BajaNomad

Why is it........?

The Sculpin - 7-10-2005 at 09:30 PM

Fred's board had an interesting thread on traffic stops, and it reminded me of something that happens everytime I return to the states. Why is it the Mexican law enforcement, and the military, for the most part, are respectful, tolerant, and polite (even when they're trying to rip you off), and US Border Patrol, as well as most US law enforcement and military, treat you like you're a criminal?!?! OK, I realize this is a broad brush. I have had experiences on both sides both good and bad, but generally, I find it to be true. Are the mexican authorities being nice to me because of my perceived lack of speaking skills? Because I have money? Do they treat mexicans the same way? Are US Border Patrol agents nicer to migrants than to US citizens? Do I approach both sides differently, and my tone to them dictates how they treat me? Maybe that baja buzz we all feel when we're down there radiates out to all we meet, and we're so depressed when we get back to the states that we treat the first american we see like crap? Hell, I dunno.......any thoughts?

:?::?::?::?::?::?::?::?::biggrin:

Pretty much anybody

jrbaja - 7-10-2005 at 09:47 PM

can get a job with the border patrol. Like those fired from mcDonalds, Walmart, etc.. Something tells me that these people haven't had the best of lives so now that they hold a position of power, they are able to get there revenge by making others miserable!
Just a thought.:lol:

Sharksbaja - 7-11-2005 at 02:07 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by The Sculpin
Fred's board had an interesting thread on traffic stops, and it reminded me of something that happens everytime I return to the states. Why is it the Mexican law enforcement, and the military, for the most part, are respectful, tolerant, and polite (even when they're trying to rip you off), and US Border Patrol, as well as most US law enforcement and military, treat you like you're a criminal?!?! OK, I realize this is a broad brush. I have had experiences on both sides both good and bad, but generally, I find it to be true. Are the mexican authorities being nice to me because of my perceived lack of speaking skills? Because I have money? Do they treat mexicans the same way? Are US Border Patrol agents nicer to migrants than to US citizens? Do I approach both sides differently, and my tone to them dictates how they treat me? Maybe that baja buzz we all feel when we're down there radiates out to all we meet, and we're so depressed when we get back to the states that we treat the first american we see like crap? Hell, I dunno.......any thoughts?


Yes, ???????????????.......... remember pound for pound we have many more a__holes on the roads:no:

TMW - 7-11-2005 at 07:05 AM

I haven't been stopped by a U.S. cop or CHP in 10 years, treated well when I was. My only dealings with the border petrol is the stop when it's open on hwy 94. Customs at the border while not usually friendly they have been respectful or at least not disrespectful.

Mexican police have been respectful and friendly.

Federales have been arrogant jerks when I had to deal with them on insurance matters.

Bruce R Leech - 7-11-2005 at 07:32 AM

I have never had a rude officer at the border crossing. but if you are ever mistreated you can request to see there supervisor.

surfer jim - 7-11-2005 at 07:44 AM

Another way to waste time there....and you name will go down on the "people to hassle list".....:lol:

Oso - 7-11-2005 at 07:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
I have never had a rude officer at the border crossing.


I have. Several in fact. But to be objective about it, it's been something like one in ten over the years. The last time, I got sent to secondary where a Kustoms Agent went out of his way to inform me that if I did not maintain complete control over my dog, he would have to shoot him. Chu was on a leash and hadn't even growled. Was this necessary? I submit it was not. The guy just felt like establishing his buttcrack credentials.:fire:

Bruce R Leech - 7-11-2005 at 10:25 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
I have never had a rude officer at the border crossing.


I have. Several in fact. But to be objective about it, it's been something like one in ten over the years. The last time, I got sent to secondary where a Kustoms Agent went out of his way to inform me that if I did not maintain complete control over my dog, he would have to shoot him. Chu was on a leash and hadn't even growled. Was this necessary? I submit it was not. The guy just felt like establishing his a--hole credentials.:fire:


Oso I would draw the line there and need to file a formal complaint. that is uncalled for I agree.

Years ago

jrbaja - 7-11-2005 at 10:47 AM

We were returning from somewhere down here and were pulled into secondary. Carol, my daughter, the dogs and our stuff.
We were used to the border but after 45 minutes without being checked, I was getting a little peeed. Especially since we were watching a group of these "well trained" migras bullsheetin and doing nothing but blabbing the entire time.
So, one finally comes and my daughter ( about 10 or 11 then ) takes Amos out of the van on his leash. Amos proceeded over to the migra discussion group, towing my daughter and lifts his leg on one of the officers.:lol:
I hear "get that dog back in the van, we have dogs that are trained to kill around here." She obeys the orders and it didn't take long before we were in hysterics. Including the guy checking the van! There are some good ones working there, just few and far between these days.

it was some years ago.......

yankeeirishman - 7-11-2005 at 02:31 PM

I remember the cop pulling me over. Red lights and all his drama Queen garbage followed. I was searched, and my car was somewhat spewed about after the inspection. Sure, sure...my long hair and "Don?t submit to Authority" bumper sticker didn?t help either. It?ll be the last time I?ll drive through Modesto! The south of the border authorities have never given me grief, in 19 years of traveling there. Now about them ol? Canadian border blokes??..well?lets not go there, my story will just get worst!

" The south of the border authorities have never given me grief,"

jrbaja - 7-11-2005 at 02:57 PM

It's the ones on the north side of the border that generally have the "Atitude"!

yankeeirishman - 7-11-2005 at 03:05 PM

Echo in here? :lol:

Oso - 7-11-2005 at 07:03 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
I have never had a rude officer at the border crossing.


