BajaNomad - Corrupt Police in Tijuana

Corrupt Police in Tijuana

Ken Cooke - 11-29-2005 at 10:18 PM

I was stopped near the border in pristine Tijuana, Mexico for CUTTING OFF ANOTHER CAR. A concerned motorcycle police officer cited me after reviewing my DL and Auto Registration.

I told the police officer that I knew I could mail the ticket back to Mexico with the fine ($30) and surprise! He told me I could not do this!

So, I gave him the $30 knowing full well that this money was going to line his pockets. Suzanne saw me cut off the car that nearly hit my Jeep, but the car was accellerating so fast that it was his fault for driving so recklessly. Regardless, I got home w/o any further incident, and am crying over spilled milk. Any suggestions for ways of dealing with corrupt cops in the future?

police in tj

BAJACAT - 11-29-2005 at 10:40 PM

What I do Ken is .,"You ither give me the ticket or take me to the police station" wich they don't want because that way they can get any money for themselves and they don't want to waste time taking you to the station so I get a ticket to mail or to go to the station next time and pay it myself. I hope that little incident doesn't leave you with a bad memory of mexico, they stop me to and Im mexican they are afther the money thats all... :fire:

Ken Cooke - 11-29-2005 at 10:50 PM

I was pressed for time as it was Sunday evening and we had some friends in a Jeep following behind us. I had to get up for work the next day at 5 a.m., and there was absolutely no way I could go to the Police Station with spending 1 extra day in Mexico (wife's idea) over the Turkey week vacation.

Trust me, I have plenty of great memories of Tijuana, and with my Nortec Collective Vol.3 CD playing on the stereo, I still made the best of it, and realized what the experience is like for the Mexican people who have to deal with their own police force day in and day out.

Nortec Collective - Tijuana Sessions Vol. 3

Bedman - 11-30-2005 at 12:56 AM

Look at it this way Ken. You now have a TJ cop story to tell. You'll be able to embellish it with subtle nuances to add a little "Excitement" to the tale. Like, "He had this really BIG gun." You'll get way more than $30 bucks out of the potential possibilities. :biggrin:

Bedman

Ken Cooke - 11-30-2005 at 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bedman
Look at it this way Ken. You now have a TJ cop story to tell. You'll be able to embellish it with subtle nuances to add a little "Excitement" to the tale. Like, "He had this really BIG gun." You'll get way more than $30 bucks out of the potential possibilities. :biggrin:

Bedman

I can say the cop is the same guy on the album cover and that he is a musican on the side. :lol:

Bruce R Leech - 11-30-2005 at 07:47 AM

Corrupt Police in Tijuana how can that be? :lol:

fdt - 11-30-2005 at 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

I told the police officer that I knew I could mail the ticket back to Mexico with the fine ($30) and surprise! He told me I could not do this!

Sorry to hear about your encounter with that cop, but Yes, you can pay the ticket in the US
http://www.tijuana.gob.mx/turismo/TouristGuide/English/pag6....
read the bottom part. As a recomendation why dont all you guys carry a copy of this with you. Yes there are p-nche policias corruptos in Tijuana, but not all of them, same as anywere else. Don't give in because that is the root of the p-inche problema. Once again sorry, and I will post later the toll free number were you can place a formal complaint. I hope you took his name or number, if not, he did make an easy $30.

David K - 11-30-2005 at 08:52 AM

Gracias Ferna!

Chances are very good

jrbaja - 11-30-2005 at 09:10 AM

that we will be seeing more of this in the next few weeks before Christmas. It's against the law for them to accept your money unless it's at the station.
When you give them your license and they want you to follow them there, 9 times out of 10 they will get another call and give your license back.

JESSE - 11-30-2005 at 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
I was stopped near the border in pristine Tijuana, Mexico for CUTTING OFF ANOTHER CAR. A concerned motorcycle police officer cited me after reviewing my DL and Auto Registration.

I told the police officer that I knew I could mail the ticket back to Mexico with the fine ($30) and surprise! He told me I could not do this!

So, I gave him the $30 knowing full well that this money was going to line his pockets. Suzanne saw me cut off the car that nearly hit my Jeep, but the car was accellerating so fast that it was his fault for driving so recklessly. Regardless, I got home w/o any further incident, and am crying over spilled milk. Any suggestions for ways of dealing with corrupt cops in the future?

1.-Don't bribe them

2.-Tell them you have sindicaturas phone number and yes you can pay by mail.

3.- If he refuses, tell him you want to go to the police station so you can call sindicatura.

ArvadaGeorge - 11-30-2005 at 10:54 AM

The link is on Tijuana .Does this pay by mail apply to the rest of Baja ?
Mexacalli ? San Felipe ?

I'm Shocked !

MrBillM - 12-1-2005 at 10:53 AM

Shocked to find out that Bribery and Corruption is going on in a place like Tijuana. Things just aren't the way they used to be
(and never were).

Seriously, forget all of the advice and do whatever you think works best. Just ignore all of this Sanctimonious advice from people on the PROPER way to handle this and do whatever is comfortable to you. Pay the Mordida or not, go to the police station or not. Whatever is reasonable and the most expedient. Nobody cares, including God.

Hook - 12-1-2005 at 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM
Shocked to find out that Bribery and Corruption is going on in a place like Tijuana. Things just aren't the way they used to be
(and never were).

Seriously, forget all of the advice and do whatever you think works best. Just ignore all of this Sanctimonious advice from people on the PROPER way to handle this and do whatever is comfortable to you. Pay the Mordida or not, go to the police station or not. Whatever is reasonable and the most expedient. Nobody cares, including God.

So your advice, Mr. Rains, is to ignore advice of those who have been there before? :rolleyes:

Cincodemayo - 12-1-2005 at 02:25 PM

Mr Bill is a Silly putty character.

