BajaNomad

Extorting just Gringos

mcfez - 4-24-2011 at 12:21 PM

I was reading another post...and saw part of this question there....and felt is was a bit of a overkill about San Felipe.

So I post this question to anyone who has been in San Felipe:

What's your experience with any San Felipe law enforcement?


I myself have never had any negative issues arise. Fact is...the cops downtown have been outright friendly.

mtgoat666 - 4-24-2011 at 12:30 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mcfez
Extorting just Gringos

What's your experience with any San Felipe law enforcement?


never even talked to a cop in san felipe - just talked to a couple soldiers at road blocks.

if the are "extorting only gringos" then that seems fair. gringos got more money than locals. i am all for progressive fees.

DENNIS - 4-24-2011 at 12:35 PM

They extort everybody at the right time. Tell a Mexican that extortion is reserved for tourists [gringos] and, if they weren't so gracious, they would laugh in your face.

DutchmanAZ - 4-24-2011 at 12:36 PM

My first post here and it has to be this...

Progressive anything is NOT fair, nor is it equitable. Fair is us Gringos paying the same as the residents.

nbacc - 4-24-2011 at 12:38 PM

Never had any dealings with them so far. nancy

DENNIS - 4-24-2011 at 12:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DutchmanAZ
Progressive anything is NOT fair, nor is it equitable. Fair is us Gringos paying the same as the residents.


That blanket statement doesn't work. There are accepted variables.

Welcome to BajaNomad, Dutchman.

bajalou - 4-24-2011 at 12:59 PM

Have been stopped several times in San Felipe, always for something that I did - run the stop sign, speed, etc. The police always requested me to go to the police station to pay the find. I always did. I have never been asked or hinted for mordida. Each time I was at the station there were several Mexicans there paying fines but no other Americans. Never been stopped for something I didn't do.

Have been stopped on the Fed. highway 5 and told to slow down, but 2 Mexican plated cars stopped with me were ticketed.

That my 16 year experience here.

Jim/Liisa - 4-24-2011 at 01:20 PM

2 Easters ago I got a ticket for running a stop sign wich I did not!
The cops where right behind Me and I knew this! Some idiot Mexican on a quad continued right through an alto sign after I had stoped and tried to procceed so I stopped again and there lights went on.

So I pulled over and tried to explain to her what happen, gave Her My drivers licence She spoke no english, so the other cop came over and He did. I explained again no good. Yet they where right behind Me? Had to follow them to the Station.

Then had to wait 2 hours for the clerk to get back from lunch. The whole time I was worried that my ticket was going to be expensive.
The ticket was only $13.00.

So on a Holiday be cautous and let the B###ds cotinue to brake the law if you are American or Canadian you are the one who will get pulled over. By the way thats all they had in at the station was Americans.

[Edited on 02-05-2011 by Jim/Liisa]

[Edited on 02-05-2011 by Jim/Liisa]

CDB - 4-24-2011 at 01:25 PM

So far my interaction with the police(both federal and municipal) in San Felipe have been positive. Even when I was having a dispute with a Mexican business owner and landlord. Unlike the horror stories I have heard, they were courteous and patient with my lack of Spanish language skills. The outcome was even in my favor.

MitchMan - 4-24-2011 at 01:42 PM

Quote:
posted by goat
if the are "extorting only gringos" then that seems fair. gringos got more money than locals. i am all for progressive fees.


That's funny, man.

For those of you who think that la policia pick on gringos only, have you ever tried to look like a Mexican as much as you can to reduce your mordida extortions? Just a thought, works for me.

sancho - 4-24-2011 at 01:49 PM

Over the last 15 yrs., my Mex travel has been limited
to San Felipe. I too, have never talked to an SF cop. I
believe the smallness of SF lends itself to less of
a mordida mentality. I think the SF cops know the
importance of Gringos to their economy, especially
the El Dorado residents. I have read of Mexicali traffic
stops, which, knock on wood, I hope to avoid.
I'm sure Mex Nationals deal with this often, though
probably with a less costly mordida request

grace59 - 4-24-2011 at 02:34 PM

I have been a regular visitor to San Felipe for 7 years and have never had any interaction with the Policia there except to say hello when I see them on the Malecon. I've had 1 friend pulled over in Mexicali (for speeding) who did get the mordida "bite" and another friend who was pulled over for speeding in Mexicali (he wasn't, I was in the car right behind him) and the cop tried to put the bite on him, but left when I pulled over and parked to wait for my friend. So I know of experiences like this in Mexicali, but have never heard of it in San Felipe.

David K - 4-24-2011 at 03:35 PM

First trip through San Felipe in 1965 (as a kid)...
First trip without parents driving my own car in San Felipe was in 1974...
A zillion trips between then and now (last trip through San Felipe was July, 2010)...

0 contact with police.

805gregg - 4-24-2011 at 07:17 PM

I avoid the polica, they are all corrupt.

TMW - 4-25-2011 at 08:45 AM

I've never been stopped by a cop in San Felipe and I can't remember ever talking to one.

BajaGeoff - 4-25-2011 at 10:26 AM

In my 23 years of traveling to Baja I have had no bad experiences with the cops in San Felipe or anywhere else for that matter. I have had my car searched once by municipal cops in Rosarito, there was nothing to find...they sent me on my way with a smile. Last year I interacted with Federales when my friend had an accident....they were not only professional but very helpful too.

