BajaNomad

posted today on SF web,, about Mexicali

desertcpl - 10-16-2010 at 11:44 AM

This morning I received yet another very disturbing email from a Bahia Santa Maria resident. I quote it in its entirity because I believe it makes several major points on being alert when driving through Mexicali, watching your speed, not having any open alcohol containers or unrestrained dogs in the vehicle. It also seems to indicate that visitors coming into Mexicali via the East (new) crossing are particularly vulnerable to an officer wearing dental braces:

It would appear that the Mexicali Police have decided to increase their fund raising, with enhanced stops and seemingly inflated "Radar Readings". Friends were stopped, (first time in years), on the 24th [September], near the left turn by the roundabout (Cristobal Colon & Manual Gomez Marin and told they had been going 78 kph, and what an "expensive ticket" that was. Then they were offered the opportunity to either pay at the police station, or "Pay Now". No citation was issued, the officer simply requested that they deposit their money in his ticket book. He accepted over $200, after threatening to arrest them on the spot, claiming he saw an empty beer can in their vehicle.

In my case I was pulled over on the 6th again about noon, just after going under the first underpass on Manual Gomez Marin. As I had been warned I was especially cautious to keep my speed in check. Never the less, the officer pulled me over and showed me a Radar Reading that said I had been going 82 kph, while I know I never went over 50 kph. He said this was a very serious offense, however he never wrote any information in his ticket book, instead said, "Do you want to go to the Police Station, or you can pay now?" He said the fine was $100, and when I said in Pesos? he simply smiled and said "No in dollars". He requested that I open the rear door on my minivan and said, "Put your money here inside the door and then go back into your car. I placed $50 where indicated, returned to the drivers seat, while he picked up the money, left my license, and closed the door, and waved me on my way.

Other friends, again having been warned were driving under the speed limit, (getting passed by everyone else), and were still pulled over on Cristobol Colon, between the East Gate & Manual Gomez Marin on Tuesday October 12th about 1:30 PM. They were pulled over for having an unrestrained dog in the car, and clocked on radar at 28 kph. Again offered to "Pay Now" they declined and requested to go the to Police Station. The officer directed them and said he would follow them keeping their driver's license. After several blocks he instead pulled them over again, issued them a ticket, returned their driver's license and sent them on their way, apparently not wanting to lose time away from his profitable post.

In my case I failed to note the name or badge number of the officer, but will certainly be forewarned if this occurs in the future, although it appeared that each of us were pulled over by the officer wearing braces. Thank you for your informative coverage on this problem.

It would seem that this is a new tactic for the Mexicali Police to hassle tourists and increase their income in tight financial times. I would urge everyone driving through Mexicali to be especially careful of their speed and to obey all traffic signals and speed limits. I have been driving to Baja for over 40 years, and was certainly surprised by this new form of harassment that had seemingly been long since discontinued.

Cypress - 10-16-2010 at 11:52 AM

Braces are expensive.:(

DENNIS - 10-16-2010 at 11:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
unrestrained dogs in the vehicle.



What in the world is that supposed to mean? My dog won't wear a seat-belt and I don't want to tie her up.

desertcpl - 10-16-2010 at 12:18 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
unrestrained dogs in the vehicle.



What in the world is that supposed to mean? My dog won't wear a seat-belt and I don't want to tie her up.


dont know what that means either,, I didnt write the article

oxxo - 10-16-2010 at 12:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
What in the world is that supposed to mean? ............. and I don't want to tie her up.


It is the law in California.

DENNIS - 10-16-2010 at 12:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
dont know what that means either,, I didnt write the article



I know. Just venting.

desertcpl - 10-16-2010 at 12:27 PM

oh now I may have it

if a dog is in back of your pickup, it must be secure,, it is a law in Calif

Cypress - 10-16-2010 at 12:31 PM

California and Baja are joined at the hip. Baja offers the freedom that California has legislated away. The further you get away from California, the better it gets.:spingrin:

Bajahowodd - 10-16-2010 at 12:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
California and Baja are joined at the hip. Baja offers the freedom that California has legislated away. The further you get away from California, the better it gets.:spingrin:


However, I think what you are describing to a certain extent is more of a perception. Given the three issues posted above, does not Mexico have speed laws, open container laws, and laws protecting pets? Seems to me that in the face of lax enforcement, visitors get a false impression of the so-called freedom, and get uppity when they become the target of enforcement. That said, we all know there are crooked cops and arbitrary enforcement. But, in the near future, maybe we'll see a mirror of the US, speaking Spanish.

