Los Cabos Tourists Breaking This Rule Could Be Fined Up To $3,000

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Last Updated 1 year ago

Local authorities in Los Cabos have updated the city code to increase the amount of money that people can be fined over the wrongful disposal of garbage.

Tourists or locals who are caught littering in Cabo could face a fine of over $3,000 dollars plus any potential charges that could be piled on to the final verdict. 

The law indicates that anyone who is seen disposing of garbage in any area that is not designated for this purpose could be in line for a fine.

It’s not just garbage though that tourists are going to need to be careful with. Under the local code, people also could face a hefty fine if they are caught urinating or otherwise disposing of human waste on public or private property.

These fines could be accompanied by charges of disorderly conduct or similar offenses.

The local code is being amended to ensure that people aren’t throwing trash around the streets of Cabo. Authorities mentioned in passing this amendment that, obviously, having both public and private areas filled with garbage was not a good look for Cabo.

It’s important to point out that the 3000 dollar fine is the near the maximum amount that can be set by a judge. Fines for minor infractions to the code start at around 620 US dollars. 

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Tourists Headed To An Airbnb or Vacation Home May Be More At Risk Of Breaking This Law

Anyone who is caught littering in Cabo could certainly be at risk of getting fined. As previously mentioned, these fines could end up being added to other charges of things like disorderly conduct or public intoxication.

Those are obviously situations that tourists would do well to avoid. Regardless, it is a good thing to keep in mind that a bad night out in Cabo could end up costing even more now than it ever has. 

Ultimately though, it would seem that travelers headed to vacation homes may be the most at risk of breaking this law.

Authorities are suggesting that both locals and tourists are aware of where the proper spots to dispose of garbage are located within the area that they happen to be in.

Travelers, even with good intentions, that leave their garbage in the wrong spot could be subject to these fines. Also, there could be specific codes within the communities where some of these vacation homes are located.

It’s a good idea for travelers to check with their Airbnb hosts to see where the garbage needs to be disposed of. Asking that quick question can help travelers avoid any issues.

Although the law states that a person could be fined for dumping trash in both public and private property, tourists headed to hotels will probably not be at as big a risk of getting sanctioned.

The hotel itself could add a fee to the final bill if tourists are spotted breaking hotel policies with regard to garbage disposal.

With this in mind, any tourists coming to Cabo should just be careful with where they are depositing their garbage.

Making Sure To Properly Dispose Of Any Items Taken To The Beach

Perhaps one of the main reasons why this increase to the fines was passed was to ensure that Cabo beaches remain clean over the last weeks of the summer and heading into the peak season.

Beaches are usually well patrolled in Cabo, and all it takes is a poor interaction with a member of the police at a beach to be hit with one of these fines.

The code mentions dead animals, organic or chemical wastes, as well as toxic chemicals on its list of items that need to be properly disposed of. 

The more harmful the substance that you wrongfully discard, the heftier the fine. Travelers who are hoping to bring food or even just simple sunscreen and tanning lotions would do well to find the proper trash cans at the beach to get rid of everything when they are done.

As previously stated, it’s likely that this law will be most heavily enforced on public Cabo beaches.