Mexico proposes reform to shield good‑faith vehicle importers from theft reports

Deputy María Teresa Méndez Vélez introduced a bill to amend Mexico’s Penal Code, creating an exclusion that absolves buyers who legally import vehicles through authorized customs agents from criminal liability if the vehicle is later found to have a stolen‑vehicle report from the United States. The proposal seeks to protect families who follow all required procedures from being prosecuted for crimes they did not commit, addressing sophisticated fraud where false documents are used to disguise stolen cars. Méndez Vélez emphasized that the reform would “provide certainty and prevent the criminalisation of families who are merely acquiring legitimate assets.” The amendment would add a new paragraph to the code explicitly stating that compliance with customs formalities excludes the purchaser from responsibility, aiming to give legal certainty to legitimate importers, especially in border states such as Baja California where the issue is common.