BajaNomad

Got pulled over today in TJ

elgatoloco - 10-25-2005 at 07:30 PM

Took the wife down to have some dental work and her brother had some furniture to take to his house so we loaded it up and headed down. On the way back to the border we were heading for the SENTRI lane and there are several gloriettas that you have to negotiate. At the last one I pulled up to the stop sign and noticed a police car to our right waiting to enter the round about from the adjacent street. I waited for several cars to go thru until it was obviously clear. During that time the cop car did not move even though 3 or 4 cars had passed directly by him on both the left and right. I said to my wife and her brother that this guy is waiting for gringo in big truck, that he must have dinner plans at Hacienda de Tijuana and he wants us to buy. I then proceeded slowly off the line and around the statue of the nude gal shooting the arrow and here he comes lights flashing. We pull over. He gets out and pretends he is talking into his radio calling in our license plate. Then he walks up to the window and says in spanish that we have three people in the front seat (F-250) that's against the law. I point to the wife's seatbelt around her waist and say "como?" He looks disappointed and waves for us to go and I slam it in drive and hammer it to the SENTRI lane.

This has to be at least a dozen times I have been pulled over in the last 6-7 years. Once I got a ticket for going the wrong way in La Paz the fine was $ 11.26 US. That is all the money I have ever had to part with to date.

VIVA MEXICO!

It's not too early.....

Hook - 10-25-2005 at 08:27 PM

....for them to be thinking about Christmas shopping money.:lol:

surfer jim - 10-25-2005 at 08:51 PM

Thanks for the laugh hook.....:lol:

bajaden - 10-25-2005 at 11:27 PM

Maybe I'll make a trip to TJ and see if I can support their cause. Never been stopped there, but I've been followed a few times.

capt. mike - 10-26-2005 at 04:11 AM

bastards....glad i fly.

Spyderman - 10-26-2005 at 05:09 AM

Good, no mordida.

Spyderman - 10-26-2005 at 05:10 AM

I've been stopped a couple of times over the years. I have heard acting really dumb works getting off.

vandenberg - 10-26-2005 at 07:14 AM

Qualifies me, don't even have to act:lol::lol::lol::lol:

Baja Bernie - 10-26-2005 at 07:32 AM

Drivin' through TJ for over 40 years and never stopped.

Guess it is the older vehicles I prefer to drive in Baja--the best one was an old Toyota with a cow catcher and a few dings--even the women drivers would not tangle with that baby.

Oso - 10-26-2005 at 08:19 AM

BTW, the "nude gal" is Diana, goddess of the hunt. It's a copy of the one in Mexico City on Paseo de La Reforma at the foot of Chapultepec Castle.

lizard lips - 10-26-2005 at 08:46 AM

I love the reasons they stop you. I got pulled over for not coming to a complete stop in a residential neighborhood. Its probably true that my wheels were still moving but a snail could have had time to get out of the way of my tire. I wait for my wife all the time when she has something to do in Ensenada and I count the cars that do not come to a complete stop. it keeps me occupied. In La Paz if you stop at a stop sign you WILL get rear ended.Three people in the front seat, thats a good one. I also like the "You are not wearing a seat belt". That's a classic, or you have a tail light out, or your tags have expired, or your window is broken and your girlfriend is flat chested. Is there a Police Handbook for cops in Mexico with all of these Gringo infractions?

Full and Complete Stop

MrBillM - 10-26-2005 at 09:07 AM

Years back, in the U.S., I received a ticket for not coming to a complete stop at a traffic sign. Signed up and went to traffic school. The instructor was a CHP officer. When discussing that offense, he said that he focuses on the front wheel of the vehicle and if he notes ANY movement at all, it is a violation. My reply was "so, you're one of those [buttcracks] that I <b-tch> about". Luckily, it wasn't possible to be failed from traffic school as long as you showed up. Otherwise, I'd have been dead meat.

Please, you've got to be kidding

fdt - 10-26-2005 at 10:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
I love the reasons they stop you. I got pulled over for not coming to a complete stop in a residential neighborhood. Its probably true that my wheels were still moving but a snail could have had time to get out of the way of my tire. I wait for my wife all the time when she has something to do in Ensenada and I count the cars that do not come to a complete stop. it keeps me occupied. In La Paz if you stop at a stop sign you WILL get rear ended.Three people in the front seat, thats a good one. I also like the "You are not wearing a seat belt". That's a classic, or you have a tail light out, or your tags have expired, or your window is broken and your girlfriend is flat chested. Is there a Police Handbook for cops in Mexico with all of these Gringo infractions?
:?:
Wile I agree with you in the part of comming to a complete stop in La Paz can be a cause to get rear ended, I dissagree that the others you mention are gringo infractions. They are just infractions that apply to all of us. elgatoloco's response was correct and showed him the seat belt so the cop was mistaken and waved him to go, you can find that in http://www.tijuana.gob.mx/Reglamentos/ReglamentoDeTransito/R... # 56 fraccion VII. I was pulled over for my got baja? sticker in the back and I had to prove that it was not obstructing visibility, that would be Articulo #36 of the same handbook you asked for. Now if I go to California, there is also a handbook or law for that state that has all or more of the same Mexicano Infractions listed. It probably does'nt have a flat chested girlfriend rule but it might have a vieja nalgona one :lol:

