K7BVT
Junior Nomad
Posts: 56
Registered: 8-24-2012
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Border crossing problem
On Saturday November 23 we got up at 5AM and headed to our pit locations near the San Quintin wash. By 9AM the pit closed and we headed up Highway 1
for the border. We got to Tijuana around 3PM and headed up a ramp to I5 San Diego. Shortly after pulling up behind the cars waiting in line some
Mexican pedestrians started yelling that we were in the wrong line and that they would help us turn around and get in the correct line. Once in the
past we did get in the Sentri line by mistake and a Mexican helped us get out of it and into the correct line, but these guys got very aggressive and
tried to force their way into our truck. At this point I made a U-turn and headed back against one way traffic with horns blowing and people
shaking fists. Once we got off the ramp we stopped on a side street to gather our witts. A police car pulled up behind us with flashing lights.
With the aide of IPhone translator they informed us that we would be getting a citation for driving the wrong way on the ramp. The officers were
polite and after a gratuity they showed us the way to the I5 San Diego ramp which was the same one we had been on originally. The same Mexican
pedestrians were on the ramp when we pulled up to the other cars but this time they just smiled. A few minutes later we saw a full size white PU
backing down the ramp with one of the Mexican pedestrians in the passenger seat. Apparently someone else got sucked in.
In the past 24 years I have crossed the Tijuana San Ysidro border over 20 times and with the exception of getting in the Sentri lane once have not had
a problem like this. Obviously I made some mistakes. Besides the gratuity it added an hour to our crossing time. I am posting this to warn others
of a scam that at least a couple of us fell for. The cops may have been on this but I don't think so. Did the Mexican pedestrians plan on robbing
once we were off the ramp? Possibly but I hope not.
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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 634
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
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Here are news articles about two separate crackdowns, October and May of this year.
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/border-baja-califo...
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/border-baja-califo...
[Edited on 12-17-2019 by Maderita]
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64490
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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All the more reason to cross north at Tecate!
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Paco Facullo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1301
Registered: 1-21-2017
Location: Here now
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Mood: Abiding ..........
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Desperate people do desperate things.. Sorry you got caught up in it...
If you don't mind me asking, how much was the gratuity paid to the Cop directly ???
Since I've given up all hope, I feel much better
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5818
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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In late March of 2018 there were a couple of "entrepreneurs" offering to help people change lanes at Tecate!
They were not assertive about it though, and they left when someone in uniform started walking our direction.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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BajaTed
Senior Nomad
Posts: 859
Registered: 5-2-2010
Location: Bajamar
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Same thing happened to me and my brother, BUT they overlooked the 130 lb Rottie sleeping, when he got woke up he barked once and they scattered.
Cross the border with your dog, simple proactive approach to what we all know is a volatile scenario every time its done. If i'm dicing in stop
& go traffic in border lanes my boy dog knows its time for his act; head out the window behind me growling and barking up an academy award
performance. The lane walking BP officer once complemented my dog training, made my day.
Es Todo Bueno
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13165
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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Just terrible.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3779
Registered: 2-9-2004
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Thanks for posting and keeping us aware. Something new all the time. Heard on the news last night there are 8 more lanes to cross northbound -
ribbon cutting today - says will go faster now. However, I have found that in the past, they're not always fully staffed, so situation doesn't
change much. Let's hear from those who cross in the upcoming weeks to see how the new lanes work out. My choice is Tecate as well. Much simpler -
one line.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5818
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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An odd coincidence?
The advertisement that popped up at the top of the Nomad page when I viewed this post was by the US Border Patrol. Apparently, they are hiring right
now!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Alan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1617
Registered: 4-6-2005
Location: Yucaipa, CA/La Paz
Member Is Offline
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Now just STOP that. You're going to turn it into SY.
In Memory of E-57
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bajarich
Nomad
Posts: 463
Registered: 1-13-2005
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Two years ago (2018), we drove back through TJ with our damaged offroad trailer (that's another story). When we got into line at the SY border
crossing we were approached by some guys who were waving their arms. They asked us if we had our papers ready, we said yes, and they said we didn't
need to be in that long line and that they could guide us to the correct line. They then had me back up, probably 1/4 mile while they directed
traffic around us and pulled us over into a right hand lane labeled for medical. The guy who pulled us over got into our truck and directed me to
drive to a gate where a guard (Mexican) stopped us. The guy that was in our truck got out and said something to the guard. He then got back into our
truck and the guard opened the gate for us and let us thru.
