I have two encounters with Mexican police. I don't know if these are typical or not, but this is the way it happened to me.
I was driving a rental car in downtown Cabo San Lucas on the main drag about a year ago. It is around 9 pm and we were going back to the hotel after
having dinner. I did not have any alcohol to drink that night.
I am not totally familiar with the streets in CSL so I was proceeding at a reasonable rate in light traffic. My wife says, "You just ran a stop
sign!" I thought no harm, no foul. All of a sudden red and blue lights light up the back of the car. I said to the wife, I'm guilty, this is going
to cost me some money. I pulled over immediately. The cops ( pickup with two officers in it) pulled up on my left. They didn't even roll down the
window. He just wagged his finger at me like "naughty boy" and motioned me to proceed. I was dumbfounded. They went on down the street in a
liesurely fashion. End of story.
On another occassion I turned down a side street in San Jose. About half way down the wife said I think this must be a one way street because of the
way the cars are parked. I thought, why chance it, so I pulled into a driveway and flipped a U. Well coming right at me were the cops. They backed
up so I could get out and as I passed them they pointed to their head like "think." I did not see a one way sign but when I got back up to the
intersection, it was there but bent around the post like a flag. I went on my way and the cops went on about their business.
I know one of these days my luck will run out, but those are my two encounters with the police. Pretty reasonable fellows I think.
Not Typical
MrBillM - 9-3-2006 at 09:11 AM
Perhaps the location had something to do with it. It's possible that law enforcement in Cabo San Lucas would be more considerate of Gringo Touristas
than other areas which don't service (primarily) the upper levels of tourism.
In Tijuana to Ensenada, Tecate and Mexicali I've been stopped numerous times in 40 years and the pattern has usually been one of "courteous"
extortion, which has been fine with me because I have NEVER been stopped for something I didn't do. Based on U.S. standards, the amount "requested"
has always been pretty reasonable. However, I'm reading a lot of stories from people who have been extorted for serious amounts in recent times.Mango - 9-3-2006 at 07:25 PM
I've got many good "police" stories; but, here are two of my best ones...
Story one:
Once a guy in a bar was buying me and an Irish couple I was with shots of Mezcal. After a few shots I asked him what he did for work.
He said, "I am the chief of police for the state of Morelos."
I said, "Can I have your card?"
He responded, "Why?"
I said, "Just in case" We both laughed and I bought the next round.
Story Two:
The first time I traveled to Mexico City I was afraid of all the taxi crime stories, so we took a hotel taxi to the anthropology museum. After
leaving the museum we were hesitant to get a taxi at the taxi stand. I walked up to a policeman and explained in my poor spanish that I was not sure
if the taxis at the taxi stand were safe. I then asked him where the best place to get a taxi would be.
The policeman suddenly smiled, proudly stuck out his chest, and said, "Right here!" as he pointed to himself.
He then proceeded to walk out into the middle of Ave. de Reforma (Cars going 60 mph, 6 lanes wide) took out his whistle, put up his hand, and stopped
a taxi in the middle lane. The taxi screeched to a halt mere inches from the policemans knees.
The policeman ordered the taxi to pull over, checked his ID, the VIN number of the taxi, the license plates, and the taxi number painted on the side.
After asking me in spanish where we were going he leaned into the passenger window and began talking with the driver for a time. When he pulled his
head out of the window he opened the door for me and said in perfect english, "Ok, here you go; but, don't pay him more than 20 pesos."
[Edited on 9-4-2006 by Mango]
[Edited on 9-4-2006 by Mango]TMW - 9-4-2006 at 08:45 AM
In the early 90s there had been several robberies on hwy 5 near the south end of Laguna Salada down thru La Ventana. My friend Dave and I were headed
down for the San Felipe 250 race and had a late start. It was near midnight as we got to the area and decided to pull off the hwy and spend the night.
About 2am highway patrol lights woke us up and the cop tells us we need to get further away from the hwy because there have been robberies in the
area. If he could see us so could the bad guys. We thanked him and took his advice and got much further away.DianaT - 9-4-2006 at 09:37 AM
Positive encounters---my two favorite.
About three years ago, driving through Tecate--opps, see flashing red lights behind us. We swear a little and wonder what it is going to cost us.
We say we speak no Spanish at all---officer speaks perfect English, so that won't work.
Officer tells us we ran a red light, but then explains to us that we ran it because we could not see it because of the big truck in the right-hand
lane.
Officer then tells us that we also failed to see the officer on the corner who blew his whistle for us to stop---the dollar signs were clicking away
in our minds, but one should never make assumptions.
Officer then tells us to remember that that red light is there the next time we are in Tecate, or we might get a ticket, and finishes with wishing us
a good vacation.
About 9 years ago---on the border of Guatemala south of Comitan. We were returning from the states to our jobs in Guatemala. We were driving our
old Mitsubishi van that we had purchased in Guatemala after our truck was stolen--of course, it had Guatemalan plates.
When we got our vehicle permit on the northern border, they just copied the VIN number from the paperwork, but now on the souther border, they wanted
to see the VIN number. This van had been made for Central America and the VIN number was not where one might expect---in fact, we had not looked for
it before, so we had no idea where it was. Besides, when we crossed before with US plates, it was not a problem.
El Jefe was called out---a rather imposing figure in his uniform with razor sharp creases, pants tucked into tall black boots, and aviator glasses.
Opps, not sure what was going to happen.
El Jefe started looking over the vehicle. Meanwhile, I pulled out the manual and started looking---Bingo, it said it was on the frame near the rear
of the vehicle on the right hand side.
Next thing we knew, El Jeffe was on the ground, under our car, wiping away years of grease from where the VIN number was etched. He smiled---he was
happy he had found it so we could turn in our papers and proceed.
