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White Angel
Junior Nomad
Posts: 57
Registered: 2-25-2005
Location: Danvers, Mass
Member Is Offline
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Check Points/Road Blocks
We are returning to Baja in early April, so I've been monitoring the boards here for about a month or so. Very little mention of the check points. Has
the number of them diminished; or is everyone just more used to them? The "regular" spots seem to be permanant and the delays brief. Are there many
mobile check points set up? Thanks for any info. We will likely be staying North of Guerro.
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Cincodemayo
Senior Nomad
Posts: 725
Registered: 3-7-2005
Location: Pacific NW
Member Is Offline
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Just bring an ample supply of Playboys and you'll zip right thru.
Don\'t get mad...
Get EVEN.
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John M
Super Nomad
Posts: 1909
Registered: 9-3-2003
Location: California High Desert
Member Is Online
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'bout the same the last several years
Very non-intrusive and we've never been delayed more than a couple of minutes. We don't even try to speak Spanish, especially with our almost
non-existant local vocabulary.
The only "gift" that was solicited was at the checkpoint just going into El Rosario where one of the guys spotted a small "hot-wheel" type toy -
suited for a 4 or 5 year old. He politely asked if he could have it for his son.
Of course maybe they see how packed like sardines our Jeep is and they don't want to risk a calamity asking us to unpack anything for fear it all will
come tumbling out onto the roadway.
John
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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I've been down and back over the past 7 weeks and found the checkpoints to be the same or easier than in past years. At least 1 in 4 was unmanned and
we were only asked for a look in the back twice, the whole trip. We got asked for batteries at one stop and I played "no espanol" until he gave up
asking.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9006
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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Let me guess....
| Quote: | Originally posted by Diver
I've been down and back over the past 7 weeks and found the checkpoints to be the same or easier than in past years. At least 1 in 4 was unmanned and
we were only asked for a look in the back twice, the whole trip. We got asked for batteries at one stop and I played "no espanol" until he gave up
asking. |
....was that at the checkpoint on the mesa north of El Rosario?
For the ghetto blaster?
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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Interesting, in any inspections we've had over the years, they have never made me unload the dogs from the pick-up. I think next time I'll hide the
drugs and guns in their bed !
 
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Diver
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4729
Registered: 11-15-2004
Member Is Offline
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Hook,
You are master of all Baja knowledge !
How'd ya know ?
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Pompano
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8194
Registered: 11-14-2004
Location: Bay of Conception and Up North
Member Is Offline
Mood: Optimistic
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We have just made the road trip north from Bahia de Concepcion to San Diego. The checkpoints were the same and we went through quickly at:
Army...north of San Ignacio we were waved through.
Immigracion...ID (FM-3) check at Guerro Negro..took maybe a minute to write our names in log.
Army...north of El Rosario we were waved through.
Army...south of Santo Tomas we were waved through.
Pretty uneventful. Guess we don't fit any profiles anymore...sigh.
Just curious.... Has anyone ever seen ANYONE detained for drugs or arms at any of these checkpoints over the years? I have not.
I do what the voices in my tackle box tell me.
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
Member Is Offline
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The only thing I have seen in all these years was a semi, at the checkpoint north of Loreto, being completely unloaded. They dont have dogs there so
who knows what aroused their suspicion.
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MICK
Nomad
Posts: 499
Registered: 11-12-2003
Location: Rio Hardy
Member Is Offline
Mood: livin the good life on the river
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Came from El Arco to BOLA then Laguna Chapala to San Felipe. It seems that there are less check points manned on the dirt roads than last year.
At El arco we were waved thru. the one at the cross road by San Fran. had no one there and did not run into any others until the one on highway 5 at
Hwy 3. The one below San Felipe was even closed.
I have never been thru the one at the 3-5 cross road when they didn't make us get out and check everything. But they are nice we just open the camper
and they look in. They also there never make us get our dog out of the back seat of the truck. Have fun
MICK
Getting there is ALL the fun!
Ok being here is fun to
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8807
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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We were coming back a couple of years ago and the "captain" of the checkpoint came over to me....
