BajaNomad - San Felipe Army Check Point ID?

San Felipe Army Check Point ID?

CortezBlue - 7-21-2007 at 10:59 PM

On our way home from San Felipe we stopped at the army check point. For the first time I was asked my name, how many people were on board and then they took my lic plate number. My friend who lives in Mexico said they just started doing this. Has anyone else had this happen?

Mango - 7-21-2007 at 11:15 PM

It's never happened to me. I went through a checkpoint just before the La Rumorosa grade last month, they just waved me through.

I haven't been down to San Felipe since last winter, so things might be different now.

I am assuming you were driving an RV if they asked, "How many on board?" I would suspect an RV would get more scrutiny than a car.

Maybe they were worried you were starting a bus route? :lol:

I've had some funny checkpoint experiences on the mainland; but, I have always been on a bus. They never asked for my name; but, have checked my ID/Passport/FMT/Bags/Body on multiple occasions.

oxxo - 7-22-2007 at 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CortezBlue
Has anyone else had this happen?

Nope. Went through the San Felipe checkpoint on July 6. They took a quick look through the car and off we went.

bajalou - 7-22-2007 at 07:45 AM

That has happened to me a couple of times in the last 5-6 years. Seems like they do it for a few days and then drop it. Then a few months/years later do it again for a few days.

meme - 7-22-2007 at 07:57 AM

We headed north on July 12 to ck point. They asked where we were going, asked? only 2 people cked the car, did not ask me(passenger side) to get out, so I did not. Took down license number & we were on our way.
Not sure if this will be a regular thing or as Lou says maybe just a few days off & on?

Bajajorge - 7-22-2007 at 08:33 AM

Again, only looking for the usual suspects. :rolleyes:

CaboRon - 7-24-2007 at 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajajorge
Again, only looking for the usual suspects. :rolleyes:

Bring Them In Danno :lol:

baja829 - 7-24-2007 at 10:54 AM

We do a roundtrip about every 10 days, from SF to Mexicali. It's always different, and I (the passenger) never make an attempt to get out. I just open the glove box and console box - say Buenos Dias and they wave us on our way.

If they take our plate numbers, we haven't noticed, but will check on Friday and ask them -- these young men are always extremely courteous and easy to deal with.

osoflojo - 7-24-2007 at 11:29 AM

Like Bajalou, over the last few years I have had it done several times. Never at San Felipe though only on Hwy 1.

Price - 7-24-2007 at 04:24 PM

We go thru about once a month - never saw anybody writing anything - anybody know about the new security tower - or why these kids are wearing pith helmuts and flak jackets ?????????????

CaboRon - 7-24-2007 at 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Price
We go thru about once a month - never saw anybody writing anything - anybody know about the new security tower - or why these kids are wearing pith helmuts and flak jackets ?????????????

Did you see the jack boots? :lol:

neilmac - 7-24-2007 at 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mango
They never asked for my name; but, have checked my ID/Passport/FMT/Bags/Body on multiple occasions.

They frisk you if you're on a bus? Never saw that. Baja or Mainland?

Neil

Checking Us Out

MrBillM - 7-24-2007 at 04:54 PM

Northbound 03 July, we arrived at the checkpoint and were 4th in line. The "Gatekeeper" trooper who directs you into whichever lane had a clipboard and was recording the license plate ID and asking the driver for ID. Although he did it for the three in front of us, he waved us through. As Lou said, I've seen this a few times over a long number of years. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to their effort.

DanO - 7-24-2007 at 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajajorge
Again, only looking for the usual suspects. :rolleyes:

Bring Them In Danno :lol:

Uh, that would be "book him." Steve McGarrett, R.I.P.

viabaja - 7-24-2007 at 08:37 PM

No rhyme or reason. Been asked where I'm going and where I'm coming from. Sometimes a quick glance and go. Other times they are tapping the door panels, climbing in the bed,etc. Most usually not though. Again, these kids are just doing their jobs and are pretty cool about it. I'm always asked if I speak Spanish and it seems to expidite the process. One early morning at 6AM, a group asked for some English lessons! I've even given a couple of soldiers a ride into town for an evening off. Again, if you are not used to being stopped by armed military, it's kinda of unsettling.

Edguero - 7-24-2007 at 08:45 PM

I have been checked several times driving in and out of Gonzaga Bay to Punta Final at the west end of Rancho Grande having to show my DL where I am going how long I will be there, fill out the "paper work" and have even helped jump start the humvee they had and still got the 3rd degree, this was about 2 years ago, now i never see anyone there.
Just laugh and think "Only in Baja"

No Problem

bajaguy - 7-24-2007 at 09:01 PM

Have only been stopped once and when the "Gatekeeper" trooper saw my military vehicle sticker, asked me about it and if I was still in the military. Told him I was retired and a Captain....got saluted and told to "pase, mi Capitan"

CaboRon - 7-24-2007 at 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajaguy
Have only been stopped once and when the "Gatekeeper" trooper saw my military vehicle sticker, asked me about it and if I was still in the military. Told him I was retired and a Captain....got saluted and told to "pase, mi Capitan"

Gotta get me one of those military stickers !

bajaguy - 7-24-2007 at 09:10 PM

yup, mine only cost me 20 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mango - 7-24-2007 at 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by neilmac

Quote:

Originally posted by Mango
They never asked for my name; but, have checked my ID/Passport/FMT/Bags/Body on multiple occasions.

