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The Los Cabos government and law enforcement have confirmed their commitment to improving safety in the destination after announcing the random roadside breathalyzer initiative will continue indefinitely.
Roadside breathalyzers were introduced by law enforcement here pre-Covid but were suspended during the pandemic for reasons of public health.
A Long-Standing Problem
It’s an unfortunate reality that driving while under the influence remains a big problem across Mexico. Due to the serious security situation in some states, law enforcement resources are often taken up with more pressing matters.
Los Cabos, thankfully, isn’t in a state where these issues are common.
Why This Matters For Travelers
This announcement that law enforcement will continue on with roadside breathalyzer checkpoints should be welcomed by travelers. Especially those planning a road trip while in the country.
An unfortunate truth is the roads in Mexico can, at times, be dangerous, although the highways in Los Cabos are generally seen to be as safe as those in the United States.
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Fast Changing Attitudes
Mexico has been changing its attitude to policing at a lightning pace over the last decade. And nowhere more so than in Los Cabos.
The police in Los Cabos are seen as standard-setters across Mexico; they have for many years now been tailoring their policing to reflect that of other Western nations more closely.
So much so that they often receive training from and work closely with law enforcement advisors from the United States.
Can A DUI Impact Travelers Entering Mexico?
Technically speaking, Mexico doesn’t admit anyone who has a felony conviction, which they consider a DUI to be.
Although many people still slip through the cracks at immigration, it’s important to know that if it’s discovered that a traveler has a DUI charge from their home country, they will be refused entry.
Mexico has also moved to a digital system at their points of entry, meaning any traveler who has been charged or convicted of a DUI while in Mexico is guaranteed to be refused entry as a tourist.
Although this doesn’t apply to Americans who have taken up permanent residency in Mexico.
Further Initiatives
Any traveler who has been keeping up with the news in Los Cabos will likely be impressed at how often they hear of new public safety initiatives.
It has become common for a new one to be announced each month. And many of them are specifically designed around the protection of the millions of travelers who visit Los Cabos each year.
The following are some of the initiatives announced in 2023.
Increase In Police Numbers
Los Cabos has made a commitment to increase the ratio of police to citizens/tourists in the destination, with a large increase expected to be completed by October, in time for the high season in Los Cabos.
Extensive Public Lightning Installations
In an effort to reduce the number of areas that are attractive for petty criminals to operate in, Los Cabos is installing a massive number of street lights throughout both Cabo San Lucas and San Jose Del Cabo.
Petty crime tends to target areas where they have the cover of darkness to better help their escape.
300 New Security Cameras
More than 300 new security cameras are being installed in Los Cabos to further act as a deterrent to criminals.
Military Protection
Mexico has the unique position of not taking part in wars outside of the nation yet also having a highly experienced and well-trained military.
It was confirmed at the end of 2022 that the military will provide patrol and protection capabilities in Los Cabos until 2028. Their purpose is to protect tourism hotspots as well as support the local police.
Travelers may frequently see groups of armed soldiers patrolling the beaches of Los Cabos. It’s helpful to know this isn’t because of any immediate threat and is instead a constant source of protection for travelers.
Panic Buttons
As alarming as panic buttons sound at first, the intention for these is to provide travelers with an immediate way of requesting help.
The time to dial 911, explain a situation, as well as work out exactly where you are while in an unfamiliar place can be difficult for travelers.
With these panic buttons, travelers will receive police assistance to their exact location at a rapid pace.
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