video surveillance cameras, improvements in staff training, and coordination with transportation services, such as taxis.
Likewise, nightclubs are scheduled to close at 2:00 a.m., with the suspension of alcoholic beverage sales half an hour earlier.
Awaiting an official assessment
Furthermore, he mentioned that, in the absence of an assessment from the authorities, the union remains awaiting the effectiveness of these measures.
“Now this is truly a test. We’ll see how the municipality reacts to these measures, to see if the expected attendance was actually achieved. At least on the association’s side, there were significant business owners, who are usually the most serious,” he added.
Finally, he noted that the union hopes that, with establishments complying with the closure order, the Municipality will reconsider extending operating hours until 3:00 a.m., in order to reduce the proliferation of after-parties.
Similarly, the union seeks to increase customer traffic ahead of the national holidays in September.
Querétaro, the only municipality implementing the measure
To date, Querétaro is the only municipality in the metropolitan area that has implemented this tool, although other municipalities, such as San Juan del Río, have shown interest in replicating it.
Source: meganoticias
