BajaNomad - Ensenada Mordida ?????????

Ensenada Mordida ?????????

El Comadante Loco - 7-31-2010 at 07:55 PM

Well it finally happened to me after driving up and down Baja for the past 40 years I was involved in a minor, minor traffic accident on Friday July 24th just as you enter Ensenada where the Y is that goes to the fish market.
Traffic was backed up due to a traffic accident where a car was hit that ended up in the median up against one of the palm trees. Naturally, the cops were there and there was only one lane out of the three that was moving. As you can imagine there was much confusion with much lane changing and people cutting in. My thoughts, of course, were on our fishing trip BOLA then SQ on the return. I was dreaming of large Yellowtail in BOLA and perhaps some WSB in SQ while at the same time trying to concentrate on the traffic.
Just before the Y to the fish market a small car made a left turn in front of me and proceeded to move toward the fish market. Well I thought, "OK he has cleared me and will keep moving on down". I proceeded to move forward at a speed of about 5 mph due to the traffic congestion. As I moved forward I did feel a slight bump from the right side of the truck which I interpreted as a small pot hole. The next thing I know there is an irate cop at my passenger window ordering me to stop and exit the vehicle. Of course, I complied and presented him my license and registration. He demanded to know why I had not stopped after hitting a car. I told him I was surprised that I had hit a car and that I had felt a bump but thought it was a hole. He showed me a small line on the right side of my truck below the door and an obvious scrape on my tire, the source of the bump, with the color of the other car.
Upon reviewing the incriminating evidence I accepted his argument. He was also very agitated and accused me of almost hitting him as I moved forward. He must have moved to my blind spot. The cop let me know that I was at fault and that I would have to pay restitution to the driver of the other car for damages and that I would be fined for " falta de precaucion" which would require a trip to the comandancia. During all of these exchanges I made sure that I was polite, respectful and agreed that we should settle this at the comandancia.
The next thing the cop wanted to do was for me to see the damage done to the other car. I informed him I had insurance so there would be no problem with restitution. So we walked back to the scene of the accident and the car in question is gone. Cop says he must have moved the car because of the congestion and parked it. Well about 15 minutes later that other driver arrives, no car, we talk. I inform him I have insurance and the matter will be taken care of. The driver asks me what the cop said to me I told him that the cop said I was at fault and that I would have to go the comandancia to pay a fine. At that time the cop comes back over and tells the other driver to bring the car for my inspection of the damages and for us to settle for damages. The driver says, well, it is not my car it belongs to my employer. He takes off to get the car or so he said but after about 1/2 hour no car no driver. During this same 1/2 hour as they were clearing the first accident the cop and I started to have a conversation about the traffic, fishing, the weather and about our trip to BOLA and SQ.
At last he says we are about done here and we can proceed to the comandancia. I tell him I do not know where it is and how far this will divert us from our path. I also ask him if we can stop at a bank ATM to pick up some pesos. Finally, I ask him how much the fine will cost me. I do know from past conversations with cops in Mexicali that the fine for "falta de precaucion" is over $100 at the comandancia. The cop tells me the fine will be about $120 dollars. I said OK.
Well now that the first accident is cleared and its time to go to the comandancia he asks do you want me to give you a hand to settle this so you do not have to waste your time at the comandancia and deviate from your route. I think to myself here is a great opportunity to take the easy way out after all you are guilty, you did it you hit a car.. I ask him how much will this cost me and to my surprise he asks me, "What do you think is fair?". I take on a puzzled look, think for a minute and say, "I got $60". Cop says ok but lets do it like this.. I will hand you back your license you put the money behind it and hand it back to me behind your truck because there are too many cameras monitoring the street.. I went to the cab of my truck put the money behind my license went to the back of the truck, deal done and we are on our way..
Was it a MORDIDA or convenience? Was it deal for me YES.
Would I do it again YES!
Was it a MORDIDA you decide. What you would have done given the circumstances..

surfer jim - 7-31-2010 at 08:09 PM

Watch out LOCO....when they get done with you it will be like the song..."Who let the dogs out" :lol:

I give it an "OK".

Udo - 7-31-2010 at 08:12 PM

I would have done the same thing.

Mexicorn - 7-31-2010 at 08:29 PM

Agreed good move $60 bucks is a deal. It's a real cluster doing it the square way.
Dude you made out. Buena Movida

DENNIS - 7-31-2010 at 09:04 PM

Was he really a cop or was he a cop-scout? Sounds as though you busted his maiden. You corrupted this poor kid. :biggrin:

Actually, you did good. Sometimes it just isn't convenient to recycle a culture.

bajabound2005 - 7-31-2010 at 09:05 PM

never had a problem in or around Ensenada and quite frankly, to give in to the mordida...you're all idiots. Never even seen or heard of a cop in Ensenada suggesting it. Oh, I've lived here full time for 4 years.

