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JohnGaltSpeaking
Junior Nomad
Posts: 50
Registered: 8-3-2018
Member Is Offline
Mood: where have all of the smart people gone?
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update on San Ignacio checkpoint?
i am going to La Paz in a coulpe of weeks and remembered how bad san ignacio checkpoint was reported on this forum. does anyone know if it has since
been changed? or do i need to still watch all my stuff when they check?
[Edited on 7-27-2019 by JohnGaltSpeaking]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64478
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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You should always watch your stuff...
It seemed to be better after I was accused of transporting marijuana there, in 2015!
That is, until a recent post that that checkpoint was like 20 minutes search, both directions.
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JohnGaltSpeaking
Junior Nomad
Posts: 50
Registered: 8-3-2018
Member Is Offline
Mood: where have all of the smart people gone?
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so it's still bad huh? that sucks. nothing like a 20 minute search in the middle of august. ball busting at it's finest.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8802
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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July 5 going north didn't even have to get out of the car
July 11 said hello...waved thru … did not have to get out of car
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Paco Facullo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1301
Registered: 1-21-2017
Location: Here now
Member Is Offline
Mood: Abiding ..........
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Last month Southbound only asked where I was coming from and going to.
Then Northbound a 5 minute search....
Since I've given up all hope, I feel much better
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3455
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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Nothing is going on at the SI checkpoint. Sometimes they do more thorough searches, sometimes not. They profile.
When I drive through, solo or with wife, we're searched in both directions. When she's driving, talk but no searches. Couple months ago, we both
drove but she drove through the checkpoints from LP to Tecate going N. Talk but no searches.
Depends on the shift. Hide anything that can be pocketed. Applies to all checkpoints.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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baja Steve
Nomad
Posts: 469
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Bend, or
Member Is Offline
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I went through 4 times last week and was asked where I came from and going. Very friendly and no problems
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chumlee57
Nomad
Posts: 133
Registered: 11-15-2011
Member Is Offline
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I agree with what Lee says, be careful at every checkpoint. San Ignacio, yup, always a little sketchy, but only from what I have heard. If you are
legit and don't have anything, be cool and look right into the accusers eye and state in fair spanish "no tengo nada ilegal, su insinuacion es
bastante poca profesional" it's a simple shakedown, if you get too excited, it works for them. Too many travelers think that Mexico is typical of many
other 'progressive countries' its not, the pay scale is poverty level at professional levels. It's slowly changing, and thank god. Most people ( the
vast majority of people ) are as honest as the day is bright. I've never heard of a bogus accusation leading to anything other than a slight delay,
please reply if I am wrong about this
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BajaUtah
Nomad
Posts: 190
Registered: 10-4-2013
Location: Salt Lake City/La Ribera
Member Is Offline
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Week before last both north and southbound only asked what was in my cooler - didn’t even look when I said water and sodas - asked where I was going
and that was it. Never even stepped out of the car at any of the check points.
Andy
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JohnGaltSpeaking
Junior Nomad
Posts: 50
Registered: 8-3-2018
Member Is Offline
Mood: where have all of the smart people gone?
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i get the whole checkpoint thing. i was just curious as to the san ignacio checkpoint specifically, considering it was a huge topic a while back. i
was wondering if all of the complaints amounted to anything of substance in regards to the soldiers behavior.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64478
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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I went through San Ignacio six times in 2017 and twice a couple months ago, all were non events.
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defrag4
Senior Nomad
Posts: 536
Registered: 2-5-2011
Member Is Offline
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Drove up and back down from Loreto to the border about a month ago in my RV, got searched at every checkpoint including SI on the way up, I always get
up in the camper with them and watch everything.
San Ignacio checkpoint the guy actually told me to come in with him to watch him search, which I was planning to anyway, maybe they are trying to turn
their image around?
no searches heading southbound, its a crap shoot
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greta-inbaja
Nomad
Posts: 132
Registered: 7-19-2006
Location: Truckee, CA
Member Is Offline
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Going south mid april just a wave through. Going north late June was a very brief, polite search of bags. We travel with a German shepherd.. Always a
few smile/grimaces when we pull up with her between us. I’m always afraid I will jinx our luck. Never a problem in San Ignacio, never a problem in
Cuidad Constitucion.
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billklaser
Nomad
Posts: 142
Registered: 3-31-2011
Location: Loreto, Lopez Mateos
Member Is Offline
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Went through SI checkpoint going south on Friday. Asked where we were going & let us through no inspection. We drive a crewcab pickup with a
short shell on the bed. Lots of things in it. This has been typical the last year. Ususally going north is an inspection, but short and everyone
has been friendly.
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BajaMama
Super Nomad
Posts: 1106
Registered: 10-4-2015
Location: Pleasanton/Punta Chivato
Member Is Offline
Mood: Got Baja fever!!
