Tulum mayor says new night clubs hours are part of security strategy

New bar closing times in the heart of Tulum, according to Tulum Mayor ñ, are a component of a security-improvement plan. Castaón announced a reorganization and bolstering of security with federal help on Thursday.

He made his remark the day after he said more soldiers would be sent to help with reinforcement. Frigate Lieutenant Ricardo Morales Santos took the oath of office as Tulum’s new secretary of public safety and citizen protection on Thursday.

In a press conference after the swearing in ceremony, Morales said that he has summoned all security instances such as the Secretary of National Defense, the Mexican Navy, National Guard and the State Attorney General’s Office to deal with Tulum’s current insecurity problems.

He added that starting March 17, changes will be made to the noise level and operating hours of clubs in central zone of Tulum which will no longer be allowed to operate until 5:00 a.m., but now must close by 2:30 a.m. with last call being at 2:00 a.m.

Clubs in central zone will have a noise (music) limit of 60 decibels. Bars in the coastal area will still have to shut by 1:30 a.m. (last call at 1:00 a.m.) and abide by a noise level maximum of of 65 decibels.

“This destination must be taken care of,” he said. “The private initiative agrees on taking this type of measure. We have to abide by the new rules for the good of all, for our safety and that of the citizens,” he said.

Castañón stressed that the Federation was instrumental in the appointment of Morales Santos being in charge of the Municipal Police, replacing Rafael Martínez Ruiz. He indicated that they are going to invest more in security.

“We are going through very difficult times. We are concerned, but we are going to take care and strategize what we are going to do from now on because we want a safe municipality for all citizens and tourists,” he said.

Morales Santos said he is taking over with a force of 118 officers and will work to reactivate the 30 surveillance booths around the municipality as well as the 74 video surveillance cameras that are already installed.

He added that he will work on security reinforcement with 70 new elements from the Marine Infantry Unit Number 9 from Chetumal and Isla Mujeres. He said that with the support of other institutions, they seek to avoid blind spots and have control and intelligence work in the various accesses, colonies and tourist places.

He mentioned that he will change the image of the local police and deploy a security system that does not harass citizens and tourism, given the large number of complaints for abuse of authority that are presented.

He promised the changes within his first 100 days in office.

During the swearing in ceremony of Ricardo Morales Santos, Vicente Francisco Aldape Moncada was sworn in as Tulum’s new municipal treasurer, filling the void of Diego Castañon Trejo who became mayor after the sudden passing of Marciano Duzl Caamal.