Car dealers affiliated with several Chambers of Commerce asked federal lawmakers her support in order to expedite and increase the number of vehicle importations to Mexico.
During a meeting held at Tijuana’s Chamber of Commerce, trade leaders said the new Mexican regulations to import vehicles have impacted other business areas like mechanics, upholsterers and others.
The Mexican government has reduced the daily importation from 300 to 60 vehicles in Tijuana, mostly for two verified distributors, while in Mexicali federal authorities allow the importation of 35 vehicles a day.
Tijuana Chamber of Commerce President Gilberto Leyva said the Mexican government is also using criteria that sets vehicle prices well over their real prices to determine importation fees.
The meeting was also attended by Mexicali Chamber of Commerce President José Hurtado and his Tecate colleague Guadalupe Martínez.
Congresswoman Gina Cruz said officials in Mexico City are not cognizant of the border situation.
She said beginning next month lawmakers will begin seeking for a solution.
Congresswoman María Rodríguez and Congressman Exaltación González, from Mexicali as Cruz, attended the meeting.
New Justice appointed
A state judge was appointed as Justice of the Superior Court of Baja California, said the Judiciary Branch.
In a press release, authorities said Víctor Manuel Fernández Ruiz de Chávez was named to the Fifth Penal Courtroom, succeeding Justice Carlos Cataño, whom Assembly members voted to force him to step down after Mexico’s Judiciary Council decided to disqualify the Justice for inappropriate managing of a federal court office.
Fernández’s appointment was voted during a special meeting held Wednesday at noon.
Justice Fernandez, who began working as a family judge in 1995, was a substitute member of the Judiciary Branch board.
Patricia Márquez Lamarque was appointed as interim judge, substituting Fernández.
Cop found dead in rural area
A Mexicali police officer was found dead Wednesday morning in a rural area street that borders the state of Sonora, said Mexicali Police Chief Alejandro Monreal.
According to media reports, the officer was identified as José Ángel Álvarez Portillo, 37.
The cop’s body was found at 2 a.m. on a street at Colonias Nuevas town, also known as Kilómetro 57.
The officer was assigned to the Guadalupe Victoria rural town station, Monreal said and was a 13-year police veteran.
The official told reporters that police officers found the body after the police agent did not arrived at work at 10 p.m. on Tuesday.
Monreal said the officer had several wounds caused during an apparent fight with unknown suspects.
The officer’s vehicle was found hours later at Ejido Nuevo León in the municipality of San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, Mexico, and an injured woman was found inside the vehicle.
Man arrested on vehicle reported stolen
A 31-year-old man was arrested Wednesday while driving a vehicle that had plates from another vehicle and was previously reported stolen, said the state Public Safety Department.
Authorities said state trooppers observed the suspect by Callejón Tierra Blanca street and Bahía De Los Angeles Street at Colonia Orizaba in western Mexicali driving over the speed limit a 2014 Chevrolet Aveo.
Although police officers attempted to stop the driver, the suspect increased the vehicle’s speed.
However, the driver was stopped blocks ahead.
After inspecting the car with help of dispatchers with the emergency center, police officers determined the vehicle had its series violated.
The vehicle also had license plates from another vehicle, authorities said.
Dispatchers confirmed the vehicle was reported stolen.
The suspect was arrested and transported to the state police headquarters.
