Major Legal Shift: Vehicles Safe from Seizure Over Unpaid Traffic Fines

As of December 2nd, traffic authorities are no longer permitted to seize a vehicle due to the non-payment of a traffic fine. This rule is a result of a precedent set by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), which was published on November 29th. The SCJN resolved a discrepancy between collegiate courts, determining that traffic fines are administrative, not fiscal. Therefore, payment cannot be demanded as a prerequisite to release a seized vehicle. This ruling is compulsory nationwide from the moment it was enacted.

This precedent deems it unlawful to seize a vehicle on the grounds that the owner must first pay the fine. The SCJN clarified that only fiscal debts, such as taxes or contributions, could justify the seizure of assets. This ruling sets a significant precedent to protect citizens' rights and prevent abuses of authority in traffic violation cases.