Congressman Eligio Valencia López, President of the Baja California State Congress, has introduced a proposal urging all seven City Halls across the state to update or expand local regulations governing valet parking services.
The initiative seeks to establish clear, enforceable standards for safety, transparency, and liability, benefiting both vehicle owners and legitimate service providers.
“When a person entrusts their vehicle to a valet, they are not simply handing over a car: they are placing their hard-earned property in someone else’s hands. Whoever accepts those keys must also accept the duty to protect and answer for that vehicle,” he said.
Valet parking has become a common amenity at restaurants, hotels, hospitals, shopping malls, and event venues throughout the region. However, Valencia noted a growing number of complaints from users reporting stolen belongings, vehicle damage, unauthorized use of their cars, and charges issued without proper receipts.
In addition, consumers often struggle to identify the company operating the service, verify its insurance coverage, determine where their vehicle was parked, or even know where to file a claim.
In many cases, Valencia noted, establishments shift blame to third-party contractors, while valet companies rely on disclaimers printed on parking tickets to avoid responsibility.
“A disclaimer printed on a ticket cannot serve as a license to evade accountability,” Valencia said. “It is simply unacceptable that while businesses pass responsibility back and forth, the affected consumer is left stranded, unsure of who should answer for the damage or loss.”
The proposed regulatory overhaul would cover the full custody chain: from vehicle reception and transfer to parking, storage, and final return, regardless of whether the service is operated directly by the establishment or outsourced to an external firm.
Key provisions include mandatory operating permits, a public registry of authorized valet providers, clearly displayed rates, sequentially numbered receipts, properly identified staff who are trained and hold valid driver’s licenses, and detailed logs to track both the employee who received the keys and the one who drove the vehicle.
Additionally, the proposal mandates that all valet operators carry active insurance policies covering theft, damages, civil liability, accessories, and any personal belongings declared at the time of check-in, with deductible not being passed on to the customer.
The measure also seeks to prohibit the unauthorized use of public streets, sidewalks, ramps, bike lanes, and reserved spaces as parking lots, requiring instead that vehicles be kept in legally approved storage areas.
Other proposed elements include standardized protocols for handling incidents and complaints, evidence related to vehicle check-in and return, clear guidance for consumers on filing grievances with the Federal Consumer Protection Agency (PROFECO), and nondiscriminatory access for people with disabilities.
Valencia stated that the proposal is not intended to burden businesses with unwarranted inspections or to disrupt commercial operations.
“The order of things must be clear,” he said. “First, we approve and publish the rules; only then do we verify compliance and apply penalties where necessary. Regulating is about protecting families, giving formal businesses the certainty they need, and closing the door on impunity.”
