Bogotá Mayor Claudia López has changed the vehicle licence plate restriction known as Pico y Placa starting on January 10 in a move designed to refresh the mobility scheme. First introduced in 1998 during the first administration of Mayor Enrique Peñalosa to clear up roads for the construction of the mass transit system TransMilenio, Pico y Placa has been modified during various district administrations to deal with traffic gridlock, as well as large infrastructure projects, the most recent, construction of the Bogotá Metro.
After years in which Bogotanos were accustomed to not moving their cars on Odd and Even days depending on the last number of their licence plate, as soon as the Christmas festivities draw to an end with the celebration of Reyes on the bank holiday of January 9, on the first full working day of Tuesday, January 10, the new scheme will be enforced.
On EVEN number days cars with plates ending in 1,2,3,4 and 5 must stay off the streets from 6:00 am to 9:00 pm.
On ODD number days, the same hours apply to all cars with plates ending in 6,7,8,9,0.
The fine for breaking the mobility restriction starts at COP$468,500 for the fine, plus additional charges such as immobilization of the vehicle and days spent inside the pound.
Here, a useful breakdown of the month of January in case of confusion given the new numbering scheme:
Tuesday 10: The restriction applies to plates ending in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Wednesday 11: The restriction applies to plates ending in 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0
Thursday 12: The restriction applies to plates ending in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Friday the 13th: The restriction applies to plates ending in 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0 •
Week of January 16 to 22
Monday 16: The restriction applies to plates ending in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Tuesday 17: The restriction applies to plates ending in 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0
Wednesday 18: The restriction applies to plates ending in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Thursday 19: The restriction applies to plates ending in 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0
Friday 20: The restriction applies to plates ending in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Week of January 23 to 29
Monday 23: The restriction applies to plates ending in 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0
Tuesday 24: The restriction applies to plates ending in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Wednesday 25: The restriction applies to plates ending in 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0
Thursday 26: The restriction applies to plates ending in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Friday 27: The restriction applies to plates ending in 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0
Week of January 30 to 31
Monday 30: The restriction applies to plates ending in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Tuesday 31: The restriction applies to plates ending in 6, 7, 8, 9 and 0