So 2 friends and I were driving south of town past an impromptu military checkpoint that was set up Saturday (yesterday) morning. They waved us
through, didn't even have us stop.
Then we turned into the dirt road that leads to Valley of the Giants, decided not to go there and went back on the main road, headed south to our
kitesurfing destination.
30 seconds later there is a blue truck with machine gun mount tailgating us, looks like the military checkpoint soldiers. I slow down to let them
pass us but then they start honking and flashing their lights, and get into the left lane right next to us. I open the window and try to see what
they want. All of a sudden they slow down to a stop, and make a U-turn back to their checkpoint.
What the flock happened???? Never heard of this kind of thing before. The only strange thing I noticed is that the soldiers at the checkpoint were
older, in their 30's, instead of the usual teenagers.
Appreciate any insight as to WTF this was all about. It scared the **** out of us, thought we'd be robbed or something.
FYI I have only been going to Baja for the past 2 years, usually 4-5 trips each year to the West Coast or San Felipe, not a Baja veteran but I am
getting pretty used to travelling down there.
[Edited on 3-22-2010 by coolmtnbiker048]BajaWarrior - 3-21-2010 at 07:41 PM
Sounds like they were just scoping you out, you checked out so they turned back, however strange...
We have a vacation home just a few miles of where you were and have never had a problem with the Army.mtgoat666 - 3-21-2010 at 07:46 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by coolmtnbiker048
Appreciate any insight as to WTF this was all about.
probably checking you out, thought you were cute or had good weed. they saw you were ugly and had nothing but cheap beer noproblemo2 - 3-21-2010 at 07:49 PM
Seems as if they were looking for someone/something specific and possiblly what you were driving was similar to that. Obviously when they got close
enough they realized that you were not that.... The fact that they were older, maybe just sent their "elders" to check you out to be certain? That is
my take on it anyway...BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 3-21-2010 at 08:14 PM
hola, is it possible this crew was not at the same stop that waved you through and wanted to just check you out ? basically, a random patrol vehicle.
at least you're alright and i hope you had a great journey and are well.
BIEN SALUD, DA RATdzrtracer - 3-21-2010 at 08:16 PM
Also have house south campos and have run into these roving check points, by marina, just north of valle gigantes and further south, both night and
day, they are generally older guys and definitely serious about what they are looking for. They were just double checking on you. I am always glad to
see them, maybe help keep the problems in the other regions of Mexicocoolmtnbiker048 - 3-21-2010 at 08:29 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
hola, is it possible this crew was not at the same stop that waved you through and wanted to just check you out ? basically, a random patrol vehicle.
I doubt it because we were only like 1/4 mile past the checkpoint.... Judging by the other responses on this thread, I guess its not something to be
too scared about.coolmtnbiker048 - 3-21-2010 at 08:31 PM
Thanks for the help guys, I guess this wasn't something to be too worried about! Still, having a truck with a machine gun tailgating you is pretty
scary lol!!!Woooosh - 3-21-2010 at 09:16 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by coolmtnbiker048
Thanks for the help guys, I guess this wasn't something to be too worried about! Still, having a truck with a machine gun tailgating you is pretty
scary lol!!!
one behind you at every stoplight in Rosarito this weekend. it is hard for anyone to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Maybe your taking that
quick detour on the road threw them off.
[Edited on 3-22-2010 by Woooosh]Pescador - 3-22-2010 at 05:28 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by coolmtnbiker048
Thanks for the help guys, I guess this wasn't something to be too worried about! Still, having a truck with a machine gun tailgating you is pretty
scary lol!!!
That may be because you are more accustomed to how things are done in the United States and bring that expectation south with you. Most visitors
express some concern with checkpoints, military presence at airports and ferry stations, as well as a general military presence all over the areas
closer to the ocean, but those of us who live here are pretty much accustomed to that sort of thing happening frequently. I was coming home the
other night from a dinner party and they had set up a stop on a desert road so I got checked out at 10:30 or 11:00 and started joking with the guys
that if they found any "mota" in my car to let me know and we could share. There is a lot of stuff moving just below the radar and they are just
trying to do their job and slow it down a bit.shari - 3-22-2010 at 08:00 AM
roving checkpoints are very common here...ya just never know where they are gonna be and our guys only do them at night which would probably scare
tourists...element of surprise is the idea amigos...never been searched though when they find out we live here.Donjulio - 3-22-2010 at 08:08 AM
Chances of you running into bad guys "with a machine gun mounted on their truck" is pretty slim don't ya think? David K - 3-22-2010 at 08:34 AM
Welcome to Latin American law enforcement... If you don't have drugs or guns, then you are not to worry... Because they don't always have Humvees they
are mistaken for being 'banditos'...
They may have wondered why you pulled off the highway after passing them, then returned to the highway so soon (dumping a load they didn't find on
you?)?
Did the blue truck have any markings?
Thanks for sharing... This is the second pickup truck roving checkpoint report, south of San Felipe... The Nomads were convinced the earlier report
was describing 'banditos'... with flashing red lights... it was night time.
[Edited on 3-22-2010 by David K]rts551 - 3-22-2010 at 08:46 AM
Geeze David. Didn't know that anyone really figured out who they were.
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Thanks for sharing... This is the second pickup truck roving checkpoint report, south of San Felipe... The Nomads were convinced the earlier report
was describing 'banditos'... with flashing red lights... it was night time.
[Edited on 3-22-2010 by David K]
Pompano - 3-22-2010 at 08:47 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by Donjulio
Chances of you running into bad guys "with a machine gun mounted on their truck" is pretty slim don't ya think?
Hilarious!...hoo boy..ah..sigh..
Okay.. I got to thinking of my odds of running into bad guys with a machine gun-mounted truck.....and it's worse than I
thought.
Been here in Baja a while. Over 200 round trips from US to Mulege. More than 2000 round trips from Coyote Bay to Mulege.
I have not seen those machine gun desperados yet.
I figure I'm due tomorrow. Donjulio - 3-22-2010 at 09:14 AM
About an 80% chance they were Marines. Marines have the blue/grey trucks here at the bases in San Felipe. Normally it is Army, Navy or Marines that do
the checkpoints here in San Felipe.
Occasionally PGJ does roadblocks but it is very rare. Their trucks are marked and I have never seen one here in a car. Always pick-up trucks or suvs.
I have been stopped at 1AM by three trucks on HWY 5 about 7 miles south of town before. They were driving vehicles with no markings but vehicles were
newer and lead vehicle had red light on dash. They were AFI and had shirts clearly marked, vests and badges. AFI drives all sorts of different
vehicles but most are newer models. In San Felipe their office is next to the bus station so you can always see what they are driving. They park out
front.
Sometimes the police will come in to do checks in a bar here. They will check ID's (not very often) and they will be looking for drugs. That is always
AFI here. You can't mistake them. Their shirts and jackets all say AFI on them and most several of them will have automatic weapons.
For such a small town we have 3 military bases, local (Mexicali) and tourist police, AFI headquarters, PGJ and Federal. Occasionally we have State
cars also but not often.
The other post about the vehicles south of Puertecitos would have had to of been AFI if it was cops. Military don't use unmarked vehicles and that
area is not San Felipe, it is Ensenada. Wouldn't have been 3 Ensenada police vehicles over here at the same time. Long way from home. If it was AFI or
PGJ they would have chased the vehicle.