We then proceeded and found ourselved just two cars from the front of the line. The guy at that point said we owed him $100 because he had to pay
off the guard who let us thru, which we ended up paying him, he got out of the truck and we then proceeded to the gate and through customs.
It was an expensive learning experience, but we did save a couple hours in that long line that we were headed for. They guys were polite and did not
seem to present a threat at that time, although we were wondering how much $ they were going to want.
I'm surprised to see that it took two years to end this caper. They probably made a fair amount of money doing it, and it sounds like more people got
into doing it and they got even more greedy and agressive.
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BajaTed
Senior Nomad
Posts: 859
Registered: 5-2-2010
Location: Bajamar
Member Is Offline
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If you bought a round of golf @ Bajamar and asked discreetly, the same SY gate pass access was provided for many years @ 8:00 am only. Other business
establishments had different times for their gigs, quite efficient management of a resource by all involved, sad to see border plan B go away.
Not all is black & white and straight up, the color gray is part of Baja.
Es Todo Bueno
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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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A big "part of the charm" that Baja is .......................
Since I've given up all hope, I feel much better
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JZ
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9262
Registered: 10-3-2003
Member Is Online
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Get a Sentri pass.
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Goyo
Junior Nomad
Posts: 39
Registered: 1-2-2015
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About a year ago, a friend was headed back to the States. He was in Tijuana near the Smart and Final (just west of the Rio) stopped at a red light and
a guy on the street approached his car and told him he could guide him to the front of the border line for $50. My friend agreed, so the Mexican got
in his car and guided him to the border zone. Once there, some other Mexicans opened a gate which is just to the left of the far left lane (Lane #1).
They blocked the traffic in the #1 lane so he could get in line. Once at the inspection booth, he asked the US Immigration Officer about it and was
told it happens often and that there's nothing that US officials can do about it.
On my next trip to Baja after hearing about this, I made sure my doors were locked and windows rolled up when I came to that same intersection near
the Smart and Final (Melchor Ocampo & Benito Juarez). I didn't want any part of that "deal." Unfortunately, the light was red and sure enough, a
Mexican came up to my truck offering me the same deal. I motioned him away with my hands (while keeping my door locked and window rolled up). When I
got to the border zone, I went to the far left lane out of habit. When I was near the inspector's booth, I saw the gate my friend was referring to.
Sure enough, just as I passed that gate, some Mexicans escorted five vehicles into lane #1. Luckily I was in front of all of them because I would
have been irked if they were all allowed to enter in line in front of me (it ended up being the slowest lane).
So now it sounds like I have to be ready for some Mexicans trying to mess with me as I'm near the bridge entering the border zone. It's always
something ...
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Pacifico
Super Nomad
Posts: 1299
Registered: 5-26-2008
Member Is Offline
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Quote: Originally posted by Goyo  | About a year ago, a friend was headed back to the States. He was in Tijuana near the Smart and Final (just west of the Rio) stopped at a red light and
a guy on the street approached his car and told him he could guide him to the front of the border line for $50. My friend agreed, so the Mexican got
in his car and guided him to the border zone. Once there, some other Mexicans opened a gate which is just to the left of the far left lane (Lane #1).
They blocked the traffic in the #1 lane so he could get in line. Once at the inspection booth, he asked the US Immigration Officer about it and was
told it happens often and that there's nothing that US officials can do about it.
On my next trip to Baja after hearing about this, I made sure my doors were locked and windows rolled up when I came to that same intersection near
the Smart and Final (Melchor Ocampo & Benito Juarez). I didn't want any part of that "deal." Unfortunately, the light was red and sure enough, a
Mexican came up to my truck offering me the same deal. I motioned him away with my hands (while keeping my door locked and window rolled up). When I
got to the border zone, I went to the far left lane out of habit. When I was near the inspector's booth, I saw the gate my friend was referring to.
Sure enough, just as I passed that gate, some Mexicans escorted five vehicles into lane #1. Luckily I was in front of all of them because I would
have been irked if they were all allowed to enter in line in front of me (it ended up being the slowest lane).
So now it sounds like I have to be ready for some Mexicans trying to mess with me as I'm near the bridge entering the border zone. It's always
something ... |
I know a guy that has done this several times. The cops were/are involved as well. Most of the money would go to the guides, and some to the cops...
"Plan your life as if you are going to live forever. Live your life as if you are going to die tomorrow." - Carlos Fiesta
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