LHayes - 12-8-2002 at 02:34 PM
Does anyone know where to find driving regulations for Baja on the Internet? We plan to go to San Felipe in January after driving in the mountains of
California and Oregon. We will have studded tires on our car for the mountain driving. I realize we will not need the snow tires in Baja but it will
be inconvenient to remove them before returning home to Oregon. Is there a regulation against having studded tires on a car while driving in northern
Baja?
JESSE - 12-8-2002 at 02:56 PM
No there arent.
Dave - 12-8-2002 at 03:59 PM
No regulations about snow tires however when in Mexico you MUST:
Disable one headlight OR drive at night with no lights to conserve element,alternator or battery.
Implicitly trust the opposing driver to yield as you pass on curves and hills.
Whenever possible pass on the right. Especially on two lane roads with no shoulder.(extra points)
Unless you wish to get rear-ended, slow but do not stop for stop-signs and also remember that when stoplights turn red you have an additional three to
four seconds before you REALLY have to stop. It would be WISE to reverse this rule when waiting for the light to turn green.
Drive with your left turn signal on at all times.
The posted speed limits are only for reference. Exceed at will UNLESS driving on the highway in which case reduce your speed 1/2 to 1/4 of posted
limit. (remember no headlights at night)
There are more rules but these are the important ones.
Sorry Jesse, I just couldn't resist.
Just end it
JESSE - 12-8-2002 at 04:27 PM
Might as well skip your trip and put a bullet tru your head.
Bajabus - 12-8-2002 at 07:04 PM
Dave is correct! taken right out of the manual down here. The one thing he forgot is that it's mandatory to carry a big rock for use as an emergency
brake and to leave it on the road when you are done with it. You then have 24 hours to get another one onboard your vehicle. Preferably the next one
you encounter going 60 mph uphill around a blind curve with a semi in the oncoming lane.
)
jimmy smith - 12-8-2002 at 09:16 PM
Omitted: He who dims his lights first has no gonads.
Dave - 12-9-2002 at 03:42 PM
Jimmy, you didn't get the new manual. When operating at night with only one headlight,preferably on the drivers side with only the high beam
operational ,wait until the last second then hit the brights. Keeps the opposing driver on his toes.:-)
There are two important rules I left out.
Turn Lanes:
If a turn lane is available and is full of cars waiting to turn it is permissible to use the next available lane to the right or left.
Emergency vehicles:
DO NOT stop or yield for emergency vehicles. You will get rear-ended. Especially if you pull over on the shoulder. (remember rule about passing on the
right.)
Braulio - 12-10-2002 at 10:16 AM
Guys -
I don't know if this fits in here but I was just down in Puebla (a couple hours east of Mexico City ) for a few days. As a means of combating police
bribery they've decided to no longer issue fines for traffic infractions - if a cop stops you he can only issue a warning.
They were probably not collecting much in the way of fines anyway. - Strange.
Braulio
Dave - 12-10-2002 at 12:24 PM
I'm dying! your post should be filed under "only in Mexico". I wonder how many
warnings will be written. How will the poor police make a living? Hey Max, how's
this for a test of our theories? Think the streets will be safer?:roll:
reefrocket - 12-10-2002 at 01:57 PM
Braulio Sir, surely you jest!
dave even if it is true the police will still make a good living. Like how many of us gringos are going to KNOW
that they can't issue tickets? It didn't stop them before when a person didn't break the law and was stopped. This just adds a new
dimension to the GAME
[Edited on 10-12-2002 by reefrocket]
Braulio - 12-10-2002 at 05:35 PM
reefrocket -
That's the straight scoop - would I lie? 
I'll try to find something on the web that explains their reasoning - and no I don't think it'll affect safety.
I'm sure the police are resourceful enough to find some other scam - don't anybody lose sleep on it.
Braulio
Braulio - 12-10-2002 at 05:44 PM
Here's a link to an article in Dallas Morning News.
Incredible.
http://support.casals.com/aaaflash1/busca.asp?ID_AAAControl=...
Braulio
[Edited on 12-11-2002 by Braulio]
Bajabus - 12-11-2002 at 04:45 PM
Mr Paredes is my hero. I am sending a copy of this to the gringo gazette. does anyone have anylinks to a spanish version of this story so that I can
bring it in to the Todos Santos mayor?
Braulio - 12-11-2002 at 07:51 PM
Sr. Bus -
Check out the following link - this article was written in the early days of the program. If you do a search on La Jornada's website you'll find
others:
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2002/feb02/020218/oriente-e.htm
If you read the article you'll see that they don't even bust the drunk drivers - they just escort ?m on home.
I wonder what the insurance companies think.
Take care .
Braulio
Bajabus - 12-12-2002 at 01:12 PM
muchas gracias Sr. Braulio
reefrocket - 12-12-2002 at 02:15 PM
Fascinating to say the least!
But it sounds (from the article) that it is ONLY in that city, as it is a mayor that started it. Is this a proposal from Pres. Fox
to be national?
It reminds me of a book I read many years ago called "Return to Walden Pond" which was base on the premise that all 'man kind' is inherently GOOD and
only need a little nudge now and again to stay the good course. I concept fraught with problems. Were talking HUMANS here - the natural inclination
to survive as easily as possible always wins out.
But that is another subject of debate.
I can see that some of the logic is possible in the persent day because of the use of computers but 'just' a visit from the mayor isn't going to shame
continual offenders. But I wish the mayor all the luck possible. (maybe someones prayer to the great spirit got through)
Braulio - 12-12-2002 at 10:29 PM
reefrocket -
Yeah - Puebla is both a city and a State. This program is just for the city. Paredes is a Panista (same as Fox) and there's speculation that he did
it for publicity. I haven't heard of any plans to expand it. It was first intended to run just a month or 2 to weed out the corrupt officials but
they've decided to extend it indefinately - I'd sure like to see some stats on traffic accidents/injuries/deaths.
Take care.
Braulio