JZ - 12-1-2005 at 04:32 PM

Quote:

Bedman

That's funny and true. About three months ago we had a cop shake us down pretty hard in TJ. He had us up against the wall with our hands and legs out. The whole nine yards. I was pretty nervous. I had a finger nail file in my pocket I just bought to cut a lime. I was paranoid he was going to say it was a weapon!

It was Sunday afternoon and we were drinking a beer on the stoop of a little market. Just sitting there. It was a pretty stupid thing to do, but I'm so use to being in the small towns where they don't care.

Of course the embellished version will be that he had his gun drawn, and didn't find the 10" knife I had swapped to my ankle!

i completely agree with Mr.Bill...

eetdrt88 - 12-1-2005 at 05:44 PM

use common sense in these situations and do whatever is necessary...anybody who thinks they are going to change the world by playing good cop/bad cop is a little naive...these type of things have been going on forever and most likely they always will

Ken Cooke - 12-1-2005 at 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by eetdrt88
use common sense in these situations and do whatever is necessary...

Personally, I belive the system should change to the Mordida in this country. Here's why:

* Gun drawn in my face w/cop threatening to pull trigger.
* Cop asking my wife if I was a suspect who robbed her.
* Cop asking me, "Are you having a bad day?" as he gets in my face wanting me to go hand-to-hand w/him.

If the 3 above police had just asked me for $30 each, I would have been much happier. But, that is how it goes for minorities in the US of A.

Ken Cooke - 12-1-2005 at 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lenchoMinority? Hmmm, if you're in Riverside, that must make you an Anglo. ;>

--Larry

Me and my old pickup truck I sold 2 yrs. ago...

That reminds Me........................

MrBillM - 12-2-2005 at 10:25 AM

About ten years back, I walked into Pepito's Fish Market in San Felipe and standing there at the counter was a very close friend of mine (Black) from the U.S. There were a number of Mexicans standing around. When I walked in, I said "Damn, it's getting so they'll let just anybody come into town". Things got really tense. The Mexicans expecting all Heck to break loose, until Charlie (my friend) laughed and grabbed me.

There was a time when Distrust and Discrimination towards Blacks was very prevalent in Mexico and I'm sure it's still to be found, but thankfully things have improved.

BajaNomad - 12-2-2005 at 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
I was pressed for time...

To me, that's key here... that you ended up paying out to save time.

As grover noted, patiently outwaiting them is a successful tactic. So, it becomes an issue of who has more time to kill, you - or the officer(s). And that may be the way to view it when it happens - and help with the decision on how you want to handle it, since all of us have different thoughts and priorities about it.

btw... Jesse's notes are to the point, and may save you some time - only if you can remember what was suggested.

--
Doug

[Edited on 12-2-2005 by BajaNomad]

fdt - 12-2-2005 at 06:31 PM

Quote:

quote]To me, that's key here... that you ended up paying out to save time.

]

Time is important, and probably the cop wants to get going so he can muerde someone else. Now, if you have to bribe him because for you it's easier, why don't you try bargaining with the cop, instead of $30, just tell him," Pero oficial, solo traigo $15, podemos llegar a un arreglo amistoso? :yes:

Dave - 12-2-2005 at 06:41 PM

One of my employee's brother is a patrolman in TJ. Every day he has to give his captain $30.00.

Guess where the money comes from.

Ken Cooke - 12-2-2005 at 07:08 PM

I paid the mordida because I did not want to go to the Police Station with my wife. This would have scared her worse than when the deer rammed our Jeep (with the swaybars disconnected & tires aired to 15 p.s.i.)...

Dave - 12-2-2005 at 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke
I paid the mordida because I did not want to go to the Police Station with my wife. This would have scared her worse than when the deer rammed our Jeep (with the swaybars disconnected & tires aired to 15 p.s.i.)...

I don't blame you. Trust me, it's WAY scarier. :lol:

(Got any venison steaks left?)

Ken Cooke - 12-2-2005 at 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave(Got any venison steaks left?)

Brad tried to pull the deer out of the road. The deer woke up, and ran off into the desert. Brad didn't get injured. No venison steaks. I heard the stuff tastes like blood... :barf:

HotSchott - 12-3-2005 at 08:45 AM

Ken,

You're killing me!!! Rammed by a deer!! God that is funny (sorry Suzanne). Was his last name Gump? :lol:

You have definitely seen some strange stuff in Baja.

Are you having brush guards installed on the sides of your Jeep?

Steve

Ken Cooke - 12-3-2005 at 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by HotSchott
Ken,

You're killing me!!! Rammed by a deer!! God that is funny (sorry Suzanne).
Are you having brush guards installed on the sides of your Jeep?

Steve

Steve,

There were deer hairs deposited by the deer on my rocker-protectors that I had to pull out so that Suzanne wouldn't get hysterical when she saw the spot where our Jeep was head-butted.

She really got worked up after it hit us, so I couldn't run back to the scene and mess with the deer like I wanted to. I would have taken a picture or two of the thing on the ground, but it got up and ran into the desert before any of us could do anything! :?:

Sharksbaja - 12-3-2005 at 04:33 PM

:lol:

sorry

"mess with the deer" :lol:

Thanks Ken! :lol:

MH_Stevens - 12-4-2005 at 11:51 AM

Talk about shake-down! Has anyone ever driven in Temecula California? After a lifetime of no tickets I get two tickets in two weeks. One for an illegal left turn even though construction crews had taken down the sign and directed me and one for just entering a light zone on yellow. I defended both case my mail and in both cases the judge said my pleadings were not received and I had to pay a total of $470. I say hurrah for the good old Mexican $30.