I have. Several in fact. But to be objective about it, it's been something like one in ten over the years. The last time, I got sent to secondary where a Kustoms Agent went out of his way to inform me that if I did not maintain complete control over my dog, he would have to shoot him. Chu was on a leash and hadn't even growled. Was this necessary? I submit it was not. The guy just felt like establishing his a--hole credentials.:fire:


Oso I would draw the line there and need to file a formal complaint. that is uncalled for I agree.


Welllll... In all fairness, to continue being completely objective about it ... While Chu Foon rarely growls and almost never barks, he does have a rather malevolent stare- somewhat reminiscent of Christopher Walken or Jack Palance in one of their psychopath roles. He is a black chow/lab mix about 75 #. Most people and almost all Mexicans don't trust him and give him a wide berth. Those who don't sometimes get bit. I think the officer in question sensed that Chu did not like him. He was correct. Back in NC, he briefly acquired the nickname "Chew Tires". One day in a supermarket parking lot, he disobeyed me- I think he smelled a feminine "invitation"- and ran from the truck. Another redneck in a truck ran over him (without seeing him, I think) and stopped when I came running up yelling at him. The guy's left front tire was on top of Chu's leg. He did not appreciate this and proceeded to bite the tire, puncturing it. I heard the hiss and saw the tire deflating. In that instant, I knew if it went all the way down to the rim, it would have to crush his leg. I pounded on the guy's hood, screaming "back up, back up!" The guy stared at me in shock, momentarily not knowing what to make of this obvious madman. But then he did back up. Chu got up, I lifted him, put him in my truck and took him across the road, where by pure luck was our family vet's office. Chu lost some skin, but his leg was not broken. The only other visible effect was some black rubber residue on his two main upper "canine" teeth. On the way home, I saw the other guy's truck, still in the parking lot with a flat tire. I probably should have stopped and offered to help change it, after all it wasn't really his fault. But I guess I was still too worked up about it. Chu limped a bit for a few days but was otherwise fine.

Bruce R Leech - 7-11-2005 at 07:20 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
Quote:
Originally posted by Oso
Quote:
Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
I have never had a rude officer at the border crossing.


I have. Several in fact. But to be objective about it, it's been something like one in ten over the years. The last time, I got sent to secondary where a Kustoms Agent went out of his way to inform me that if I did not maintain complete control over my dog, he would have to shoot him. Chu was on a leash and hadn't even growled. Was this necessary? I submit it was not. The guy just felt like establishing his a--hole credentials.:fire:


Oso I would draw the line there and need to file a formal complaint. that is uncalled for I agree.


Welllll... In all fairness, to continue being completely objective about it ... While Chu Foon rarely growls and almost never barks, he does have a rather malevolent stare- somewhat reminiscent of Christopher Walken or Jack Palance in one of their psychopath roles. He is a black chow/lab mix about 75 #. Most people and almost all Mexicans don't trust him and give him a wide berth. Those who don't sometimes get bit. I think the officer in question sensed that Chu did not like him. He was correct. Back in NC, he briefly acquired the nickname "Chew Tires". One day in a supermarket parking lot, he disobeyed me- I think he smelled a feminine "invitation"- and ran from the truck. Another redneck in a truck ran over him (without seeing him, I think) and stopped when I came running up yelling at him. The guy's left front tire was on top of Chu's leg. He did not appreciate this and proceeded to bite the tire, puncturing it. I heard the hiss and saw the tire deflating. In that instant, I knew if it went all the way down to the rim, it would have to crush his leg. I pounded on the guy's hood, screaming "back up, back up!" The guy stared at me in shock, momentarily not knowing what to make of this obvious madman. But then he did back up. Chu got up, I lifted him, put him in my truck and took him across the road, where by pure luck was our family vet's office. Chu lost some skin, but his leg was not broken. The only other visible effect was some black rubber residue on his two main upper "canine" teeth. On the way home, I saw the other guy's truck, still in the parking lot with a flat tire. I probably should have stopped and offered to help change it, after all it wasn't really his fault. But I guess I was still too worked up about it. Chu limped a bit for a few days but was otherwise fine.



remind me not to mess with your dog Oso:light:

I second Oso

Gypsy Jan - 7-11-2005 at 07:23 PM

the job of la migra collects all kinds, but it seems to offer career opportunities to certain "closed-minded individuals" (cough, a--hole rednecks).

I can't add up the amount of times that, when going north by myself or with another female companion, that the conversation has consisted of insinuations that my purpose for traveling to Mexico was, (Pick a, b or c, or all of the foregoing) a) "Why do go to such a dirty country, you must be stupid"; b) "Why do you go there, you must be a drug dealer; or, c) "You must be a skanky hoar". This dialog is delivered in various degrees of masking and subtlety, from obliquely offensive to downright racist and xenophobic, but the themes reman the same.

Also, I have been threatened with the immediate execution of my dogs on the spot, on more than one occasion.

Strange to hear all this...

bigzaggin - 7-11-2005 at 11:22 PM

Never had a single serious gripe about US Border Agents. Not that I'm often met with a warm "how are you!" but who can fault 'em for being a little testy, crammed in a booth all day. My lone complaint would be that for some time there was serious inconsistency about crossing policy and what constituted official ID...9 out of 10 agents would be fine with a CA driver's license where one random would insist I needed a passport.

Bruce R Leech - 7-12-2005 at 06:56 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bigzaggin
Never had a single serious gripe about US Border Agents. Not that I'm often met with a warm "how are you!" but who can fault 'em for being a little testy, crammed in a booth all day. My lone complaint would be that for some time there was serious inconsistency about crossing policy and what constituted official ID...9 out of 10 agents would be fine with a CA driver's license where one random would insist I needed a passport.


yes the job sucks. but they took it and they represent the U.S.A. and they should be friendly and polite or be fired.:light: