Mexico's Rubén Moreira proposes criminal penalties for officials demanding illegal fees

Federal deputy Rubén Moreira Valdez introduced a reform to Article 217 of Mexico's Federal Penal Code that would make it a crime for public officials to use nonexistent or unauthorized powers to impose illegal charges or fines. The proposal targets abuses such as the alleged imposition of excessive fees on telecom companies for the use of poles, aerial cables and fiber‑optic infrastructure in the municipality of Salvador Alvarado, Sinaloa.

The bill would increase penalties by up to two‑thirds when the offense involves public‑interest infrastructure or strategic assets, and it requires proof that the official knowingly acted beyond his or her legal competence. If passed, the measure would add a new subsection to criminalize the deliberate exploitation of public office for economic gain, distinguishing it from administrative errors or jurisdictional disputes.