BajaNomad

fm3- no import feess?

marv sherrill - 5-5-2008 at 09:00 PM

How does one get to bring materials across the border - free - without declaration - with an fm3 - I tried with a refrigerator and had to pay $100+ - no discussion - I thought you could bring $1,500 across free???

fishbuck - 5-5-2008 at 09:21 PM

I remember a post a while back saying the limit is $300.

bajaguy - 5-5-2008 at 09:26 PM

yeah, somewhere between $150 to $300 per person, I'm not exactly sure. We got the red light once with a carload of stuff. The Customs guy started looking in the car through the windows and I waived the two FM-3 booklets at him.....we were waived through.

bajalou - 5-5-2008 at 09:51 PM

Appliances are not exempt from duty unless it is the onetime "Mange de Casa" importation - and not then if they are new appliances.

greybaby - 5-5-2008 at 10:08 PM

Went through that with the aduana a few years back. We did not have that much stuff, showed him our FM-3s and he informed us we were not in the "free" area. I knew he was wrong and muttered "mentiroso" under my breath. My husband was telling me "callate" a little louder than under his breath!! We ended up owing around $35 and shouldn't have but it wasn't worth getting into a big tift over. I had to think back and remember all the times we got plenty across and the light stayed green.

Price - 5-5-2008 at 10:29 PM

Just pray for the green light !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:yes:

CaboRon - 5-6-2008 at 06:20 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Price
Just pray for the green light !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:yes:


When I crossed the last time I had the Bronco loaded top to bottom and the roof rack was piled high.

Got the green light and gave a sigh of relief.

Couldn't believe he let me through looking like the truck in the Beverly Hillbillies :lol:

CaboRon

DENNIS - 5-6-2008 at 06:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
Appliances are not exempt from duty


Neither are building materials.

CaboRon - 5-6-2008 at 06:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by bajalou
Appliances are not exempt from duty


Neither are building materials.


But everything is exempt IF you get the green light .

CaboRon

jodiego - 5-6-2008 at 07:25 AM

Quote:
But everything is exempt IF you get the green light .

CaboRon


Just exactly how does that green light work? Is it random? Does it go red every 5th car? Is there someone making it turn red? If it flashes red and you don't pull over, is someone going to chase you down. What are the consequences? Do they know when it turns red?
:?::?::?:

CaboRon - 5-6-2008 at 07:33 AM

I believe (at least at TJ) that it is the guy on the raised platform ... when he is not on duty it is triggered by the guy who is standing at the lecturn off to the right.

And I guess they could run you down if you leave the area on a red light ... that is if they are paying attention.

They want their money.

CaboRon

bajaguy - 5-6-2008 at 07:38 AM

The red light is SUPPOSEDLY a "random" occurance, no rhyme or reason, but the random sequence can be overridden by the guy(s) sitting on the raised platform if they see or suspect something interesting.

I have also seen vehicles that have passed on the green light flagged over by the Customs guys standing by their vehicles.

DENNIS - 5-6-2008 at 07:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
The red light is SUPPOSEDLY a "random" occurance, no rhyme or reason, but the random sequence can be overridden by the guy(s) sitting on the raised platform if they see or suspect something interesting.

I have also seen vehicles that have passed on the green light flagged over by the Customs guys standing by their vehicles.


All correct. I've also seen them jump into action when someone ignores the red light. The shiney new trucks parked in the area are chase vehicles. When that happens, you will pay, for sure.

CaboRon - 5-6-2008 at 09:11 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
The red light is SUPPOSEDLY a "random" occurance, no rhyme or reason, but the random sequence can be overridden by the guy(s) sitting on the raised platform if they see or suspect something interesting.

I have also seen vehicles that have passed on the green light flagged over by the Customs guys standing by their vehicles.


Thanks for the clairification on that , I had often wondered.

marv sherrill - 5-6-2008 at 03:21 PM

Thanks for the many responces - I also have been waved over after getting a green light - just look straight ahead! - A lot more red lights after King George announced the new wall construction - little payback I guess

bajalou - 5-6-2008 at 04:08 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by marv sherrill
- A lot more red lights after King George announced the new wall construction - little payback I guess


I got more red lights before that.

Don Alley - 5-6-2008 at 04:23 PM

When we stop to pay import duties we at TJ we get an FM3 exemption. I forget how much but it's small, maybe 50 bucks each.

I tried that at the Loreto airport not long ago and they wouldn't give me bupkis. They also insisted I pay the $20 duty in US dollars, not pesos.:lol: