BajaNomad - Tecate BP asks for Mex.Ins. on Rental Car

Tecate BP asks for Mex.Ins. on Rental Car

grace59 - 2-18-2010 at 07:00 AM

We are currently building a house in Baja. Since we live in WA we fly in and out of San Diego, pick up a rental car and drive down to San Felipe. This time returning through Tecate the Border Patrol Agent asked to see the rental car agreement and the Mex. Insurance. We had both and showed them to her. This is the first time that this has happened and it made me wonder...what is their authority in such issues as rental cars/mex. insurance etc.? What would have happened if we didn't have the proper documents? It seems like this would be out of the BP jurisdiction. This ever happen to anyone else?

David K - 2-18-2010 at 07:33 AM

Border Patrol out on the highway to San Diego or Customs at the border?

Sounds like some questions to see if you were in a stolen car? They do run the tags when you drive up, and it wasn't your car.

Last time we crossed, in my new truck without any plates, the agent wanted to see something that showed our name with the new truck matched... My insurance card did the job, otherwise the temp. registration taped to the front window would have worked.

grace59 - 2-18-2010 at 07:42 AM

It was the agent at the Tecate gate crossing back into the USA who asked to see the paperwork. When we said we'd never been asked before, her reply was..."It's always good to ask".

Mexican insurance?

akshadow - 2-18-2010 at 12:08 PM

If it was a US agent I don't think they have any reason to ask. It is not a requirement in the US to have mexican insurance. By the time they asked you were in the US. If they want to do something useful should ask to see US insurance or ask those with Mexican plates to show US insurance.

May be the agent was just curious

Many years ago my Uncle was asked by US agent when he was returning to the US if he had a gun with him. He said yes. She said you cannot have gun in Mexico. He said I am not in Mexico. SHe called her supervisor who said, HE is not in Mexico now.

I am not advocating this now

mtgoat666 - 2-18-2010 at 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by grace59
We are currently building a house in Baja. Since we live in WA we fly in and out of San Diego, pick up a rental car and drive down to San Felipe. This time returning through Tecate the Border Patrol Agent asked to see the rental car agreement and the Mex. Insurance. We had both and showed them to her. This is the first time that this has happened and it made me wonder...what is their authority in such issues as rental cars/mex. insurance etc.? What would have happened if we didn't have the proper documents? It seems like this would be out of the BP jurisdiction. This ever happen to anyone else?

agents ask lots of things, often nonsensical things. they ask all sorts of things, often using ruse of making small talk. they probably don't care if you have valid insurance. they are just testing you, looking for signs of nervousness.

Bajahowodd - 2-18-2010 at 01:19 PM

Goat, you beat me to it. No question that stalling and asking questions are part of the tactics employed. On the other hand, upon our last crossing, the only thing the agent said/ asked was, "What you got?" I replied, "Nada". He handed back our passports and off we went.

DENNIS - 2-18-2010 at 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by grace59
..."It's always good to ask".

Nice "motherly" explaination. Did she inquire about any bathroom habits?

DENNIS - 2-18-2010 at 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
upon our last crossing, the only thing the agent said/ asked was, "What you got?" I replied, "Nada". He handed back our passports and off we went.

That's almost as much fun as I got at Tecate last Tuesday. Handed him my passport, he took it and walked slowly around my vehicle, came back, handed me the passport and said, "Nice Jeep." That was it.
Tecate is just a different world.

Bajahowodd - 2-18-2010 at 01:35 PM

Our "brief encounter" was at, believe it or not, Otay!

Dave - 2-18-2010 at 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by akshadow

Many years ago my Uncle was asked by US agent when he was returning to the US if he had a gun with him. He said yes. She said you cannot have gun in Mexico. He said I am not in Mexico.

Try that stunt today and they'll surround the vehicle with drawn guns then slap handcuffs on you.

I've been told by inspectors that they are charged with enforcing all State laws in their particular jurisdiction. I had a ICE officer threaten to arrest me for using a hand held phone just after I had crossed the U.S. line. "Wazupwiththat?" says I.

He says, "You're now in California."

The Gull - 2-18-2010 at 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Goat is soooo right about this. BP agents go to a special school called how to ask questions to make people nervous, like where do you live, where are you going, how long did you stay in Mexico, is that dog licensed, is the lady with you a hooker because she has nice tatas, where did you get those kids they look Haitian, may I drive your car...

tell them what I tell them...screw you and drive fast through the barricade area.

[Edited on 2-19-2010 by The Gull]

David K - 2-18-2010 at 07:32 PM

Just answer the questions... he does that all day and is responsible for keeping killers and drugs out of America. If you are neither than look him in the eye, have your passports in hand and be good citizens.

As often as I have driven to Baja... I remember very few idiot border agents... a couple, but most were fine... commented about my truck, lights, Mike's Sky Rancho, etc.

DENNIS - 2-18-2010 at 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Just answer the questions... he does that all day and is responsible for keeping killers out of America.

They never asked me if I was a BEE. :lol:

woody with a view - 2-20-2010 at 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by The Gull

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Goat is soooo right about this. BP agents go to a special school called how to ask questions to make people nervous, like where do you live, where are you going, how long did you stay in Mexico, is that dog licensed, is the lady with you a hooker because she has nice tatas, where did you get those kids they look Haitian, may I drive your car...

tell them what I tell them..."screw you," and drive fast through the barricade area.

[Edited on 2-19-2010 by The Gull]

Gull, i love you, man! like a brother, of course!!! :lol:

Bajahowodd - 2-20-2010 at 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Just answer the questions... he does that all day and is responsible for keeping killers and drugs out of America. If you are neither than look him in the eye, have your passports in hand and be good citizens.

As often as I have driven to Baja... I remember very few idiot border agents... a couple, but most were fine... commented about my truck, lights, Mike's Sky Rancho, etc.

So that's why there are no drugs or murderers NOB! Always wondered. :lol:

The Gull - 2-20-2010 at 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Quote:

So that's why there are no drugs or murderers NOB! Always wondered. :lol:

Howoood,

You are right. No drugs or murderers NOB. They all live in Playas de Rosarito across the street from Woooosh.

durrelllrobert - 2-22-2010 at 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Just answer the questions... he does that all day and is responsible for keeping killers out of America.

They never asked me if I was a BEE. :lol:

Probably just assumed you were a son of a bee :lol:

durrelllrobert - 2-22-2010 at 11:06 AM

Quote:

Goat is soooo right about this. BP agents go to a special school called how to ask questions to make people nervous, like where do you live, where are you going ......

[Edited on 2-19-2010 by The Gull]

Just do like me and tell them you are going to Secondary. Works every time :lol: