I had read the couple of posts about the corrupt cop(s) here before we pulled into La Paz but did not think much of it; we've driven up and down Baja
a couple times and have never had an issue with the police.
This time was different - we were driving down Abasolo from our hotel when a cop randomly pulled us over. He claimed in very poor English that we did
not come to a total stop at the alto (hahaha!) and that the fine was $100 USD or $600MX (evidently his math wasn't all that great). We had the choice
of paying at the station or conveniently paying an on-the-spot fine directly to him.
I feigned confusion and insisted on paying at the station. After a couple tries at convincing us to pay then and there (because it is soooo much
easier, he insisted), he eventually gave up and told us 'no problem.'
We laughed and went on our way. We had never been pulled over and it was fun to have deflected his poor attempt at extorting a bribe.
However, when the same cop pulled us over 2 days later for the same made-up offense (while other Mexicans did 20mph through the same 4-way) we got
pretty annoyed. Once again there was no problem after he realized we weren't going to give him any money. Then, an hour later, we saw him up the road;
he had pulled over another car with Nevada plates. Apparently he had a racket going.
We decided to give reporting him a try - we had never had a problem with Mexican police before and figured that the other police would take corruption
seriously. We went down to the main La Paz police station and after another civilian helped us explain what had happened to the duty officer, he
ushered us over to the HQ section where the commandant's office was. There we told the story about 10 times to various good-natured police in our half
English/half Spanish and they got a kick out of it. The commandant was home for the night so they told us to come back the next day to make a
statement.
The next morning we were taken into a back room (an arms locker, actually) where the commandant, a translator, and the cop we were reporting were
waiting for us. The corrupt cop had been called in on his day off and did not look especially happy to be there. We explained what had happened and
his interjections were all shouted down by the big guy with the chevrons.
After they took our statement the translator, speaking for the commandant, apologized profusely and told us that the corrupt officer would be
reprimanded. We then shook hands with everybody except the officer we had reported and headed back to our hotel.
Everybody at the station seemed to take the problem very seriously; I'm not sure what (if anything) was done to the police officer we reported but the
fact that we were seated down with the ranking officer in La Paz and also the fact that the corrupt cop was called in on his day off suggest to us
that it wasn't just a dog and pony show staged to placate the angry Gringos.
Has anybody else tried reporting corrupt cops? I'm happy with how it went for us; perhaps others have had luck as well?bajaguy - 8-4-2009 at 06:16 PM
First, good on you for refusing to pay on the street!!!!
Second, congratulations for going to the station....twice!!!!
Did you happen to notice the guy on the street since the report and what was he doing????
We need more people to take the same type of action.bill erhardt - 8-4-2009 at 06:25 PM
afterglow......... That is a great story! I, too, have been stopped by a cop on the take in La Paz. I did not pay the mordida, but I also did not
report it, although that is just exactly what should be done every time such a situation arises. You are truly a Baja hero. Maybe you will start a
trend.fishingmako - 8-4-2009 at 06:38 PM
I really think you did a great job, I wasn't going to even read this until I saw you didn't pay. if more people would do this it would be a different
world, problem is you have people that shake in their boots, instead of having an eye to eye contact and tell them where to get off. good job keep it
up.Phil S - 8-4-2009 at 06:50 PM
Anewbie to the Nomads, and a guy with "guts" to take a stand. My Hero!!
Thank you. I've not had any problems in LaPaz over the past 19 years we've been either staying there, or passing through to Cabo. But this give me
strength to do the same should it happen to us. Only place I think I could "get in trouble" is that stretch south of town, where there are four
lanes, and what 30 miles an hour???? I usually pop a couple Rolaids before heading into that stretch!!!!gnukid - 8-4-2009 at 06:55 PM
The back room which is an arms locker... jaja. Been there. Were they drunk with bloodshot eyes?
I think you make a good point that it is possible to resist a confrontational situation through calm polite resistance.
I am sorry that happened. It seems that in La Paz its very common ploy with transit police who want to cash in on gringos but they also give up very
easily when you don't play along. They are looking for the ones that cave in quick and hand out cash.
