Only Sonora Program in jeopardy?

[jerry]

There is talk about ending the program. This would be stupid as hell;but as the new car tax on Sonora drivers has revealed "stupid" is in the new governors wheelhouse.

Guaymas, Sonora. - The hotelier and former head of tourism in the state, Enrique Rodriguez Pompa, warned it could suspend the "Only Sonora" that allows free access to foreign vehicles between the northern and southern border of this port.

The program was created for this facility to encourage the presence of foreign tourism in the region, especially in the beach resort of San Carlos, and attractive points as the capital of Sonora to reduce bureaucracy that generated long lines at the border.

The topic he touched forum created by the meeting of the new integration policy Coparmex in the port and company union representative for northern Sonora, Eduardo Gonzalez Lemmen Meyer said he would endorse the management to avoid that happens, "the blow to be given to tourism activities."

The free program allows vehicular traffic to a point located 20 kilometers south of Guaymas, where there is capacity to process the permits that allow the units to extend the road to the south of the state and the country, but in the field official has raised the possibility of removing it and that should be avoided, Rodriguez sued Pompa

 

[mis2810]

That would be the dumbest thing they could ever do.

 

[wildtoucan]

I agree..with things just starting to rebound doing this as well as raising prices to fast and to much on rentals, food and drinks will hurt tourism. You dont want it to become more expensive than california as people will save the hassle of buying insurance etc and go there. Was just in rp and was surprised at a couple of places we went too had raised food and drink orices a lot...a $7.00 margarita is a tad high for mexico. It needs to stay affordable for tourism comes back.

 

[Stuart]

One.... big.... pain.... in.... the.... ass.... (if they do this). Do they not think these things through? If anything, they should be making it easier (Only Sonora is a great, easy program). Having had to get car permits in the past for trips down Baja and Mazatlan, I can say that this will only discourage travel to Sonora.

 

[Ladyjeeper]

I can't remember, it's been so long.. Do they cost money?

 

[El Tiburon]

I'm confused-would this impact all vehicular traffic crossing the border or at some point futher south?

 

[asprinkles]

It is all a pain in the ass. we got held up for 2-3 hrs every trip to lobos , when they were not in the free zone. you had to pay like 26 dollars or something every 6 months. Life is so easy now. I might just forget about Lobos for awhile if they change all this ****. I've been down for 28 years and they just seem to want to make it harder and harder to get there. I've said enough,but they need to get a frickin clue. leigh. Oh yeah I'm going down the 27th. Ha Ha !!!

 

[mexicoruss]

It took about 10 years to get Sonora Only passed, we were running caravans at the time and stayed on top of what was going on. I do not believe....(i may be wrong) that Sonora Only will go away anytime soon. Political scare tactics maybe - response to la tenecia? No se. We'll see. I might be more worried about drones.......

 

[Mexico Joe]

It is all a pain in the ass. we got held up for 2-3 hrs every trip to lobos , when they were not in the free zone. you had to pay like 26 dollars or something every 6 months. Life is so easy now. I might just forget about Lobos for awhile if they change all this ****. I've been down for 28 years and they just seem to want to make it harder and harder to get there. I've said enough,but they need to get a frickin clue. leigh. Oh yeah I'm going down the 27th. Ha Ha !!!

Couple of summers ago when I went down to Jerry's place I was following Kenny who was in his jeep and I by myself in my truck. Anyways, I had never been that far south so after we got out of Penasco and onto the open road I cracked a beer open. I didnt know there was an aduana stop for vehicle registration and vin # checking. We quickly pulled up to this thing and I was so nervous that I completely forgot I had a 3/4 full beer in my cup holder. I pull up, roll down the window and the lady asks for registration to check vin #, as I hand it to her I look down and realize I have a freshly cracked beer just chillen in the cup holder in plain sight. Well I dont know if she saw it or not but it must have not been an issue because I got the go ahead. I have a friend that goes bass fishing with his dad couple times a year down to Obregon but they used to go further south into Sinaloa and always had to get PAPERS but he never made it seem like it was that big of a hasle. Obviously its much easier as it is right now, so hopefully Sonora stays in the Free Trade Zone/no hassle zone.

 

[asprinkles]

And I thought that sign said free to hassle you

 

[aaronrand]

7 or so years ago we drove to San Carlos a few times, and each time we had to stop for permits, paperwork, car stickers, etc. It was quite the process of different lines, copy machines, paying fees, go here, go there, all while understanding zero Spanish. It took about 2 hours each time, just to be able to take your car farther south than just outside Nogalas. Each time we got a bit better at the process, bringing copies, small bills, etc, but I am glad they finally got rid of that and if it were to come back, I for one would be pissed.