BajaNomad

From U.S. into Tecate?

RichBaja - 7-26-2010 at 07:31 PM

With Mexican Customs (Aduana) being a lot more strict now, does anyone know if the Tecate crossing is manned like Otey and San Ysidro? Is it red light and green light? Do they pull a lot of peeps over? Thank you for helping.

Udo - 7-26-2010 at 07:34 PM

Depends on what you are importing.

If you want to get away with stuff, cross @ Algodones

monoloco - 7-26-2010 at 07:49 PM

They have been more than fair with me in Tecate, I have declared things there the last couple of trips and they pretty much have charged me duty on exactly what I have given them invoices for and haven't questioned the stated values of the invoices or dug too deeply through my load. Everyone I have dealt with there has been really relaxed easy going and helpful. The bank is right next to the aduana office and if you don't have pesos you can walk across the street to the casa de cambio and exchange some dollars.

rts551 - 7-26-2010 at 08:13 PM

yes. green light/red light

Fair when you get the red.

David K - 7-27-2010 at 07:09 AM

Someone reported that the bank at the Tecate border closed, and the closest one is now a few blocks away... ??? It was only open during bank hours and not the full time the border is open, like at Tijuana.

Road report

bajaguy - 7-27-2010 at 08:11 AM

Below info hijacked from another Baja board:

We did the the Tecate run on Sunday. We took Ave. 2000 to get to the border and it took approximately 1 1/2 hours.
On the way back we came the Tecate Hwy. Took a little more than 2 hours. There is serious roadwork from Valle de las Palmas into Tecate. If you love off-roading that is the way to go.. Otherwise, go up to Ave. 2000 and over...

jeremias - 7-27-2010 at 10:12 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by rts551
yes. green light/red light

Fair when you get the red.


This probably comes as no surprise, but lately every time I go through San Y in my pickup regardless of whether i get the green light(about 1 out 20 times), I'm always getting yanked over, but when crossing in my little Honda Civic, always get green and nobody paying any attention.

RichBaja - 7-27-2010 at 10:41 AM

Thanks for all the feedback guys!

DavidE - 7-27-2010 at 11:36 AM

I might as well put in my two-centavos worth...

After innumerable entries through just about every Mexico POE north and south I can say that without exception I have never been treated harshly by Aduana since the turn of the century. BUT I DECLARE, even though much of what I am bringing in is "safely tucked away".

MARIPOSA CROSSING Arizona:
In the To Declare Lane

Good morning, I have some questions about what I can bring into Mexico.

The Aduanero scans the inside of the car, absolutely jam packed with clothes, desktop computer, tools, machinery, and a lot of other taxable fruit.

"Is everything here for your own personal use?"

"Then it is legal to bring into Mexico. Have a nice day".

Or, at the Tecate crossing...

"Do you have a receipt showing how much you paid for this generator?"

"I'm sorry but I lost the receipt years ago"

"I am going to put a tax of one thousand..."

"Por favor I don't have that much. I am not rich"

"...five hundred..."

"The generator is old and I am poor..."

"...three hundred, but that is as low as I can go..."

I walked to the Banjercito window, filled out a form, got a receipt, filled out the model number and serial number of the generator and proceeded onward.

(A year later at the Mariposa Crossing)

"You cannot bring in that generator without paying duty"
I slip a COPY of the Banjercito receipt out of my pocket and hand it to him.
He reads it.

"You have paid duty on this generator and it is legal to bring into Mexico".

Now I automatically pull into the DECLARE lane when entering the country. The officials are far less suspicious than if and when I get a red light. It normally takes five minutes to get passed on through.

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 7-27-2010 at 01:26 PM

hola udo,

coming from los angeles, i get to the tecate crossing from the 5 on the U.S. side and go east on the 94.

where is Algodones and is it convenient from the 5 and i can also approach the tecate crossing from the 15.

i thank you in advance.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

monoloco - 7-27-2010 at 02:17 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Someone reported that the bank at the Tecate border closed, and the closest one is now a few blocks away... ??? It was only open during bank hours and not the full time the border is open, like at Tijuana.
Not true, the bank is right next to aduana and is open, I don't know their hours of operation though.

