Comisión Ambiental de la Megalópolis (CAMe) activated the first phase of environmental contingency in the Mexico City Valley on Tuesday due to high ozone concentrations.
The agency reported that at 4:00 PM on April 1st, ozone levels reached 166 ppb at the FES Acatlán station in Naucalpan de Juárez, Estado de México, and 156 ppb at the Tlanepantla station. In Mexico City, high concentrations of 155 ppb were detected at the Camarones station, located in Azcapotzalco.
According to CAMe, the region has been under the influence of a high-pressure system that intensified, causing strong atmospheric stability and adverse conditions for dispersing ozone precursors. This, combined with intense solar radiation, led to ozone formation in the northwestern area of the Valley of Mexico.
Double Hoy No Circula: Which Vehicles are Affected?
- Private vehicles with a verification sticker 2.
- Private vehicles with a verification sticker 1, ending in 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 or 0.
- Private vehicles with verification stickers 00 or 0 and red label, ending in 3 or 4.
- Vehicles without a verification sticker (old, demonstration, new, tourist pass, foreign plates, or alphanumeric plates) are restricted like those with sticker 2.
- 50% of LP gas delivery vehicles to stationary tanks without dry disconnect valve, ending in PAR.
- Local and federal cargo trucks must stop from 6:00 AM to 10:00 AM, except those registered in Autorregulación programs in Mexico City or the State of Mexico.
- Taxis with verification stickers “00”, “0”, “1” or “2” will be restricted from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM, following points 1-3 rules.
Exemptions: Which Vehicles Can Circulate?
- Motorcycles are exempt from Phase 1.
- Electric and hybrid vehicles, as well as those with ecological license plate or exempt sticker.
- Private vehicles with valid “00” or “0” sticker can circulate if they have a color different from red and non-ending in 3 or 4.
- Private vehicles for manifest and urgent medical emergencies.
- Taxis can operate from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM on restricted days, regardless of their sticker, to support population mobility.
- Service vehicles (emergency, healthcare, public safety, firefighters, rescue, civil protection, environmental surveillance and water supply).
- School and employee transportation, meeting vehicle inspection standards with valid sticker.
- Funeral car and funeral service vehicles with current verification sticker.
- Vehicles for people with disabilities with Disability Exemption Hologram, Disability Hologram or disability plate according to the corresponding entity.
- Waste and hazardous materials transportation vehicles with authorization, excluding fuel (gasoline, diesel, LPG) carriers.
- Public passenger and tourist service vehicles (minibuses, microbuses, buses) with federal or local plate, complying with current inspection standards.
- Vehicles transporting perishable goods in refrigerated units or concrete mixer trucks.
CAMe will inform at 8:00 PM on April 1st about the evolution of weather conditions and air quality in the ZMVM.
