MrBillM - 1-27-2007 at 11:12 AM
Driving South ayer on Hwy 5 to San Felipe, we arrived at the El Chinero Army Checkpoint. They were checking vehicles North and Southbound so we had
to sit and wait a few minutes for our turn. While waiting, a Northbound ambulance with Lights Flashing arrived at the checkpoint. Making him wait
his turn, they then questioned the driver for a couple and minutes AND then went back and opened the rear door to check things out before waving him
through.
By this time we were laughing so hard that the Glum-Faced Trooper holding his Red Traffic Flag was glaring at us, wondering what the joke was.
Fortunately, our laughter didn't result in an extended search.
Nothing's going to get by those guys.
[Edited on 1-27-2007 by MrBillM]
Bajalover - 1-27-2007 at 11:16 AM
I had to laugh long on this one. Guess the flag man thought you were being
disrespectful to their cause. I'm surprised you didn't fall out of your car from laughter.
David K - 1-27-2007 at 11:22 AM
How about having the guts to just drive through... I mean there are no bullets in the guns, right?
I guess that's what the guy with the rope attached spike strip is supposed to prevent!?
I wish Fishin' Rich would chime in here... He told me some great stories of ignoring the officials when we went to Guadalupe together!
thebajarunner - 1-27-2007 at 11:32 AM
Back in the wild, wild days of the Cannonball Baker Memorial Trophy Dash, across the USA during the infamous 55 mph era, one entry was a rigged up
ambulance, with a recumbant "patient" and a couple of "medicos" fully rigged up in hospital sweats.
My recollection is that mid-country they got nailed by the Smokies.
bajalou - 1-27-2007 at 11:34 AM
They were checking southbound when I came thru yesterday 1/26. Had the people in the other lane get out and went thru their p/u, but just asked me
where we had been (Calexico, Mexicali, El Centro - shopping) looked in the back window of the van which was full of sacks of ?? and told us to go
ahead. No big deal for us. (About 3:30pm)
You Just Never Know
MrBillM - 1-27-2007 at 11:44 AM
Lou and I must have been a few minutes apart going through El Chinero yesterday.
The Truck-Camper in front of us was searched thoroughly, both the cab and the camper. One trooper spent quite a bit of time inside the overhead
camper. When our turn came, he gave a cursory look inside the cab at us and our three dogs and then went back to look through the Camper Shell.
Although we were packed almost to the roof and back to the tail, he didn't get inside or look through anything.
Mango - 1-27-2007 at 04:45 PM
They had an additonal AFI checkpoint by the Rio Hardy campos south of Mexicali on Mex 5 earlier today. Traffic was light and they were stopping
pretty much everyone. It was pretty uneventful; although, I did give a guy that lived in San Felipe a jumpstart when he could not get his rig started
again.
Lee - 1-27-2007 at 04:51 PM
At the Maneadero checkpoint going North once, saw a Mex policeman (don't know from where) but in uniform with badge on, having his vehicle searched.
Professional courtesy? I think not.