Skipjack Joe - 4-25-2011 at 11:59 AM

I think part of the problem with stop lights is that their laws are different than ours. In the states you are allowed to enter the intersection on a yellow light as long at you're not still in it when the light turns red. Mexican cops will ticket you if you enter the intersection on a yellow light. Or perhaps the yellow light is so short that it changes to red before you come out.

I'm not absolutely sure of this but that's how I now drive through Ensenada and no longer get cited for that infraction.

Never had problems at San Felipe.

sancho - 4-25-2011 at 03:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Mexican cops will ticket you if you enter the intersection on a yellow light.



I was thinking about this very subject, did a little looking,
can't remember where I read it, but it did state a flashing
yellow intersection light means stop, do not enter intersection
But I would be careful not to be rearended by a Mex local
behind you coming thru

Bajajorge - 4-26-2011 at 09:52 AM

I was stopped in San Felipe a couple of years ago for blowing a Stop Sign.:( When I asked, "what Stop Sign", the officer took me by the arm and marched me back to the intersection to show me the sign. When we got there he found there was no Stop Sign.:O I guess somebody had stolen it. He let me go.:tumble:

DENNIS - 4-26-2011 at 10:09 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bajajorge
I was stopped in San Felipe a couple of years ago for blowing a Stop Sign.:( When I asked, "what Stop Sign", the officer took me by the arm and marched me back to the intersection to show me the sign. When we got there he found there was no Stop Sign.:O I guess somebody had stolen it. He let me go.:tumble:




Now, Jorge....you know some of the stop-signs are invisible. They can see them, but we can't. It's a very spiritual thing, those signs. :?:

elbeau - 4-26-2011 at 11:45 AM

I've gotta say, if these are the worst "bad cop" stories that we can find, then San Felipe has a MUCH less corrupt police force than several US cities I've been in.

A few years back I worked at a place in Las Vegas where some cops executed a search warrant on a storage room. Right in front of me one of the cops held up a book he liked and told the other cop that he always wanted that book. The other cop gestured for him to throw it in his squad car (ie: not where they were loading the stuff they were supposed to confiscate) so he just threw it in.

My point is that corruption is everywhere. I'm sure that there's plenty of worse stories from Mexico, but there's plenty of worse stories from this side of the border too.
I'll admit, that's not exactly a story about a tremendously corrupt cop, but it's better than anything anybody else is posting here...and my story is from the US.

[Edited on 4-26-2011 by elbeau]

capn.sharky - 4-26-2011 at 05:36 PM

If you havent been extorted in Baja---you just haven't been there long enough. Its possible you just don't know when it happens. Its just custom there. Nothing to get too excited about. Kinda like paying taxes here in the U.S. only a lot less dinero.

When in Rome ................

MrBillM - 4-26-2011 at 08:08 PM

Or Mexico ...........

Whatever.

Calling it EXTORTION is a little over the top.

How about Redistribution of Resources ?

Corruption regarding Tourists has been pretty well documented over the years so any DEBATE is pretty Meaningless.

But, so what ?

I've never been stopped in San Felipe and, Like Lou, I have NEVER been stopped by the police ANYWHERE in Mexico for something I didn't do. The one (close) exception would be the stop in Mexicali a couple of years back for 42 in a 60 kph zone. Even then, I WAS over the limit. By a little. Though dual signage (where used) is 60 kph/40 mph.

AND, the decision has always been mine regarding the payment arrangements, so "No Hay Problema".

If you want to play (in Baja), just SMILE and Pay the "Bite".

Or, stay Away.

baja829 - 4-27-2011 at 12:28 AM

23 yrs. traveling to and living South of San Felipe. No stops ever in and around San Felipe.

Police (from Ensenada) patrol the Campos and stop by and talk to us occasionally and respond to Marine Radio calls as well.

Two stops in Mexicali in same time frame; one for me, for driving 15 miles over limit. I was. One for my husband, driving 20 miles over the limit, he was. We did not go to Police Station, as we were on our way to airport in San Diego and knew it would take all day, so just paid, a very minimal amount.

DENNIS - 4-27-2011 at 05:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by MrBillM
How about Redistribution of Resources ?



I can't imagine anyone as consevative as you, Bill, saying that without chewing his tongue to molida. :o

jimgrms - 4-27-2011 at 07:51 AM

In 1952 i was thrown in the slammer till i sobered up ,was also kicked in the burro i was 13

Bajafun777 - 4-27-2011 at 08:15 AM

Have had a few stops by T.J. police on my way to toll road going south but both times since I was not doing anything wrong stayed with not only saying it but ready to spend my whole day at police station. The cops got tired of the circle run on me and let me go with a warning. I was behind two other vehicles and the off and under thing back then to get to the toll road area kept changing so speed was not really the truth, they were just fishing.
Now, in San Felipe have not ever had an issue and we used to go a lot like 6 times a year for over 15 years not so much anymore but probably need to again,LOL> Take Care & Travel Safe " No Hurry, No Worry, Just FUN" bajafun777

Paying the Mexican Piper

MrBillM - 4-27-2011 at 09:55 AM

Well, I don't know that MORDIDA is a Liberal/Conservative issue as such, BUT we are discussing a (mostly) Socialist Third-World Country so we have to expect that their Social/Fiscal standards would be, accordingly, different and accept that difference.

AND, there's the fact that the "Little Bite" system actually works pretty well for those who can afford it. It makes contact with the Bureaucracy more streamlined and certainly more pleasurable than dealing with the Citation system in the U.S.

What is it they say about "Accepting the Things you can't Change" ?

I once had a friend who even questioned how I could stand to visit a "Commie" country like Mexico. Of course, he was one of the JBS guys.