BajaNomad - To Declare or Not?

To Declare or Not?

dantmurphy - 5-7-2007 at 05:21 PM

I have been traveling to Baja for the past 7 years, and have yet to "need" to declare anything. This trip I'm planning on bringing a small plaster pump, along with the usual visitor items....boat, fishing gear, and camping gear.

My question is.... Do I go to the declare line, and if so, will I need to itemize everything including the boating gear?

Also, is the a "best" place to cross?

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 05:22 PM

How small is the plaster pump and how used is it?

dantmurphy - 5-7-2007 at 05:24 PM

It's small...will easily fit in the back of the pickup truck. It runs off an onboard gas engine.

BajaWarrior - 5-7-2007 at 05:24 PM

If it fits in a gear bag, my policy is to not declare it. Besides, have always brought tools back and forth. As far as the boat and it's gear, no need to declare. Only show registration, if you show Pink (ownership title) they think your going to sell it in Mexico.

Now, a fridge, or lumber, or cement mixer, or couch, or windows, etc....

Yes, must declare.

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 05:31 PM

Yeah, what BW said. If it's large enough to be seen by the guy in the high-chair at San Ysidro, and you can't say it's a kitchen appliance, you could be turned back.
It sounds like it has size.

dantmurphy - 5-7-2007 at 05:32 PM

Ok..so the boat is under 14', and I dont need registration here. the pump is small but not small enough for a gear bag...it's about 3' x 5' and 2' tall mounted on a "cart"

It seems like I need to go thru the declare line?

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 05:37 PM

Does that thing look close to new or is it covered with plaster?

dantmurphy - 5-7-2007 at 05:38 PM

It can be covered in plaster/cement....It will be a "used" item

BajaWarrior - 5-7-2007 at 05:44 PM

Go through the declare line if you can't conceal it. I usually start with the "forbidden item" buried amongst many items even if they aren't going to be used for that trip.

Example of items smuggled in past: Water heater, 14 batteries, 36" tv, wall unit, table saw, it goes on and on, I'm a pro.

Price the pump at a fair used price on a ledgibly written peice of paper with a total at bottom. No need to declare the boat and gear. Make the pump easy to locate in your load so they know what your talking about, oh and, keep some 20's in your right pocket, look for the nod or wink.

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 05:46 PM

Yeah .... I don't know Dan. It sounds as though you have a machine which couldn't be used for anything but a commercial venture. I would say you will have to import it through Otay Mesa. You can fool these guys some of the time but, I don't think you'll be able to pull it off. Good luck if you try. All they'll do is turn you around so, who knows.

BajaWarrior - 5-7-2007 at 05:49 PM

I liked Otay when I was building my home in La Bocan de Santo Tomas, this was about 8 years ago but it was all civilians, no search ever happened, strictly business. Easy to drop into Rosarito Beach from there.

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 05:51 PM

BajaWarrior has some good suggestions but, since the machine is thirty cubic feet, you'll have trouble.
I wouldn't go through the Declare lane. I would take the red light and deal with the inspectors on the outside. They know the drill and, have that money ready.

bajalou - 5-7-2007 at 06:02 PM

If you go in the "Declare" lane and can't work a deal, you can return to US. From the "Nothing to Declare" lane, that isn't allowed.

dantmurphy - 5-7-2007 at 06:04 PM

Ok...so let's say I go thru the nothing to declare line as Dennis suggests....what if I get the red light then?

I know these guys arent going to know what this thing is, so how are they going to value it?

as a side note...I've been thru 8 times, and I've always gone thru the nothing to declare line. I've never even been slowed down by anyone...nothing more than a friendly wave. I've always gone thru around 6am.

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 06:12 PM

Thats the chance you take. Early in the morning, I don't think the spotter is in the chair. The chair is high and between the entrance lanes. He looks down into the bed of your truck. When he isn't there, your chances are better.
If they're confused about value, their options are wide open but, you probably won't benefit by it.

BajaWarrior - 5-7-2007 at 06:14 PM

It's a gamble then. If your that worried then just declare it for personal use, only declare the tool, not the boat and gear. You wouldn't declare a surfboard either.

Duty should be about 17%. Nod's and wink's are 10%.

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 06:17 PM

By the way ---- I'm refering to San Ysidro.

dantmurphy - 5-7-2007 at 06:20 PM

The only reason I'd be worried, is because of lack of knowlege. That's why I posted....to get all of your advise, and personal experience.
I've been leaning toward just going through with a canopy on the truck. I just dont know if I got a red light what the problem may be. It seems like someone must have gone through the "nothing to declare" line and got the red light, then had to deal with the consequenses of not declaring something.

BajaWarrior - 5-7-2007 at 06:24 PM

a gringo with a canopy is an automatic secondario

make the receipt, make it nice, smile, pay, done.

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 06:27 PM

I don't know anybody who hasn't been through it but, it's usually for over-shopping the allowance which to this day I'm not sure of.
If you cover the bed of your truck with a canopy, you may as well mount a large sign on the side of your truck saying, "Please search me."

dantmurphy - 5-7-2007 at 06:37 PM

Haha...ok..no cover. So If I declare...is there a "best" place to go thru?

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 06:57 PM

My choice, hoping to blend in with the crossing madness, is San Ysidro. I havn't crossed south through Otay for 20 years or more so I can't speak to that. A while back, I sat at the Tecate crossing for a while and every car got a red light. There weren't many cars and the inspectors just wanted lunch money.

DENNIS - 5-7-2007 at 07:00 PM

Dan ---
Sorry. You said you want to declare? I still choose SY for purchases under $1000. Over that, you have to go to Otay. Just make a receipt under a grand from a rental yard in L.A. or somewhere.

dantmurphy - 5-7-2007 at 07:28 PM

Thanks for the insight...I think I'll make up the reciept, and decide when I have to choose which lane to go through!

Diver - 5-7-2007 at 07:41 PM

Forget the declare lane.
Make sure it looks used and I bet it looks enough like a generator that they won't even notice. Can you make a quick cover that says "Generator" ? :biggrin:

Last year I came through with a 14' boat, 2 outboards, tool boxes and a generator.
They never even looked in the back of the truck where the two dogs were keeping my gear company.

.

BajaWarrior - 5-7-2007 at 08:42 PM

I don't know man, a generator is a pretty dicey move. I got hassled once for a generator with an RV and all of a sudden I had a big problema amigo! Cost me some unplanned dinero real quick.

Next generator was new (Honda 5000) this time and hauled it in the back of the truck plain as day, no probelma...We were towing my travel trailer, just as a "prop...

Just make up the receipt, you'll be fine. Now get some sleep, don't worry.

Here at BajaNomad's, we do the worrying for you "newbies". :lol:

[Edited on 5-8-2007 by BajaWarrior]

dantmurphy - 5-7-2007 at 08:47 PM

I assume the reciept should be under $1000, or I'll have to get a broker to bring it over?

BajaWarrior - 5-7-2007 at 08:51 PM

Yep, under a grand, make it look used, no tarp, make a nice receipt, go through San Ysidro, cash in right pocket, GO!

dr650 - 5-10-2007 at 05:26 PM

I've been following this thread with some interest, and thanks to all for the info.

Could someone clarify what the story is regarding the "declare line"? In other words, technically, why would someone be legally required to go through that line?

Is it because you're carrying something that will be used in a commercial venture?

Is it something that they'd be thinking you're going to sell south of the border?

Something that you're going to use to make money with?

What's the criteria? Give a couple of examples.

I've always been on my moto and rolled through the "nothing to declare" line, and always just got waved through.

Murphy

bajalou - 5-10-2007 at 08:05 PM

Building materials are always subject to duty.

BajaWarrior - 5-10-2007 at 09:26 PM

Appliances and furniture as well, we're hauling a big load of furniture on my 20' flatbed trailer Memorial Day Weekend to our new Beach House in
San Felipe.

