Mexico’s National Guard Granted New Traffic Enforcement Powers on Federal Highways

The Mexican government has officially expanded the operational powers of the National Guard (Guardia Nacional) on federal highways, granting the force the authority to manage traffic, issue sanctions, and conduct vehicle inspections. The changes were formalized on May 25, 2026, through a decree published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF).

The legal framework for these changes is established in the Decreto por el que se reforman, adicionan y derogan diversas disposiciones del Reglamento de Tránsito en Carreteras y Puentes de Jurisdicción Federal. This reform, driven by President Claudia Sheinbaum, modifies dozens of articles to tighten operational control over road safety, transit, and autotransport across the country’s federal road network.

Under the new regulations, the National Guard is formally consolidated as the central authority for federal traffic. This shift allows the corporation to take a more direct role in supervising the movement of vehicles and ensuring compliance with federal transit laws on highways and bridges under federal jurisdiction.

The expanded mandate provides National Guard personnel with the legal capacity to perform several critical enforcement tasks, including:

• Applying sanctions and issuing fines for traffic violations.
• Conducting physical inspections of vehicles.
• Stopping drivers to address irregularities detected on federal roads.
• Supervising general traffic flow, and safety.

One of the most significant aspects of the reform is the establishment of a hierarchy of command that prioritizes the instructions of National Guard officers over existing traffic control infrastructure. The decree specifies that the direct orders of the agents take precedence over automated or static signals.

Las indicaciones de las personas integrantes de la Guardia Nacional prevalecen sobre los dispositivos para el control del tránsito.

This provision means that the directions given by National Guard personnel will override the instructions of traffic lights, road signage, and the ordinary rules of circulation. This change is intended to give the corporation greater operational control when managing traffic or responding to emergencies on federal bridges and highways.

The reform marks a transition into a new stage of surveillance for Mexico’s federal highways. By integrating these transit duties into the National Guard’s responsibilities, the administration aims to strengthen the enforcement of road safety and the regulation of autotransport.