He was detaining two 20 year year olds for a joint found in the ashtray of their toyota beater....
He asked me to give them a "Scared straight" sermon
i did....i thought one of the guys was going to wet his pants
They let them go...not enough stuff...They WERE LUCKY!
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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don't worry about them unless you are carrying something illegal then worry plenty
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64540
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Surprised the one at Gonzaga Bay wasn't mentioned...
Also none between Guerrero Negro and El Rosario?
I once came upon the black suited Feds busting someone on the Bahia de los Angeles highway near Agua Amarga... they searched my truck and others
during the bust.
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Tomas Tierra
Super Nomad
Posts: 1281
Registered: 3-23-2005
Location: oxnard, ca
Member Is Offline
Mood: Tengo Flojera
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The dog thing is great...never had a problem as long as "big boy" was in the back..
Them: "?si muerdes el perro?"
Me: "Ya mordio"
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osoflojo
Nomad
Posts: 378
Registered: 10-29-2004
Location: c.s.l./b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
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Pompeno.....I have never witnesses a siezure but I have read documents that speak to quite a bit of meth and "exotics" being siezed from some of these
checkpoints in Baja. More MJ and Coke on the mainland...........
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White Angel
Junior Nomad
Posts: 57
Registered: 2-25-2005
Location: Danvers, Mass
Member Is Offline
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We have seen only two check points that seem to have arrested anyone. One must have been a tip-off because the officials involved looked like perhaps
our own DEA and their Mexican partners. Some in plain clothes; all in Crown Vics. The uniforms were black. The perps in cuffs. On three seperate
occasions we have had the vehicle searched with great effort at back road rolling check points. Never have encountered dogs which would seem to be a
good tool if they are really looking for dope or guns. As stated in the past, I assume these are really for show or to appease some government quotas
for continued funding. I had a scary moment last year when a young soldier approached the driver's door of our rented Suburban which had a non
functional window. I pulled open the door and smacked his rifle with the door frame. Suddenly four guys are in a shooter's stance. We all calmed
quickly and even had a laugh over it; but there was a split second of "Oh my God" panic.
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Years ago guys I knew at a motorcycle shop told a story...
They, stupidly, got caught with two joints on Hwy 5 and were taken into custody. They were put around back until the current shift was over. When the
guards got off duty they helped the gringos smoke the evidence and turned them loose. Maybe not scared straight, but doubtlessly scared stoned!
Talked to a red-eyed Canadian in Todos Santos in about '98 who told of getting caught with weed by two black shirts south of Loreto. He paid a bribe,
they gave him back HALF of his stash and showed him a better place to hide it.
I don't think anyone would recommend counting on either of these scenarios happening again!!! A couple of very lucky loadies.
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9006
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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To Diver:
it's really not my knowledge of Baja. I experienced the same thing at the same checkpoint. Unfortunately, I tipped them off to my speaking some
Spanish but managed to escape because all my batteries were D cell and the blaster only took C cells. It was a weird day at that checkpoint; the jefe
was clearly gone and the grunts were in partial uniforms. That checkpoint seems very lax; I actually worry about those guys trying to pull some
serious crap.
To Pompano: about a year ago, while returning from SLC, there was a semi parked at the San Ignacio checkpoint (my other least favorite) and they were
taking crowbars to the metal paneling on the roof...really ripping the semi up. Dont know if they found anything but they were seriously looking.
Personally, I bet the checkpoints have been a huge waste of time and money compared to what they've found. 'Course the money probably comes from the
US office of Drug Czar.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: In love!
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I have never had any trouble or anything stolen at checkpoints. However....
After one search, I said "Want some cokes" and pointed to my camper door. They froze! And I laughed (a little hysterically) and said "Frescos,
frescos". then they laughed hysterically.
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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MICK
Nomad
Posts: 499
Registered: 11-12-2003
Location: Rio Hardy
Member Is Offline
Mood: livin the good life on the river
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Sorry david, We went thru there early and a hanc came out the window and waved us on.
Getting there is ALL the fun!
Ok being here is fun to
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