BajaNomad - Scam at TJ border foot crossing

Scam at TJ border foot crossing

offshore.day - 4-15-2009 at 10:01 PM

Walked across today as usual to get my tourist card before my next trip. Found the line to cross back to the U.S. by foot to be about 1/2 mile long!!!! Was approached by a mexi-local soliciting people to take a cab that is right up front to drive across for $5. We walked along the Sentri lane and were met by the "taxi driver" and were instructed to pay our money to the initial contact. the "driver" then takes you to the front of the walk across line much to the dismay of those in line.

55steve - 4-15-2009 at 10:13 PM

Scam? Sounds like an enterprising operation to me!

Bajahowodd - 4-15-2009 at 11:04 PM

Troll??

Woooosh - 4-16-2009 at 09:15 AM

seems it would have been easier to get your tourist card wen you crossed south for your trip. It isn't that important that I would make a special trip for one in advance. It's easy to pull your car off to the right at the inspection area and get one.

CaboRon - 4-16-2009 at 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Woooosh
seems it would have been easier to get your tourist card wen you crossed south for your trip. It isn't that important that I would make a special trip for one in advance. It's easy to pull your car off to the right at the inspection area and get one.

I crossed on foot the day before to get my FM3 stamped..

Because, I ran the border and did not want to declare the huge load I was moving to my new home ....

And, the Manaja de Casa was too much of a pain in the burro ....

Got the green light in spite of being packed to the gills :lol:

Woooosh - 4-16-2009 at 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CaboRon

Quote:

Got the green light in spite of being packed to the gills :lol:

I love it when that happens. :saint:

woody with a view - 4-16-2009 at 11:34 AM

Quote:

probably wishes someone woulda said something before he walked across.... :lol:

Kell-Baja - 4-16-2009 at 03:18 PM

How is it a scam? You paid, did the taxi take you? You were willing to go? Do you usually join in scams? I agree that the people doing this are pretty clever. :lol:

dtbushpilot - 4-16-2009 at 03:37 PM

My wife and I walked across once in the middle of the afternoon and the line was about a mile long. We got in line in the blazing sun and I could see my beautiful bride wilting, I knew that her usually good sense of humor was going to fade rapidly and I was going to be in trouble. Some guy came down the line offering a ride in an air conditioned van to the border for $5 each....it could have been $500 and I still would have done it. Anyway, the van was packed with as many people that you could cram in there and they went to the border in the bus lane and dropped everyone off in a line that went right in......priceless......

DENNIS - 4-16-2009 at 03:41 PM

I'd be in that van in a second. What I can't understand is how a riot is averted when the van people get in front of the line or, do they have their own line?

dtbushpilot - 4-16-2009 at 03:45 PM

In our case it was the lane used by busses which, if I recall correctly has it's own entrance to the border crossing. Seems as though we had our own turnstile. The van was a transport type and seemed to be a legit taxi....dt

DENNIS - 4-16-2009 at 03:52 PM

Thanks, dt.....I don't see a scam. I see a good deal. Take it folks.

dtbushpilot - 4-16-2009 at 03:59 PM

I thought it was a perfect example of entrepreneuril spirit. The van would have to cross the border empty I believe then cross back and get back in the bus line. As the van works it's way back to the border the guy on the street fills it......sweeeeeettttt