The system introduced to remunerate motorists whose vehicles are damaged after running foul of one of the Guadalajara metro area’s hazardous baches (potholes) appears to be working, especially in Zapopan.
A motorcyclist and his companion received 65,156 pesos from Zapopan authorities after suffering an accident on Avenida Vallarta when they passed over a nasty pothole. The amount was the highest sum yet awarded by a metro-area ayuntamiento (city hall) for such an incident.
The couple in question both needed hospital treatment. A total of 21,816 pesos covered the hospital costs, while 43,340 went toward the damage to the bike.
To obtain remuneration, affected citizens must present photographs of the incident’s outcome, including the condition of the road (images of the bache), ownership documentation of the vehicle involved and proof of expenses paid out as a result of the incident.
In the 2015-2018 municipal administration, Zapopan city hall paid out 343,353 pesos to 63 people following claims their vehicles had been damaged due to the state of the municipality’s streets. Guadalajara authorities paid out a mere 56,092 pesos to 13 claimants during this period.
During the last three years, metro area municipalities received an average of 32 complaints daily regarding the condition of the streets.