In Mexico City, residents reserve a parking space on the street with buckets, crates or other objects, or they pay a franelero, an informal attendant who watches cars. Chilango describes “apartar lugares con botes, cubetas o recurrir a los llamados franeleros” (reserving spaces with cans and buckets, or turning to the so-called franeleros) as an everyday scene.
On August 15, 2025, the Congress of Mexico City approved 24 to 36 hours of arrest for people who charge for parking or for watching cars on public streets.