We don't assume anything anymore---one never knows
Diane
TJ cops
John M - 9-4-2006 at 10:50 AM
In the mid-1980s (1985?) my daughter and I were transported by ambulance to a T.J. hospital following an auto accident. My wife had been driving and
was taken to the jail as the accident was her fault, sort of, - didn't see a down stop sign and got t-boned. So after our medical treatment we were
wondering how to get back to the police station to bail out my wife. Well, there was a cop at the hospital socializing and we asked him what to do and
he volunteered to drive us right to the station. He did. My wife was finally released after we paid a fine and paid the body shop for the other guy's
car.
Very good treatment by each of the T. J. police we encountered.
We didn't speak any Spanish - they were all quite fluent in English.
John MDENNIS - 9-4-2006 at 11:32 AM
Hi everybody ---
First post so Im just trying to get my feet wet. [ best I avoid the Mulege thread for a while ]
I have lots of police stories which I'll save for another time but, I will say that they fall mostly on the good side. Im not nominating any of them
for Nobel prizes, Im just saying my life hasn't required any serious police attention and I hope to keep it that way.
Later .... DennisBajaHawk - 9-8-2006 at 08:47 PM
I have a good one from my first stay in the East Cape.
On my first visit to the East Cape I was unclear on the entrance and exit road going into/out of town. After puling into Verdugos and getting set up
we headed down to the Pemex for boat fuel. Not knowing the traffic pattern out of town we went out the in. The East Cape version of Barney Fife was
evidently there...we didn't see him but he sure saw us going out the wrong rode.
We made it to the Pemex - I managed to finish a beer on the way (I was not the driver mind you and the driver stuck with Coke). While we were pumping
gas an irate police officer (Barney) got out from the passenger side of an old Toyota Celica and started hollering at us. Not having a firm grasp of
Spanish - and the rate he was going off had us puzzled. Lucky for all the driver of the Celica explained (in English) how we drove out wrong way on a
one way rode, ignored the whistle/orders of the police officer, and tried to escape from him. The Celica driver went on to explain how the officer
commandeered him and his car so he could "chase us".
Well...we all went back to the police station. "Barney" passionately explained our brazen lack of respect and total disregard for law and order. We
in return explained that it was our first time in East Cape, did not understand there was one way street in and out of town, and did not hear the
whistle and shouting of the officer - windows were up and the AC was on.
The captain asked us where we were staying, where we were eating, what we were doing, and so on. He then filled us in on the ins and outs of the
roads, where we should fish, and bid us a fare well.
Boy was Barney MAD!!
The East Cape
MrBillM - 9-10-2006 at 12:31 PM
I'm guessing this is another one of those jibes directed at those who don't meet with another's accepted degree of accuracy since the East
Cape area in Baja is referred to constantly in various publications online and otherwise. It sure Appears to be an area
multitudes are familiar with, a fact that would be instantly apparent with an online "Search". One Real Estate ad for the area refers to:
East Cape - Los Frailes to Punta Pescadero - Baja California Sur.
I'm reminded of an earlier brouhaha wherein an individual took issue with my use of BCN (Baja California Norte) as being incorrect. That criticism
also was unfounded. A similar search of that "location" would show thousands of references, including some by the Mexican Federal Government.
[Edited on 9-10-2006 by MrBillM]Cypress - 9-10-2006 at 12:43 PM
Good stories! Good police!
No idea what town.
MrBillM - 9-10-2006 at 06:40 PM
No, I don't have any info that wasn't mentioned in the thread. I focused on the sarcasm remembering the previous BCN debate. I, too, was being
sarcastic, but with no malice intended.
The problem with all of these stories is that, like many things bureaucratic in Mexico, they can all be true in the same town whether good or bad.
They would be exactly the same in the U.S. were it not for better oversight by Internal Affairs and civil authorities which we can afford thanks to a
superior economic station. Police corruption in the U.S. was endemic up through the 1950s. People are the same the world over. Excepting Moslems,
of course.oxxo - 9-11-2006 at 06:10 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
People are the same the world over. Excepting Moslems, of course.
You mean Muslims, Bill. But I know you knew that and you were just being sarcastic with no malice intended. Yes, Bill, ideologues are the same the
world over.
oxxo
Baja Bernie - 9-11-2006 at 07:48 AM
I avoided this thread for a few days because I thought that it would contain the usual bashing of Baja Cops.
Really enjoyed the posts until 9-10-06 when it somehow took a U-turn and then a detour.
Very good thread until it got lost.Don Alley - 9-11-2006 at 08:17 AM
My favorite Baja cop story was getting ticketed in Ciudad Constitution for not waiting for the non-existing left turn arrow. So, in order to pay the
fine, get my liceense back, and return to Loreto that day, Paula and I had both lady police officers get in our truck (they had no vehicle) so we
could drive them to the station with us. Because the truck only had the single bench seat, they waived the seatbelt rule.
But my best/worst cop story is still from the USA, Missoula, Montana...ticketed for "failing to come to a complete stop at a stop sign" on a quiet,
traffic-free street with no cars in sight. I was riding a bicycle.
Cops, they can get you anywhere.
Moslems in the good old days.
MrBillM - 9-11-2006 at 09:29 AM
There is ongoing debate over the "o" vs "u" when translating Arabic words into English i.e. Usama vs. Osama and others.
When I was younger and we had them under control, they were Moslems so I'm honoring that nostalgic memory by reverting to the original.BajaHawk - 9-11-2006 at 09:43 AM
GOOD GREIF
I was referring to Barriles, a great and friendly place. "Sorry" for the confusion. My ignorant circle refers to the area as "East Cape".
We both laughed and I bought the next round.