lizard lips - 10-26-2005 at 11:08 AM

Please you've got to be kidding?

fdt, I assume that you believe everything you read in that book you are referring to. All you have to do is take a drive through the streets of TJ or Ensenada and see all of the cars with Mexican drivers that do not have current registration or for that matter even a license plate, with broken windows, and tails lights out and are they pulled over for an infraction? But if a gringo has any of these he will be singled out, pulled over, and hit up for mordita. Please tell me Im wrong, please......That was my intent on posting that message. How many times do you see a vehicle making a right turn or left turn from the lane next to the indicated lane. In Mexico, all the time. I did it once but because I had Cali license plates I was singled out and paid the fine. While the cop was talking to me at least 20 cars did the same thing while we were there. Did he remain to ticket others NO. Just me.

So whats your point fdt? That the traffic laws in Mexico are for everyone? Well in essence they are but thye are largely overlooked if you have Baja plates.

bajalou - 10-26-2005 at 11:13 AM

I was stopped for speeding near Rio Hardy heading to Mexicali. A car with Baja plates was also stopped. The Fed Hghy officer got the registration & dr. lic. from the driver of the other car and then came to me (carring the papers from the BC car). Told me I was speeding and to drive slower in the future and Ok to go-. Headed back to the BC car and started writing.?????

:biggrin:

lizard lips - 10-26-2005 at 11:55 AM

bajalou, I am not suggesting that every single instance or occurance when you are pulled over that the cop is profileing. That was not my intent for my post. My Brother in Law is a Captian for the Federal de Caminos and he agrees with me what happens with respect to what I wrote. Now I assume we will hear from everyone who has had a good experience with the Mexican Police. Well, I have had several good stories to tell as well, but more of the kind where I was profiled because of who I am and what I drive. I also have the story of when I was beaten unconscience by the Mexican Police for something I did not do....Thats for another time.

bajalou - 10-26-2005 at 12:13 PM

lizardlips,l I don't doubt your experiences at all, just sharing one of mine. I haven't experienced what you have, but certainly believe you. I have paid fines several times for speeding and not stopping at stop signs - and I was always guilty as charged. Like someone else said, I drive older pickups - nothing fancy so probably am less of a target.

What a place!

neilmac - 10-26-2005 at 01:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
BTW, the "nude gal" is Diana, goddess of the hunt. It's a copy of the one in Mexico City on Paseo de La Reforma at the foot of Chapultepec Castle.


Coed nekkid bowhuntin!... and the family wonders why I love Mexico!

Neil

Spyderman - 10-26-2005 at 01:39 PM

Some good stories here, some not so good.

larry - 10-26-2005 at 03:05 PM

Five years ago I made a bad passing move on Highway 200 in Nayarit---I started passing a car and ended up finishing the pass on a curve. A Federal de Caminos was coming in the opposite direction and had to pull over. He turned around and pulled me over several miles later. I thought I was in big trouble, but after carefully going over my papers, he advised me to drive more carefully and wished me a good day.

I guess there is a wide range of experiences.

Frank - 10-26-2005 at 03:35 PM

I drive a 2004 Ford PSD crew cab, big, bright, shiny and new. My last trip down I was pulled over at a minor accident scene by a cop. He asked if I could take a woman and her son to San Bartolo so they wouldnt have to walk. I said sure no problem.
You have to take the good with the bad. La Paz @ 3-4am is bad, everytime for the last 3 trips. This last time I had enough, and asked to see the Wezz as soon as they gave me the reason for pulling me over. They let me go...said it was my first strike LOL. I still love the drive down, in fact Ive never flown down.

sylens - 10-26-2005 at 03:58 PM

as long as we're reporting anecdotally (no one's got the stats, right?) i'll share that in my limited experience here in ensenada, i have never seen a car with plates from usa pulled over; i have seen lots of cars pulled over with baja and other mexican plates.

just one woman's experience.

David K - 10-26-2005 at 05:23 PM

It's been awhile, but I was stopped in TJ twice and Ensenada twice (in the 80's):

Coming down the big hill toward the toll road (too fast, he said). I talked myself out of it.

