Quintana Roo launches online driver's license renewals amid extortion allegations

The Institute of Mobility of the State of Quintana Roo (IMOVEQROO) has launched a new digital service allowing motorists and motorcyclists to renew their driver's licenses online starting in August. The service applies to type A1 and A2 licenses previously issued by the institute. Users can complete the process via computer or mobile phone, including identity verification, electronic payment, and real-time shipment tracking. Once approved, the physical document is delivered to the registered address via DHL.

However, the institute and its director, Rafael Hernández Kotasek, face serious allegations from transport workers and drivers. Critics claim that mobility inspections and checkpoints in areas such as Cancún and Playa del Carmen have become sites for irregular extortion. Allegations include demands for bribes ranging from 3,000 to 40,000 pesos to avoid fines or allow vehicles to circulate. While IMOVEQROO denies these accusations, describing the checkpoints as legal verification operations, local drivers report significant economic impact and fear regarding these inspections.