I find it also is helpful to photograph them once you do they know they are shy about pulling tricks.JESSE - 8-4-2009 at 07:01 PM
Congratulations, free drinks on me next time your in town.dtbushpilot - 8-4-2009 at 07:50 PM
Good for you afterglo and thanks for hanging in there.
I have been driving in Baja for 15 years and was pulled over twice in all those years and both times I was speeding, just like they said I was, and
both times the officer was willing to "pay my fine for me" at the station so that I wouldn't have to be bothered with the formalities. They were both
very nice and professional and there was a "festive" atmosphere both times.
But then there was the last time I went to La Paz (about 2 weeks ago). We had a nice day shopping etc. and were heading South out of town. I saw a cop
on the opposite side of the highway and it was obvious that he was checking me out as I passed. I kept an eye on my rear view and saw him pull out
onto the highway following me but far back. I went with the flow of traffic minus 10kph (I usually drive well over the speed limit like everyone
else). He was back there a ways and I continued to drive 20kph over the speed limit while everyone else was doing 30 over. After a few miles he pulled
quickly up behind me with his lights on and I pulled over.
He came to the window all smiles and was a real pleasant guy. He introduced himself and told me I was speeding and weaving between lanes without
signaling. I acted like I didn't know what he was talking about, told him that I was a resident and would like to go to the station to see the judge.
I told him that I didn't know my speed but that everyone else was passing me so he should have stopped them instead.
We both smiled, laughed and pointed at things for a bit and I insisted on going to the station. He informed me that my "infraction" would cost $100
(US) at the station but I could pay 500 pesos here and avoid the hassle.
I told him that I didn't feel as though I had committed an infraction and that I wanted to follow him to the station to plead my case with the judge
(or captain or whoever). The whole exchange was done with smiles, chuckles and more of a negotiation than a traffic stop. He went back and conferred
with his cohort for a bit and returned telling me that they had an emergency that they had to respond to and wouldn't have time to escort me to the
station. He told me to slow down and drive safely and I promised to do just that.
I didn't pay because I knew he was signaling me out for DWG (driving while gringo) I was going over the speed limit like everyone else but was willing
to stand my ground and it worked. Throughout the whole exchange we both knew the routine and it was just a matter of who would "blink" first.
I didn't go back and report him. He didn't pee me off in any way and was actually quite cordial....while he was trying to put the bite on me. My
beautiful wife sat through the whole exchange without saying a word....incredibly enough, and was sure we would be going to jail at any moment. After
we were back on the road I assured her that if I had felt threatened I would have taken a different approach with the officer.
Thanks again for following up on an obvious mordita bite......dtdtbushpilot - 8-4-2009 at 07:55 PM
Hey Jesse, I didn't report him but can I have a free drink too?....Doug/Vamonos - 8-4-2009 at 08:37 PM
In my 20 years of Baja travel I've paid about $40 but I deserved it for totally running a stop sign because I was eating and not paying attention.
With that said, I've also talked my way out of a lot of traffic stops and stared down plenty of my policia amigos when they wanted my money. But I
would be careful about pushing a mexican cop (or any mexican man) too far. Especially one with a badge and a gun and who knows what he has done to
become a cop with a badge and a gun. It's called machismo and it may bite you on your ass real hard some day. Especially when you are ultimately
messing with his livelihood. Just my opinion.BajaBruno - 8-4-2009 at 09:08 PM
Good for you, afterglowefx. If that fellow was on a motorcycle, he or someone similar stopped me about two weeks ago in La Paz for running "a four
way stop" when their wasn't a stop sign for two miles. I didn't pay, but I also didn't take the logical next step as you did, or anything confronted
with the same situation in the US would have done. Good job.dtbushpilot - 8-4-2009 at 09:16 PM
Good advise Doug. I have never felt intimidated by any of the officers that I have encountered but I have always greeted them with a smile and a
willingness to negotiate a satisfactory resolution to the encounter, whether it was legitiment or otherwise. A smile and greeting goes a long ways in
Mx, not like in the US.
In the US you get pulled over and get a ticket or not. I've never been able to engage a US cop in discussion on the situation pertaining to the
traffic stop or the legality of it etc. (I've never been pulled over when I didn't deserve it).
I like the Mexico approach. I get pulled over, meet an official of local law enforcement and we negotiate a settlement on the spot. If I dont agree, I
insist on going to the station....I've never gone there. I've usually done what they insist that I did so I don't usually have an issue with it. I pay
or not.
I've NEVER GOTTEN UGLY OR DISRESPECTFUL with a MX cop and they have treated me likewise.
I still have to pay my fine in the US for driving 70 on the interstate while pulling a trailer (55 mph in CA) I was driving a big truck with a little
motorcycle trailer going 70mph.......$390 US. The CHP officer was professional, blunt, non smiling, couldn't care less........I like the Mexico system
better........
Remember, smile, smile some more, be friendly, negotiate a reasonable settlement, don't ever cop a gringo attitude and no hey problema.....dtlizard lips - 8-4-2009 at 09:42 PM
I have never seen anyone come to a "compete stop" especially in La Paz...dtbushpilot - 8-4-2009 at 09:45 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
I have never seen anyone come to a "compete stop" especially in La Paz...
I always come to a complete stop.....then "go like hell" like the rest of them.....dtJESSE - 8-5-2009 at 01:58 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
Hey Jesse, I didn't report him but can I have a free drink too?....
Off course.fishbuck - 8-5-2009 at 02:53 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by lizard lips
I have never seen anyone come to a "compete stop" especially in La Paz...
Yes when driving in La Paz you must come to a complete pause!
And then haul A$$ when you think you can get through!bacquito - 8-5-2009 at 03:55 PM
Good fo you afterglowfx. Thanks for the reportBajahowodd - 8-5-2009 at 05:08 PM
I think it's kinda creepy that they had the offending cop in the same room. I'm getting mixed messages about the agenda. Nevertheless, I have to give
kudos to you for being so persistent.Doug/Vamonos - 8-5-2009 at 08:02 PM
As if they did anything to him. I'm sure they called him an idiot for hitting up the same person twice and getting caught. He's ruining it for all of
them!monoloco - 8-5-2009 at 08:08 PM
I thought stop signs in Mexico were just a suggestion.afterglowefx - 8-5-2009 at 09:48 PM
I'm not sure about being called a 'hero,' but it certainly felt good to go down and turn him in. It was annoying having to constantly worry about
whether or not he'd harass us for a 'crime' that AT LEAST 90% of Mexicans commit all over Baja. The first time was funny, the second was just over the
top. Seeing him with other Americans pulled over for nothing but being American was what pushed us to make the complaint and hopefully stop the
behavior.
I don't know about you guys but it bothers me when people talk so much crap about Mexico in the US; I didn't want to have to tell the story of getting
harassed by a Mexican police officer and concede that 'Yeah, corruption really is bad down there.' Instead I can talk about how the police at the
station took the complaint very seriously and that most police in Mexico ARE honest and do care about putting a stop to corruption.
I don't know if he was actually punished; however, it seemed to my girlfriend and I that real measures would be taken. If anything he got his wrist
slapped and will think twice about pulling people over just for bribes. If that's all that we achieved I'm happy for it.
As a side note, I do recommend going down and reporting. It only took us about an hour total and most of that was due to our horrible Spanish.
As to politeness and the Mexican system of traffic enforcement, I agree completely. A smile and a polite attitude will take you much further in Mexico
than in the US - especially with the police. We were never disrespectful to the officer in question; at the station we merely stated the facts and let
the commandant interpret those facts as he liked.
The best part about driving in Mexico is how much more fluid it is than in the US. Traffic enforcement is there not to bust you for silly things like
rolling through a stop sign or going 10 mph over the speed limit (or etc), but to stop people for acting like idiots and causing real danger to
themselves or others.
Sorry this is long - net access has proven elusive for us so I'm trying to reply to everybody at once. (We're actually on the mainland now; we took
the ferry from La Paz and are making our way south toward Oaxaca/Chiapas.)