The (former) cloverleaf route to the left, for the toll road, after crossing into Mexico (too fast... I wasn't at all). I talked myself out of that one.

and in Ensenada:

Not using a signal when changing lanes:lol: I got out playing dumb, activated my turn signal and told the m/c cop "see, it IS working"... He got a call on the radio, and rode off!

Towing a friend's borken Baja Bug with a tow strap... (all the way from San Felipe) when a bus stopped suddenly and prevented me from driving far enough ahead to get my friend out of an intersection when the light changed.

This one was a classic, because after chuckling at the 'tow straps are illegal in Mexico' part, the policeman offered to pay the fine for me (as it would be difficult to drive to the station). I asked him how much was the fine, and he replied by asking me how much was it in the U.S.!?!:lol:

Well, I knew that it was probably a hundred bucks, so naturally I said TWENTY!:light: Well, the cop was smarter than I suspected and he requested it would be twenty then ... FOR EACH CAR!:O

I made out good in the end, however, as I requested assistance in reaching the toll road (we came in on Hwy. 3 from San Felipe and had a lot of intersections to get through crossing Ensenada)... :light: Well, we got a police escort across Ensenada and the two officers were smiling and waving as we got onto the highway... such nice fellows!

The money was worth the police escort and the good story I have told a few times!:yes:

As per your request and my experience, yes, you're wrong

fdt - 10-26-2005 at 06:01 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
Please you've got to be kidding?

Please tell me Im wrong, please......That was my intent on posting that message.
So whats your point fdt? That the traffic laws in Mexico are for everyone? Well in essence they are but thye are largely overlooked if you have Baja plates.

My wife a gringa hillbilly from Kentucky drives a brand new Saturn VUE, here were we live in Tijuana, takes kids to school, does groceries, we go out to tourist places like revolucion and no, we do not get pulled over with California plates. I have been pulled over with mexican plates. Not to be insulting to your experiences, but, if we were to get tickets as often as you say, I would have to find me a real job to be able to pay. And no, I don't have amigos policias.

Osprey - 10-26-2005 at 07:04 PM

Just north of TJ (on the U.S. side of the border) a CHP stopped a guy for a "California stop". The guy said I stopped, the officer said you slowed down. The guy said "What's the difference?" The cop took out his nightstick and began to beat the guy over the head -- he said "You want me to stop or slow down?"

wornout - 10-26-2005 at 07:21 PM

I got stopped for speeding in TJ a few years back. A bunch of us were close to the border at the point where the border is on one side of the road and the houses are on the other. Driving a Red Mustang McClaren Convertible, I got stopped. The office told me I was speeding and a lot of people run across that road to the USA fence. Then he said I would have to go to the police station to pay the fine. I asked him to draw a map, then he said, you can follow me. I said if you are going to the police station, why don't you just take the money for me? He said, 'do you work for the government?' I told him no, he said the fine would be 200 pesos. I gave him a $20, don't have a record in TJ for speeding, my insurance rates haven't gone up, and he had a nice dinner.

Bottom line, I have told that story many times and figured a few people should have learned to slow down there. Telling everyone about that speed trap was worth the $20,

Packoderm - 10-26-2005 at 10:52 PM

When I pass through Tijuana, I must be the sole driver in the entire city who drives below the speed limit and stops at any intersection that may or may not have a stop sign. But I think it is the condition of my VW bus that grants me safe passage. Pirates seldom sack salmon trawlers.

Spyderman - 10-27-2005 at 05:59 AM

That's a good one Osprey

pappy - 10-27-2005 at 07:57 AM

years ago- about 25- i got nailed for running a stop sign in ensenada-i was guilty.cost-$10.00( i had a car full of coeds that i had been partying with at hussongs and probably should have been tossed in the klink for dui so paying the $ was OK with me. 5 years ago comin' down the hill from tj made the turn onto highway, headed towrds the coast.made the turn in the right hand lane and stayed there, going slightly under speed limit t 4 am. anyway, get pulled over for being in the slow lane.i was told left lane was for passing only-yes i know i said, that is why i am in the right lane.then he tried no plates routine(brand new truck) and finally ended with you were speeding.i really wanted to say let' go to the satation, but at that point it was OK, how much???cost me $40.there were two, an older chap at the car, anmd the younger guy questioning me. i figured he was a rookie being shown the ropes by the veteran....

elgatoloco - 10-27-2005 at 09:45 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
BTW, the "nude gal" is Diana, goddess of the hunt. It's a copy of the one in Mexico City on Paseo de La Reforma at the foot of Chapultepec Castle.


Thank you for the information!