The Ushuaia Police have implemented an innovative measure to confront evasion of traffic controls in the city. In videos circulating on social media, it can be seen how officers shoot paint from paintball guns at motorcycles trying to evade controls in the city center. This method aims to mark the motorcycles with paint to facilitate their identification in future inspections, being a common practice during holidays when the use of motorcycles increases significantly.
The deputy commissioner of Ushuaia, Gastón Sánchez, explained that this type of intervention with paint "markers" is common in the police force. These operations are carried out every night in response to complaints from residents, and their goal is to identify offenders in order to locate them during future controls. The guns used fire capsules that release fluorescent paint upon contact with a body or object, allowing for clear identification of the violating vehicle.
In statements to a local media outlet, Deputy Commissioner Sánchez mentioned that disrespect for police controls is a recurring problem, and this measure aims not only to deter offending drivers but also to ensure greater compliance with traffic regulations in the city. Although no official statement had been issued at the time the videos went viral, the police have confirmed that this strategy is part of their regular actions to maintain order in Ushuaia.
Paintball, a practice popularized in the 1990s as a military combat simulation game in designated spaces, has been adapted in this case by authorities to combat criminal behaviors in urban traffic. This measure has generated a debate among the population; some support the initiative as an effective method to improve road safety, while others question its effectiveness and the potential to generate unnecessary conflicts on the streets of the city.
