BajaNomad

CB Radios

comitan - 6-23-2007 at 01:14 PM

Are CB radios legal in Mexico? I know they are used by the police and medical services and truckersL

Mango - 6-23-2007 at 01:36 PM

From what I understand, you are supposed to get a permit for it.

Here is a quote from the US Department of state website.
Quote:

Operating Citizens Band (CB) Equipment

American tourists are permitted to operate CB radios in Mexico. You must, however, obtain a 180-day permit for a nominal fee by presenting your U.S. citizens’ band radio authorization at a Mexican consulate or Mexican Government Tourist Office. This permit cannot be obtained at the border.

Transmissions on CB equipment are allowed only on channels 9, 10 and 11 and only for personal communication and emergency road assistance. Any device that increases transmission power to over 5 watts is prohibited. CB equipment may not be used near radio installations of the aeronautical and marine services.


http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/regional/regional_1174.html

Now, rather or not if the Mexican authorities care if you have a CB radio in Mexico is another issue.. :lol:

How good is your smile, can you play dumb, and do you feel lucky?

woody with a view - 6-23-2007 at 03:14 PM

friends just left for points known in the sur yesterday. they all keep in touch via cb's. i've never heard them mention permits. i think you can use them now as long as you don't have a way to "boost" the signal.

Way Back When.........

MrBillM - 6-23-2007 at 05:34 PM

We were all using CB Radios, my neighbor across the road had a HUGE Antenna for his Base Station unit. He said he'd only been asked about once by the Army when they came through. He told them it was to LISTEN to the radio and they were satisfied.

Today might be another matter.

bajaandy - 6-24-2007 at 09:47 AM

Years ago at a military inspection, the guy looking into my cab noticed my hand held CB radio and asked if I had my paperwork. I had no idea that any such paperwork was necessary, and told him as much. He wanted to charge me 20 dollars right then and there. The funny thing was, my buddy and his family had just gone through the inspection ahead of me and they said nothing about his identical CB radio. Since he was still there waiting for me, I told him (rather loudly) that they wanted to charge me for having the CB. I guess they decided to let me go because I was making a fuss about it.

Seeing this post makes me realize just what a jerk I was being... I guess the guy was only doing his job.

capt. mike - 6-24-2007 at 10:16 AM

"Seeing this post makes me realize just what a jerk I was being... I guess the guy was only doing his job"


BS - his job might be to issue a citation, not collect the $$!!
plain old mordida extortion, good for you for making a stink, do not be guilty about it.

federales that do this are scammers. they work on intimidation. eff 'em i say. as for the good ones i deal with, i reward their fair actions with gifts we keep in the plane, smokes, candy, girly mags tyhe works!!!!!!!!!!!
they love it!

TacoFeliz - 6-24-2007 at 11:10 AM

I've been using CBs for more more than twenty years with friends travelling and exploring in Baja and have never been questioned at checkpoints or when pulled over (in TJ for a 'turn signal violation').

The radio is plainly visible beneath the dash and if a friend travelling with us doesn't have one, the spare gets tossed into his car with a cigar lighter power cord and a mag mount antenna - also very obvious. I also have a licensed 2 meter ham radio and antenna in the truck and never questioned about that one either.

I think it is a non-issue unless you come across someone who thinks it might be a small business opportunity.

Anybody else had any experiences, positive or negative?

TMW - 6-24-2007 at 12:02 PM

["You must, however, obtain a 180-day permit for a nominal fee by presenting your U.S. citizens’ band radio authorization at a Mexican consulate or Mexican Government Tourist Office."]

Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't think the U.S. Gov. issues CB permits anymore. Years ago they did, but I thought that stopped. I perchased a CB a couple of years ago for the Pole Line Rd run and there wasn't anything about a permit with the instructions or from the dealer. That's not to say the Mexicans don't have a law. When you race SCORE there is a radio use fee each racer pays, maybe it's something like that. I was stopped a couple of years ago at a military checkpoint and they wanted to see my papers on my SCORE radio and I just told them it was paid thru SCORE and after a while they said OK.

David K - 6-24-2007 at 08:43 PM

Baja (because of its remoteness) was exempt from the need for any permit (much like Baja doesn't require a car permit, like Mainland Mexico does)... This was the word many years ago when we all had CBs for yaking (the mid 70's) and we used them in Baja all the time.

Now, with skip so heavy much of the time, CBs are pretty useless for anything beyond your caravan of friends to let you know when to pass on a blind curve, etc.

I never have been questioned about CBs in all the years I had one in my vehicles... But, that has been many years ago... now.

Barry A. - 6-24-2007 at 09:30 PM

Me and my friends have had CB's on our rigs for over 35 years, most with 8 foot whips, and have NEVER been questioned about them during perhaps 50 trips down there. I have never obtained a "permit".

To me it is a "non-issue".

We also use the newer handi-talkies extensively and have never been questioned about them, either.

Maybe just lucky???

Mango - 6-24-2007 at 10:08 PM

I would also agree that it is a "non-issue"; but, I posted the quote from the US Dept. of state to let you know what the rules are in case someone hassles you.

I look at it much like jay-walking. It's on the rule book; but, most people do it anyways.

The first time I ever traveled to Mexico I visited a couple I met in the states that lived on a sailboat in Baja/Pacific Mexico.

My new friend gave me a few points of advice. One of which was, "Short of killing someone, the law is very negotiable in Mexico."

I recommend being polite with all Mexican law enforcement. Almost always there is a way to work things out in your favor, sometimes it might cost you though.

Barry A. - 6-24-2007 at 10:15 PM

Mango------you make some very good points, and I agree whole-heartenly (is that a word?)

bajaandy - 6-25-2007 at 06:14 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
"Seeing this post makes me realize just what a jerk I was being... I guess the guy was only doing his job"


BS - his job might be to issue a citation, not collect the $$!!
plain old mordida extortion, good for you for making a stink, do not be guilty about it.

federales that do this are scammers. they work on intimidation. eff 'em i say. as for the good ones i deal with, i reward their fair actions with gifts we keep in the plane, smokes, candy, girly mags tyhe works!!!!!!!!!!!
they love it!


Cpt. Mike: Dosen't mean I wasn't being a jerk! But you're right... the guy was just trying to get a little payola out of me. But he never did!

TW: You're right. Years ago in the states one was "supposed" to have a license to use a CB. I remember being a young kid and sending in to get my license. I remember being a little disapointed when they announced that you no longer needed to have a license! HA! How lame is that?

Barry, we also use the little hand-helds all the time. Never an issue.

I think I was the exception to the rule regarding being hassled about not having a license for my CB. Never had it happen since.

capt. mike - 6-25-2007 at 06:44 PM

that's a big 10-4 good buddy. now i gotta concentrate on getting this load of Coors east of the mason D line.

rubber ducky here, and...... we're out.