Protesters opposing vehicle emission inspections in Jalisco blocked the main avenue near the vehicle verification center and military zone for an hour and a half on Tuesday. The demonstration, which lasted from 1:00 p.m. to 2:35 p.m., caused significant traffic disruptions. Protesters reopened the road after securing a commitment for a “working table” with state officials.
The announcement to end the blockade came from Jesús García Blake, leader of the National Peaceful Civil Resistance (RCPN) movement. Using a megaphone, García Blake informed the crowd that he had spoken with the undersecretary general of Internal Affairs of the Government of Jalisco, who promised to arrange a meeting to discuss their demands.
“It’s time to lift the blockade, comrades,” García Blake said, prompting the group, clad in black shirts bearing the RCPN initials and the national emblem, to remove the orange barriers they had repurposed from nearby public works.
In an interview, García Blake called the outcome “viable” and expressed optimism about eliminating vehicle inspections in Puerto Vallarta.
The protest began at noon, with just under 100 demonstrators gathering on the avenue. By 1:00 p.m., they blocked the southbound lanes. At one point, they crossed the median to obstruct two lanes in the northbound direction, leaving only one lane open in both directions.
As tensions rose, the group began enforcing total closures around 2:00 p.m., intermittently halting all traffic for five-minute intervals to intensify pressure on authorities.
The demonstration drew mixed reactions from drivers. Some honked in support of the anti-verification cause, while others voiced frustration, with several expressing irritation over the inconvenience caused by the prolonged blockade.
While traffic resumed by 2:35 p.m., the protesters warned they would block the road again if the government fails to provide a satisfactory resolution.
This demonstration highlights the ongoing contention surrounding Jalisco’s vehicle inspection program and the growing public pressure on state officials to address the issue.