Legislators in Baja California Sur have introduced a bill to classify stalking as a standalone criminal offense in the state’s penal code, carrying prison sentences of one to four years. The proposal, known as the “Ley Valeria,” would punish repeated surveillance, following, unwanted contact, and intimidation, whether carried out in person or through digital means.
What the Bill Would Criminalize
Under the proposed law, stalking would become a distinct crime in BCS for the first time. The bill targets patterns of behavior including physical surveillance, persistent unwanted communication, following a person, and acts of intimidation. It also covers cyberstalking through social media, messaging apps, and other electronic channels.
Convicted offenders would face one to four years in prison. They would also face fines of up to 400 days’ pay, which under Mexico’s current daily minimum wage of approximately 278.80 pesos translates to roughly 111,520 pesos (about $5,700 USD).
Harsher Penalties for Vulnerable Victims
The bill includes aggravating factors that would increase sentences by up to 50 percent. Penalties would rise if the victim is a minor, an elderly person, or someone in a vulnerable situation. The same increase applies when the aggressor holds a position of power or trust over the victim, such as a boss, teacher, or authority figure.
Until now, stalking behavior in Baja California Sur has not been codified as its own offense. Victims have had to rely on related charges such as threats or harassment, which often fail to capture the persistent, escalating nature of stalking. The Ley Valeria aims to close that gap by giving prosecutors a specific legal tool.
A Growing Trend Across Mexico
BCS is not the first Mexican state to pursue standalone stalking legislation. Several states have moved in recent years to add stalking to their penal codes, responding to advocacy from women’s rights organizations and cases that exposed gaps in existing law. The name “Ley Valeria” follows a common Mexican legislative tradition of naming proposed laws after victims whose cases drew public attention to a legal void.
The bill must still be debated and voted on by the BCS state congress in La Paz before it can take effect. If approved, it would mark a significant change in how the state handles repeated patterns of intimidation and pursuit.
This story was first reported by BCS Noticias.