Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Mexico’s Supreme Court Strikes Down Morelos Fines for Sleeping in Public

The ruling, prompted by a CNDH challenge, finds the municipal provisions unconstitutional for discriminating against people in poverty.

Overview

  • Resolving Action of Inconstitutionality 23/2025, the plenary invalidated rules in Morelos that fined people up to 2,838 pesos for sleeping in public, including provisions in Mazatepec and Miacatlán.
  • The Court held that penalizing rest is discriminatory because sleep is a basic human need and authorities cannot punish people for lacking housing.
  • Ministers also voided vague administrative offenses such as “altering public order,” “causing a disturbance,” and “insulting authority,” citing the risk of arbitrary enforcement.
  • The decision struck down disproportionate municipal charges, including public lighting fees and excessive costs for certified copies ranging from 0.08 to 15 UMA, with reporting noting effects across nine municipalities.
  • The SCJN urged local congresses to draft clear, precise income-law rules and, in a related case (Action 51/2025), reaffirmed the legal capacity of persons with disabilities by invalidating an interdicción-based removal clause.