Cypress - 10-16-2010 at 12:55 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
But, in the near future, maybe we'll see a mirror of the US, speaking Spanish.

Let's hope not.

Woooosh - 10-16-2010 at 01:11 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
oh now I may have it

if a dog is in back of your pickup, it must be secure,, it is a law in Calif

... and you are supposed to tie it with two ropes from opposing points- so it can't fall out and be dragged behind the truck by the rope. Dog is my co-pilot, they ride inside.

DENNIS - 10-16-2010 at 01:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
does not Mexico have laws protecting pets?


No more than tools for extortion. After seeing first hand the disregard Mexicans in general have for street animals, it will be a hard sell trying to convince me that they're concerned about the well-being of my pet.

Bajahowodd - 10-16-2010 at 01:28 PM

I've always considered the plight of the street animals as something more related to poverty than anything else.

DENNIS - 10-16-2010 at 01:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajahowodd
I've always considered the plight of the street animals as something more related to poverty than anything else.



Not entirely. People will walk around a suffering animal ignoring it with no compassion rather than doing the humane thing of putting it out of it's misery.
"What the eff...it's only a dog."

Here, and I'm sure other places in Mexico, do you know how they dispose of unwanted kittens and cats? They drive down the street at fifty MPH and toss them out the window.

Yeah....you're right, poverty. Poverty of spirit.

Riom - 10-16-2010 at 02:09 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Here, and I'm sure other places in Mexico, do you know how they dispose of unwanted kittens and cats? They drive down the street at fifty MPH and toss them out the window.


Like:
http://www.boingboing.net/2010/03/29/angry-man-throws-chi.ht...
http://forums.winamp.com/showthread.php?t=223476
http://catdefender.blogspot.com/2010/07/tossed-out-window-of...
http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/20922185/detail.html
etc, etc...

All in the USA.

Animal cruelty isn't restricted to one country. (although, all too often, some Americans treat their pets better than they treat other humans).

Rob

DavidE - 10-16-2010 at 04:29 PM

Dang, I'm in the wrong racket. Gotta get me a timing light, receipt book and a change of khakis. Find an old beater, roll on some black and white paint and get a piece of this pie.

"Sir, you don't look very Mexican, how do I know your radar gun is accurate? I'm in a hurry and I'm scared so here is a fist full of money!"

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This is how to handle the bozos...


"Can you tell me the name of a good hotel downtown? What is the name of the juez? At what address can I find your sindicatura? Can you move a little closer, I want to get your badge number correct for the Green Angel complaint form?"

They run like hell when you don't shower them with mordida

krafty - 10-16-2010 at 04:32 PM

seems every year the closer we get to the holidays we hear more of this sort of thing re: the police-

Cypress - 10-16-2010 at 04:36 PM

Jeez! Had a crazy dog once, tied him in the middle so he couldn't jump out either side. Would the California cops give me a pass?:lol:

topic please !

freediverbrian - 10-16-2010 at 05:07 PM

Quit taking about dogs . and back to the topic , I have been stopped 2 times in Mexicalli . payed once. told the cops lets go to the station the second, and then let go. Do not pay on the street make the cops go to the station where they will get no morida > Take the time and go to the station it is the only way to stop this !

desertcpl - 10-16-2010 at 05:30 PM

I agree Brian. we did High Jack this,, we need more input from other Nomads

surfer jim - 10-16-2010 at 05:46 PM

What do the cops do when they stop cartel members? Do they pay mordida also? I wonder how that conversation goes.:lol:

desertcpl - 10-16-2010 at 05:56 PM

I would think the cop would pay the mordida,, just to save his head

Two solutions.......

bajaguy - 10-16-2010 at 08:12 PM

Ask the cop when was the last time the RADAR unit was calibrated, and was it calibrated with a tuning fork (ask to see it) or is it self calibrating ......hahaha

or you could reply with the now famous..........

"no fumar policia mordtia"

sancho - 10-16-2010 at 08:28 PM

Didn't you wave your Sindicatura flyer at
the Cop? Some claim it to work. Just being
factitious, I've never heard of any tactic
that works. I understand they threaten Gringos
with arrest if the Mordida isn't paid.
Some on this board claim to never pay Mordida, but
when the word
vehicle impoundment or arrest comes up,
at that point, I don't know how far to balk
at paying. Going to San Felipe in the next 2 weeks,
the Mexicalli Police, as reported, have been doing this
since Summer. Considering going thru Tecate,
I believe the Tecate Toll road comes into Hwy5
a ways south of Mexicalli