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Mid-June everything was a-okay there. The usual where am I coming from and where am I going. Am I on vacation? Yes! Always yes. But I am an older
woman traveling solo. Maybe that helps?
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Nikno
Junior Nomad
Posts: 90
Registered: 7-12-2019
Member Is Offline
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I have passed through that checkpoint 5 or 6 times in the past 2 years. During the day it is never a problem. There is usually a lot of activity
around the military barracks and the higher ups are around and keeping an eye on things.
At night is a different story. Once due to car trouble and once due to scheduling issues I ended up passing through the check point quite late. Both
times I was hassled and my car searched quite thoroughly. The most recent time, in late June, I passed through around midnight and was held up for
about 30 minutes. They kept searching and asking me if I had marijuana or drogas. Every once in a while they would find something they liked and asked
me if they could keep it. I just laughed and said no each time. It was a bit intimidating but I knew they wouldn't find anything. Finally they let me
go.
There are all sorts of reasons to not drive at night in Baja, but avoiding getting hassled at the San Ignacio check point is near the top of my list.
I have passed through other check points at night with no issues.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8802
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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I pass thru Saturday night...no problems...didn't even have to get out of the car
returned today...in the morning...no problems...fast and courteous
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BajaParrothead
Nomad
Posts: 460
Registered: 12-4-2012
Location: Portola, CA / Los Barriles
Member Is Offline
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May 26 SB, they just waved me through. June 9 NB, brief discussion, didn't get out of the car and was on my way. 20 second delay was all.
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CJ
Nomad
Posts: 204
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: Loreto, B.C.S. y Lopez Mateos
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's cool with me
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We passed through on Monday I rolled the windows down, the two young soldiers said they liked my dogs and asked where I was going.....said to my house
in Loreto. They said “tiene un buen dia”
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Goyo
Junior Nomad
Posts: 39
Registered: 1-2-2015
Member Is Offline
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For the first time since 1995, I ventured deep into Baja Sur about three weeks ago (around Sept. 7). None of the military checkpoints to the north
were inspecting southbound vehicles at the times I went by them. But this was not the case at the SI checkpoint.
The truck in front of me was also a solo surfer guy who looked to be around 50. I'm in my mid-50s. They spent 15 minutes going through all his
stuff. Then it was my turn. As always, I remove my sunglasses out of respect and I let them observe me doing such just before I come to a stop.
The primary guy asked me to get out of my truck. He noticed I had something in each front pocket of my shorts and asked me what I had. I pulled out
my two wallets - one with dollars and real stuff, and the other is a decoy with a few pesos and an old copy of a CDL). He didn't ask for them, but he
asked for my driver's license then wrote my name and CDL# on their manifest.
Then the other guy went to the passenger side of my truck and started looking through my stuff. He then calls me over to that side. As soon as I
walked around, he had my passenger seat tilted forward and was bent down behind the seat (in the Xtra Cab area). He reached down then said,
"Marijuana" as he straightened up with his thumb and first finger P-nched together. I couldn't see anything between his fingers. My heart raced and
I said it was impossible and that I don't smoke. His partner then comes over and says I'm in big trouble and that the Policia is going to come and
handcuff me then take me to jail and they will take my truck. Again, I said, "Imposible, yo no fumo."
The partner then walked toward the back of my truck and the first guy points to my crotch and asks me something in Spanish that I couldn't understand
other than "las ropas." I think he was asking to see what I had inside my shorts. And at that time, I remembered the story posted here where a Nomad
was asked by the military guys to drop his drawers. Luckily, the partner came back over and the first guy didn't pursue his interest.
They had me move my truck over to the side so I didn't hold up the line of traffic behind me. They spent 15 minutes going through EVERYTHING in my
truck cab area of my Toyota Tacoma. The first guy left and his partner spent an additional 15 minutes going through the back of my truck. Luckily he
didn't pull out every single crate because that would have taken him an hour. When he finished he said I could go. I was totally relieved because I
didn't know how far they were going to take the scam. I would imagine their objective was to get me scared so I would offer money. But I didn't
offer money and they didn't ask for money. These two military guys were older men (maybe in their 40s?). I'm not going to lie ... that incident
totally messed with my head for a couple of days. About 10 days later I came through again northbound. But it was younger guys who just asked a few
questions and let me go after about two minutes.
I initially wasn't going to post this because there are a couple of guys on this forum who don't believe any negative story posted here. And to those
guys, I apologize that I didn't have my spy-cam rolling so I could corroborate my story with video footage to satisfy you. But I decided to post
anyway just to give others a heads up that this stuff is still going on at the SI checkpoint and whatever you do, never offer those guys money.
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BajaNomad
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Thread Moved
9-26-2019 at 07:13 PM |
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