They frisk you if you're on a bus? Never saw that. Baja or Mainland?

Neil

I've been frisked a few times while stopping at a checkpoint on the mainland. Never yet on Baja; but, I usually drive in Baja.

Get ready for a few funny stories...

The road to Batopillas in the Copper Canyon area, which has since been improved, is a very rough and narrow road. Its course winds down countless switchbacks and has vertical drop offs of several thousand feet mere inches from the edge of the road.

I took a very old bus, with bald tires and luggage rack on top, to the bottom of this canyon. It took 10 hours to go 60km. Pretty slow and pretty scary. I had begun riding on the roof with a Brit and 3 locals about 1/3 of the way into the journey since we preferred the prospect of free flight vs becoming a sardine in a can going down a cliff. (Thats a whole other story!)

Funny enough, there was a guy riding on the inside our bus that had a bandanna across his face the entire time that he was on it. He looked just like the bad guys in old western movies and even had the cowboy getup so common in the north.

The bus neared a fork in the road and came to a stop at a checkpoint maned by federales. They ordered the bus to stop, separated the men and women, and seached only the men and the bags on the roof.

As the women huddled together with the children, the men formed an orderly line. They got to the guy with the bandanna and ordered him to take off his boots. They found some marijuana and promptly marched him off to the little shed by the checkpoint.

The rest of the "search" was pretty uneventful; but, the fun was not yet over. I was asked to unlock my luggage at the top of the bus. A quick search of my bag, yielded nothing. The federale got down of the roof as I began to pack my bag and relock it.

Suddenly the bus driver got into the bus without waiting for any passengers to get on, started the engine, and took off in a hurry at high speed down a very rough side road. At first I paniced; but, was comforted by the fact I was still with my bag.

I hung on for dear life as we bounded down the road at 40MPH. We pulled into a small village and the bus came to a halt outside a small house. The bus driver leaped from the bus, gave the woman in the house a kiss, and sat down to eat. After about 15 minutes we drove back to the checkpoint and picked everyone up and were on our way again.

-=-=-=-

Stopped once going from Taxco to DF. The federales did not get on the bus at first. They opened the luggage compartment and removed only three bags. They came on the bus and without questions asked me and the two Italians sitting in front of me (The only 3 non-mexicans on the bus) to identify our bags. They had already unloaded them, just 3 bags. :lol:

No frisk there.. but funny.

-=-=-=-

Going to the Pyramids at Teotihuacan north of DF two plain clothed policeman got on the bus and frisked everyone for weapons. One stayed.

(Many robberies on this mostly urban tourist route.)

-=-=-=-

Otherwise; I've been frisked coming north from Mazatlan to Hermosillo. Another time on the same route; we had a guy get on with a power drill, they ordered everybody off, and started undoing interior body panels while looking for drugs, etc.

I've traveled well over 20,000 miles on the mainland by bus over the years. Some places and routes have many inspections, others have none. I usually find them an interesting break to the trip; but, was on one overnight bus from Oaxaca to DF that was stopped 6 times at 6 different checkpoints. I guess we got lucky. :no:

I got NO sleep.

Debra - 7-25-2007 at 03:41 AM

A year ago last March at Manendero my brother (not me) was asked for ID, they wrote down his name and also seemed to write down my license number. Never had that happen before. And why just my brother, not myself or my son? :?:

Mexitron - 7-25-2007 at 05:42 AM

Good stories Mango...can't imagine riding that many miles on a bus!

CaboRon - 7-25-2007 at 06:10 AM

Mango, Great stories. Do you fit some kind of profile or was it just random ? CaboRon

Mango - 7-25-2007 at 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon
Mango, Great stories. Do you fit some kind of profile or was it just random ? CaboRon

Almost always just random. When I was younger I used to have long hair and a beard; but, even then I never really felt singled out in Mexico more than any other tourist. Tourists tend to get better treatment than locals; and almost every time I am searched the locals are too.

When you travel so many miles you are bound to see a little bit of everything. I've traveled to nearly every state in Mexico and each region has its own unique problems that the federales are working to combat. Much cargo, and most people, in Mexico are moved by bus, so it just makes sense that the federales would scrutinize bus travelers and their cargo. I am proud to say that in every occasion they have been very professional.

I generally dress very conservatively when I travel in Mexico. I find I blend in much better in a button down shirt, cotton pants, and simple shoes. Sometimes I'm mistaken for a Mexican, which cracks me up. I make a habit of not trying to stand out any more than possible. It's safer for me and I find people accept me better and have less prejudice. The only time I wear shorts or flip flops is when I am actually ON the beach.

Traveling cheaply on buses you tend to interact much more with the culture in Mexico than you do by any other means of transport. It's a great way to go; but, you also fly past a lot of stuff that you would like to stop and check out more. That is what "next trips" are for.