The Mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán, announced on November 14, 2025, the peak and license plate enforcement of unregistered vehicles in the city during Saturdays (every two weeks) from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm which will take effect in January 2026.
He explained it as arguments This measure seeks to address traffic congestion levels and improve mobility during weekendswhen a significant increase in the flow of private vehicles was reported.
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In addition, he pointed out that the announcement is based on technical studies conducted by the Ministry of Transport, which proved that reducing traffic will contribute to a significant improvement in travel time and air quality.
The scheme will not affect taxis, public transport or emergency services, while existing exceptions will continue to apply and official channels for applications for paid special permits will be maintained.
On daily-date Saturdays, license plates ending in the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 will be restricted, while on odd-date Saturdays, license plates ending in the numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0 will be restricted..
In view of the reactions that arose around the announcement, including general rejection by the mayors of the municipalities surrounding the capital, in an interview with… InfoBay ColombiaOmar Orostegui Restrepo, a political scientist and MA in Development Studies from the University of Manchester, provided an analysis on this issue.
“There is no known technical document or decree, a declaration that confuses more than it solves. They seek to reduce congestion, including accidents, but there is no direct relationship between the percentage and what they claim, and there is no study to prove this,” the expert initially asked.
For Orostegui, this measure is a camouflaged fee, through which the region seeks to generate tax revenue.
“This is the entrance fee for Bogotá. Many people who work in Bogota and sleep in neighboring municipalities will be violatedThis is just an example. It is understandable that the mayor is interested in looking for resources, but the bottom line is that this measure is a tax, it seeks to force people to register their cars in Bogotá or pay the peak of solidarity and license plate, which is 50% more than they normally pay.
Omar Orostegui expected that the decision would cause a crisis in the capital’s relationship with the surrounding municipalities and the Cundinamarca government.
“Here the mayor may be making a mistake, he is sending a negative message, where the Regional Mobility Agency, and the issue of the urban area, have overshadowed its place. What makes us believe that if Bogota turns its back on these issues, without consulting the mayors of the region or the governor of Cundinamarca?“.
Because it was one of the arguments mentioned by Mayor Galán and the Ministry of Mobility, the expert pointed out that we must understand why people do not register their vehicles in Bogotá.
“Municipalities offer more tax incentives, up to 50%, the collection rate is not very high, and the procedures are simpler than in Bogotá. The problem is not only with that, but with motorcycles as well. The percentage is higher than the percentage of cars, and on this issue the mayor does not say anything, but rather remains silent“.
Orostegui reiterated that peak and panel measurement on Saturdays have been announced, but so far there is no weight of argument, with studies, to support that it is a real solution.
“We have an announcement, but it doesn’t say anything else, they will definitely have to adapt as they go. We are witnessing a tax measure masquerading as mobility management. Let them show us the technical studies“.
Finally, he mentioned that the Bogotá Mayor’s Office is far from the reality of the city, where simple aspects such as receiving tourists are left aside.
“It’s a key point, how are we going to deal with tourists who come with plate numbers from other places, and they can’t enter the city. What happens to those who cross through Bogotá, who come from Ibague to Tonga, they can’t enter. Bogota has integration dynamics with its neighbors, but this measure turns its back and ignores this reality“.
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