Parking problems around Tornillo Port of Entry shift to overnight hours
Despite repeated attempts by El Paso County commissioners and the El Paso County Sheriff’s office to resolve the situation by placing no parking or limited parking signs, county staff say the lineup of cars waiting to be exported into Mexico continue to clog streets around the Tornillo Port of Entry.
“We’ve seen improvements since the signage went up, and that’s during the day” said Norma Palacios, deputy director for public works. “At night, we’re experiencing large amounts of exporters lining up at 3:30, 4:30 in the morning, with approximately 300-400 vehicles.”
That apparent shift by exporters trying to get used cars into Mexico is believed to be because of some trying to make sure they’re the first in line when the port opens. Lining up in the early morning hours is in violation of the limited parking signs closest to the port of entry, which do allow parking from 7 a.m. to noon.
“As of this morning, we were told by (the sheriff’s office) that five vehicles were towed and 23 citations were issued,” Palacios said, “Just this morning.”
Signs previously approved by commissioners along MF Aguilera Highway and nearby streets leading to the port of entry from Alameda Avenue have been put in place, and now the Texas Department of Transportation will be placing more on Alameda and nearby FM 76. TxDOT oversees those roads.
“Signage has given us the opportunity to issue citations,” Palacios said, “and we’re hoping with the additional signage that will be installed by TxDOT will assist us in deterring them from bringing in additional vehicles.”
The problems in Tornillo began earlier this summer. The port of entry there is the only port of entry in El Paso County where used car salesmen can import used or junked cars into Mexico. New regulations in Mexico limit the amount of vehicles that can be imported in a single day. At one point, this caused a backup of thousands of vehicles on the U.S. side of the port of entry.
Residents in Tornillo complained the used cars blocked their streets. Others said the used car sales men would spend the night in Tornillo to keep a watchful eye over the vehicles. Residents said the salesmen often got into fights, defecated on public property, and left trash behind.