Taking the load directly to the Declare lane, we've had very good luck, hopefully the "right pocket rule" will apply.

dantmurphy - 5-28-2007 at 08:37 PM

Ok...So I'm all set to go thru the declare line with my fancy reciept in tow, and a couple of 20's and a 50 in each pocket. I get to the border at San Yisidro, and go to the declare line ( I'm there about 5:45 am on Sat.). Nobody wants to deal with me. One guy tells me I have to go over to the "table" to declare this pump. Nobody there....finally some guy tells me I have to go to Otay! He didnt even look at the pump! So I go to Otay, and just go thru the red/green light thing, and I'm in.
I've crossed the border 12 times now, and I still dont know how to declare something! :?:

Oh well...that's Baja...anyway I'm here now with my goods, and all is well.

Thanks for all the information

BajaWarrior - 5-28-2007 at 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaWarrior
Appliances and furniture as well, we're hauling a big load of furniture on my 20' flatbed trailer Memorial Day Weekend to our new Beach House in
San Felipe.

Taking the load directly to the Declare lane, we've had very good luck, hopefully the "right pocket rule" will apply.

Update:

Drove to Declaration lane on Friday morning.

Two minutes tops with housefull of furniture on trailer.

Right pocket rule.

BajaBruno - 5-28-2007 at 11:06 PM

A friend of mine wanted to bring a very large diesel generator to his camp in Tamalipas, so he used a forklift to put it inside an enclosed trailer, cut a hole in the top and ran the exhaust out, then ran a dummy cable through the front of the trailer to the Bluebird bus he was towing it with. he started up the generator just before he got to the crossing. He convinced the fellows at the McAllen, Texas crossing that the generator was the power supply for the Bluebird. I watched the whole thing and was amazed.

Bajafun777 - 5-29-2007 at 01:25 AM

Dan, glad you went the declare line at S.Y. and the Otay red/green light go ahead was definately a big chance. I have helped friends take things to San Felipe but we always declared and once even got sent to the old immigration office inside away from their receiving lanes outside at the old port crossing in Mexicali. The refrigerator cost $12 dollars I believe back then as it has been 8 years since I last helped move someone furniture etc. Better to always go to the declare line especially if you are not sure makes for less possible trouble and you are doing the right legal thing. Have a good one!!!

Bob and Susan - 5-29-2007 at 06:03 AM

if its big...declare it and pay...
just "wait them out"

otherwise...

we'll all visit you in jail
and listen to your story haow you lost everything because you "goofed"

DENNIS - 5-29-2007 at 12:29 PM

Dan ----

They turned you around? Bummer.
Well, nobody can say you didn't try. Now, after being turned back, you get to smuggle for twenty years without guilt. That's the rule. A friend of mine knows the best lawyer in Mexico and that's what he said.
He also knows the best doctor and, how to get to the best tire shop which is only two blocks from the best upholstery shop.

Does anybody know who I'm talking about?

Cypress - 5-29-2007 at 12:38 PM

Bob and Susan, :tumble:

Will take your advice anytime, anyplace. :tumble:

DENNIS - 5-29-2007 at 02:20 PM

Cypress ----

No.... Not Bob and Susan. Keep guessing.

Bob and Susan - 5-29-2007 at 02:47 PM

your name isn't even DENNIS!!!! :lol:

DENNIS - 5-29-2007 at 02:48 PM

Well, it was yesterday........

Bob and Susan - 5-29-2007 at 03:11 PM

:lol:

oldhippie - 5-31-2007 at 08:06 AM

When I moved to TJ from San Diego last year I made 4 or 5 crossings in an open pickup full of furniture and everything else I owned. Never declared anything and never got a red light. Since then I've built an elevated deck attached to my house and bought all the lumber in Chula Vista. 12 foot 2x8s and larger plus 6 sheets of plywood and assorted other construction materials. Brought it all back hanging out of an open pickup. Never declared anything, never got a red light.

This is all during the day at San Ysidro when they have a guy sitting up high watching the traffic.

Want a job????

bajaguy - 5-31-2007 at 08:56 AM

Want to haul some stuff to Ensenada for me???....sounds like you have the "golden" touch. :bounce: