BajaNomad

Hurricane Relief Supply Horror Stories

DENNIS - 10-9-2009 at 08:20 AM

For constructive purposes and not as a means of pointing out ADUANA insensitivities, I would like to hear about any horror stories and/or reasonable charges that developed at the border when Good Samaritans tried to bring across relief supplies during and after Jimena.
These accounts will be put to good use at a later date and everybody will be advised.

If a U2U would be more comfortable, please do.

Thanks .........

capt. mike - 10-9-2009 at 08:40 AM

Dennis you can email the BBP jefe too if you like; he might round up any difficult experiences if they occured. contact info is on the web site and open to non members.

dtbushpilot - 10-9-2009 at 08:47 AM

I had issues and challenges on both sides of the border. I've gotten over it and will probably let that "sleeping dog" lie......dt

DENNIS - 10-9-2009 at 09:20 AM

Thanks Mike. I'll be contacting you as well, soon.

dt..........this is an effort to circumvent those "dogs." I'm in the middle of wet cement but, I'll U2U U in a little while.

backninedan - 10-9-2009 at 01:28 PM

My sister and I were bringing four huge bags of clothing for Mulege and we were refused entry at tijuana and rerouted to Otay Mesa. Otay Mesa refused us entry and we were told to dump the clothes in a dumpster on the US side. I offered to pay duty or a tax on them if necessary but no deal. We finally found a person on the American side who was willing to give the clothes to folks in need.

I guess re-sale of used clothes is the perceived problem, but I wont make the effort again...kind of a sad state of affairs IMHO.

capt. mike - 10-9-2009 at 02:02 PM

Dennis - i emailed Claudia and cc'd you. good luck. it's a noble quest.
what happened to Backninedan is terrible!
don't forget NORRA is helping too. you can contact them as well.

DENNIS - 10-9-2009 at 02:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by capt. mike
Dennis - i emailed Claudia and cc'd you. good luck. it's a noble quest.
what happened to Backninedan is terrible!
don't forget NORRA is helping too. you can contact them as well.



Thanks, Mike. I'll do that with NORRA, soon.

Yeah...What happened to Dan is regretful, to say the least. It makes it difficult to remember there are two sides to all these stories and as unsavory as it seems, people are just doing their job. Under the circumstances, this is a hard sell.

mulegemichael - 10-9-2009 at 03:04 PM

we brought down food, clothes, tarps, feminine hygiene stuff, diapers, medical supplies, etc....loaded to the hilt...crossed at tecate,(as we always do), and just kept on rollin'...no problemo...we'll be crossing there again tomorrow with more of the same..we'll see what happens

DENNIS - 10-9-2009 at 03:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mulegemichael
we brought down food, clothes, tarps, feminine hygiene stuff, diapers, medical supplies, etc....loaded to the hilt...crossed at tecate,(as we always do), and just kept on rollin'...no problemo...we'll be crossing there again tomorrow with more of the same..we'll see what happens


Thanks Mike.... I'm assuming that means you got a green light. Those lights are all that stand between a good day and a bad one, so it too often seems.

bajaguy - 10-9-2009 at 03:45 PM

I have found that by using old suitcases or duffle bag type suitcases to pack clothes in, we never get a look. Once there you can unload clothes into plastic bags or other containers and re-use the suitcases on your next trip.

Bajahowodd - 10-9-2009 at 03:55 PM

Just serves to show how erratic the enforcement is. Not to mention, what exactly are the rules??? I have a big problem trying to understand why anyone would reject used clothing at the border, unless they were just pompous idiots.

mulegemichael - 10-9-2009 at 08:08 PM

well, maybe their families weren't impacted so they had no vested interest...much like my experience in 20 yrs. of state service in washington state...gov't sucks!!!...no doubt about it...just too big with no consideration of the "person"...just too damn bad

durrelllrobert - 10-10-2009 at 09:58 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Just serves to show how erratic the enforcement is. Not to mention, what exactly are the rules??? I have a big problem trying to understand why anyone would reject used clothing at the border, unless they were just pompous idiots.

True, it's just not Mexico but also happens in the US. My brother and a bunch of friends drove 2 large truck loads of relief supplies from Houston to New Oreans after Katrina and were refused entry into the area by FEMA because they were not authorized to bring help. Had to take goods back to Texas and distribute to the poor there.:?::?::?:

Beachgirl - 10-10-2009 at 05:02 PM

ok...we crossed today at tecate with a TON of stuff; electronics, huge flat screen tv, clothes, food, two outboards, yada, yada...drove up to the border crossing, and, as it was last time, the "declare" lane was gated...so we pulled into the regular lane and stopped...and waited...and waited...no green or red light; nothing on...waited...we noticed three young guys off to the side with uniforms on kind of dozing...we FINALLY got their attention by waving our passports out the window...they just lazily flagged us on..smiling all the time...no problemo..that's been my experience at tecate for the past 15 yrs or so; no problem...the road for the last 20 miles before ensenada is under construction and rough..real slow...but the no hassle at the border more than makes up for it