David K - 7-27-2010 at 05:05 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
hola udo,

coming from los angeles, i get to the tecate crossing from the 5 on the U.S. side and go east on the 94.

where is Algodones and is it convenient from the 5 and i can also approach the tecate crossing from the 15.

i thank you in advance.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT


Algodones is at the far eastern corner of Baja (near Yuma AZ)

15 south to 94 east to Tecate... easiest way... The 52 to Santee turns into the 125 south to 94 east is a 'short cut' to some)...

Udo - 7-28-2010 at 07:56 AM

The Algodones crossing is not very convenient when driving down the 5. It is somewhat out of the way.
It is just east of the Imperial Sand Dunes, just off I-8.
From I-5, I would say it is about 60 miles East. Then you take the toll road back toward Mexicali and head south toward San Felipe. (If going that way.) Anything other than a trip to San Felipe or Coco's, this is a long way out of the way, but it is a very laid-back crossing. Algodones has a lot of medical clinics and taco stands, and retirees cross there consistently for medical services and inexpensive over-the-counter drugs.
Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
hola udo,

coming from los angeles, i get to the tecate crossing from the 5 on the U.S. side and go east on the 94.

where is Algodones and is it convenient from the 5 and i can also approach the tecate crossing from the 15.

i thank you in advance.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Udo - 7-28-2010 at 08:00 AM

I forgot to mention, RAT, that if coming from Los Angeles, you need to take the I-10 East, through Brawley, Heber, then onto the I-8 East. Once on the I-8 it's a 20 minute drive to Algodones.
Extremely scenic drive, however. Lots of farm country, and the view of the dunes is totally awsome.

rts551 - 7-28-2010 at 08:04 AM

I8 (San diego) to Yuma is about 140 miles.

El Centro to Yuma is about 70 miles
Quote:
Originally posted by Udo
The Algodones crossing is not very convenient when driving down the 5. It is somewhat out of the way.
It is just east of the Imperial Sand Dunes, just off I-8.
From I-5, I would say it is about 60 miles East. Then you take the toll road back toward Mexicali and head south toward San Felipe. (If going that way.) Anything other than a trip to San Felipe or Coco's, this is a long way out of the way, but it is a very laid-back crossing. Algodones has a lot of medical clinics and taco stands, and retirees cross there consistently for medical services and inexpensive over-the-counter drugs.




Quote:
Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
hola udo,

coming from los angeles, i get to the tecate crossing from the 5 on the U.S. side and go east on the 94.

where is Algodones and is it convenient from the 5 and i can also approach the tecate crossing from the 15.

i thank you in advance.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

durrelllrobert - 7-28-2010 at 10:32 AM

great new indian casino at algodones cutoff from I8, except they took all my money at the blackjack table in less than 1 hr :lol::lol:

toneart - 7-28-2010 at 11:19 AM

Tecate does have red light/green light. In the few times I have crossed in that direction, there have only been one or two vehicles ahead of me. No matter which color light you get, there are always two or three Mexican customs agents standing in your lane and they stop you. You will be asked about the things you are carrying and most probably they will want to see inside.

So, because I usually have something to declare, I do so. These new guys have always been fair in their assessment of duty.

DENNIS - 7-28-2010 at 11:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by toneart
These new guys have always been fair in their assessment of duty.


That seems to bring us full circle to where we left off with the old regime. I'll bet they even have the expedited method of payment....for your convenience, of course.
It reminds me of the saying by Mark Twain [I think]..."If you don't like the weather in New England, wait a minute."

In Mexico, it goes...."If you don't like the new regulations at the border, wait a minute."

toneart - 7-28-2010 at 12:49 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by toneart
These new guys have always been fair in their assessment of duty.


That seems to bring us full circle to where we left off with the old regime. I'll bet they even have the expedited method of payment....for your convenience, of course.
It reminds me of the saying by Mark Twain [I think]..."If you don't like the weather in New England, wait a minute."

In Mexico, it goes...."If you don't like the new regulations at the border, wait a minute."


When the old guys were replaced last year, the new ones arrived with fanfare. They were touted to be young, better educated, and trained specifically to get the revenue.

I have not experienced, nor have I read in this forum, that they are not performing the main duty of collecting revenue on taxable items being imported to Mexico. Also, I am not aware that they are corrupt like so many other government departments or officials. They seem to always be polite, fair and expedient in getting you on your way, unless you are trying to cheat. Then it could take some time.:o

DENNIS - 7-28-2010 at 01:21 PM

There have been recent posts here which state differently as to paying the tariffs, Tony. I don't have time to dig for them...maybe someone else does.