Marc - 7-31-2010 at 09:19 PM

I just LOVE Mexico! :biggrin:

El Comadante Loco - 7-31-2010 at 09:20 PM

"Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel."

It appears that your glass is half empty. You need another glass of white zinfandel

TonyC - 7-31-2010 at 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bajabound2005
never had a problem in or around Ensenada and quite frankly, to give in to the mordida...you're all idiots. Never even seen or heard of a cop in Ensenada suggesting it. Oh, I've lived here full time for 4 years.

get on your high horse and rotate sir. no need for for name calling.

he explained how it went down, and time...you seem to have alot of...we on vacation don't have. i guess most locals would have handle it differently....not.

dennis, how long have you lived in baja norte? slap this guy will ya. kidding.

[Edited on 8-1-2010 by TonyC]

Russ - 8-1-2010 at 04:43 AM

So... How was fishing?

ELINVESTIG8R - 8-1-2010 at 05:12 AM

Russ - 8-1-2010 at 05:15 AM

G8R Nicely done!

Udo - 8-1-2010 at 06:28 AM

Elinvestig8r...king of the gifs.

I don't know how you do it, Dave.

ELINVESTIG8R - 8-1-2010 at 06:38 AM

Thanks Udo...I do them with lots of patience. :lol:

capt. mike - 8-1-2010 at 07:15 AM

i would have held my nose and paid.
vaca does not provide enuff time to be right.

DavidE - 8-1-2010 at 07:51 AM

You lucked out, pure and simple. If I may add a comment: Your wise decision to remain calm and polite most likely saved you hours, hassles, and a big wad of cash. The other driver disappearing with the car like that sounds a little fishy. I would have expected him to remain on the spot or at the least summon his employer to resolve the damage.

On the bright side, an episode like that really seems to sharpen driving skills for a long, long time afterwards.

CaboMagic - 8-1-2010 at 08:04 AM

ECL - thumbs up support .... How was fishing?

edited since ECL is not who I thought it was ...

[Edited on 8-2-2010 by CaboMagic]

Udo - 8-1-2010 at 08:06 AM

I tought the same thing, and since the other driver disappeared for a while, and then reappears without a car. Then it turns out it was his emplyer's car. Sounds like he did not want to make waves with his employer either.
You made out great, Loco.

I personally drive that intersection many times a year, and many times it has been a mess because of an accident, or because someone wants to turn into the fish market from the left turn lane (for those who don't know, the fish market exit is from the right-hand lane.)

DianaT - 8-1-2010 at 08:33 AM

It is always a difficult question and I think it is often situational. Now I know that that can be argued as a black or white issue---either right or wrong.

Basically, I really dislike mordida, but have we ever willingly paid it? Yes we have and we probably would have paid it in your situation.

DENNIS - 8-1-2010 at 08:42 AM

Mordida, in it's most pure form, would be ideal. Those who break the law would support law enforcement.
Now, I know that's a fantasy, but true, none the less.

ELINVESTIG8R - 8-1-2010 at 08:49 AM

If you sincerely feel in jeopardy please pay the mordida instead of stressing over what may come next. Just negotiate the amount you are willing to pay. If they say 100 you say 20. If they say 75 you say 30 Etc.

Yeah, I would never want anyone to suffer stress over a few bucks of extortion even though some of us would not pay. I hold no ill will toward anyone who feels pressured to pay. It's hard not to. Just pay and move on with your vacation.

TMW - 8-1-2010 at 09:11 AM

I would pay it as you did and have twice now in the past three years.

El Comadante Loco - 8-1-2010 at 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Russ
So... How was fishing?

We made it to BOLA without further accidents and stayed at Las Hamacas, fished 2 days with Joel. Weather was cool for this time of year and the water cold, no bait in the bay. Yellowtail bite was slow but still there with plenty of small to medium yellows. Did have a shot at a couple of big ones that got away, broke the line.

On the return we fished San Quintin but again the weather was overcast and cold. Water cold and very green temps down to about 55. No bait in the bay. Fished with Capt Juan, who knows his stuff. Only option we had was to fish bottom which we did and loaded up on Reds, Sheep Head, White fish and Ling Cod. Great bottom fishing but we wanted the WSB.. Next time.. Plan two more trips to SQ, August and Sept

DENNIS - 8-1-2010 at 10:12 AM

I see a big difference between paying for an infraction which the driver knows he commited and the highway robbery which is taking place in Cd. Constitucón. There are some cultural things that we may not understand, but extortion isn't one of them.
I don't know how Ensenada has pulled it off, but the local police don't seem to exibit predatory greed against tourists as some other places do. Perhaps they save it for the locals.

rhintransit - 8-1-2010 at 10:35 AM

was it mordida? yes.
you hit another car, you didn't notice it, you didn't stop. probably you almost hit the officer, too, as you say he 'must have moved to my blind spot.' you were guilty. the ticket would have been legit. so you took the easier way of paying for your infraction. the city didn't benefit from the fine, so there's another 'crime' if you want to look at it that way.
would I have done it given the particular circumstances? probably. I do hope that I wouldn't have made the same driving mistakes but almost everyone has had or will have one of those times of inattention. I suspect most people, on vacation or not, would take the offered cheaper and easier way out.

The Good News, No Inflation for Bribes

Gypsy Jan - 8-1-2010 at 06:30 PM

About six years ago, hubby, Mr. GJ, paid $60 mn to the Ensenada cop who stopped him for "running" a stop sign that wasn't there.

DENNIS - 8-1-2010 at 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Gypsy Jan
About six years ago, hubby, Mr. GJ, paid $60 mn to the Ensenada cop who stopped him for "running" a stop sign that wasn't there.

Now..that's not mordida. That's extortion. We have to know the difference and how we should react to each.

Mordida.....let's talk about it.

Extortion....Let's go see the judge.

bajabound2005 - 8-1-2010 at 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TonyC

Quote:

I'm a SHE not a HE. There was no name calling.

El Comadante Loco - 8-1-2010 at 09:49 PM

" I'm a SHE not a HE. There was no name calling."

" mordida...you're all idiots"

These are your words and the assertion that "you're all idiots" is certainly not intended as a compliment or is it?. Perhaps you can explain why you choose to label those who do not prescribe to your perception of right and wrong as idiots.

ELINVESTIG8R - 8-2-2010 at 04:48 AM

Baja California and Baja California Sur should have a uniformed bail amount for each infraction listed in Pesos and Dollars. This list should be placed on a website where it can be downloaded and carried with us in our travels throughout Baja California. Now when we are pulled over by the police we can politely ask the officer what our violation was so we can check the list to make sure we are not being gouged by them when they demand a mordida or extortion.

BajaBlanca - 8-2-2010 at 07:34 AM

now that is a good idea - a master list of cost of infractions. must exist somewhere, right ?

Mexicorn - 8-2-2010 at 07:46 AM

Somewhere a polar bear is in need of an ice cube! :light:

TonyC - 8-2-2010 at 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mexicorn
Somewhere a polar bear is in need of an ice cube! :light:

it's mexico...perfect. :bounce:

as for you...SHE....like i said "rotate on it". freaken higher then all mighty...i know what's best. YOU JUST DON'T GET IT. how does it feel when someone jams their opinion down your idiot throat. I'm not name calling.

el loco....your way cool. i'll be in san quintin, august, and september...let's fish. we can talk...about fishing, or idiots...jajajaja.

viabaja - 8-2-2010 at 08:01 PM

El Comandante Loco - $60 well spent! What is your time worth? Especially driving around Ensenada! It is just the way things are in Mexico.

Udo - 8-2-2010 at 08:09 PM

I'm going to suggest to our Ultimate Nomad that we invest in a spell-checker. :bounce:

Perhaps even a grammar checker. :bounce:

Osprey (the writer) is rolling his eyes right about now. :mad:

bacquito - 8-2-2010 at 08:55 PM

Quote:

I agree, at the scene of the accident I would have insisted to the policeman that I was not at fault and asked to go to the delagation to protest my innocence and also to complain to the delegation about a policeman asking for mordida. That money ended up in his hand.

If you still felt it was best to "pay the fine" to the corrupt cop you should have asked for his name badge number and a written receipt

Marc - 8-2-2010 at 10:06 PM

I always thought Ensenada was a "clean" town.

schwlind - 8-2-2010 at 10:42 PM

Never had a problem in Ensenada... but TJ... 3 times... all BS...

bacquito - 8-3-2010 at 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by El Comadante Loco
" I'm a SHE not a HE. There was no name calling."

" mordida...you're all idiots"

Comandate-you are not an idiot but to yield to "mordida" stimulates more "mordida" But I understand your desire to continue your vacation/fishing trip and hope you had a good time. I have few if any problems in Ensenada with the police and hope to avoid problems.

El Comadante Loco - 8-3-2010 at 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TonyC

Quote:

Originally posted by Mexicorn
Somewhere a polar bear is in need of an ice cube! :light:

it's mexico...perfect. :bounce:

I sent you a U2 but it does not show on my outbox.
Will be in SQ, Old Mill Aug 13-16 and again on Sept 16-19..