BajaNomad - STOPPED AND ROUSTED AGAIN IN TECATE

STOPPED AND ROUSTED AGAIN IN TECATE

Marla Daily - 12-11-2011 at 05:21 PM

That makes 2 for 2 police shake-down attempts for us transiting Tecate. In October (as posted) a motorcycle cop stopped us on the hill going down into Tecate on our way north. Our alleged infraction was dogs in the cab of the truck. We were polite; refused to pay, and after quite a stand-off and putting the dogs in the camper (until the border), he let us go.

This morning at 8:30 A.M. two cops on motorcycles stopped us at the top of the same hill. We are headed south this time (and are now checked in at the Baja Cactus Motel). Funny thing is, Kirk and I counted out loud the many odd stop signs and lights going up the hill out of Tecate as we crept our way to the top. When we reached the top, there was a semi-truck pulled over by two motorcycle cops. When they saw our gringo camper rig towing a Wells Cargo trailer creep by, they couldn't get on their bikes fast enough!

Yes they stopped us. Yes the dogs were in the cab of the truck. But THAT wasn't the alleged infraction. This time it was "SPEEDING" and we allegedly owed a $70 US fine. We were informed the speed limit on the hill is 15 KM per hour. (????) It was ludicrous. Cars zoomed by us as we crept up the hill at a snail's pace. The cops insisted we turn the rig around and follow them to the station to pay. We politely refused. The jefe was an officer named Romero. His name was told to me by the underling cop out of earshot of Romero. When Romero returned to my side of the cab, and I said I understand he was a Romero, he shook his head no. Then cop #2 said he told me his name. Romero wasn't pleased. Again we outwaited the impasse and were ultimately let go.

It probably helped that Kirk used his Mexican drivers license and I politely argued in Spanish. So much for crossing at Tecate!

DENNIS - 12-11-2011 at 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Marla Daily
It probably helped that Kirk used his Mexican drivers license and I politely argued in Spanish. So much for crossing at Tecate!

For a US plated truck? [At least, that's what I assume.]
I'm surprised he didn't make an issue of that.

Anyway....I've tried to count the stop signs a hundred times, but always lose track. How many did you count?

For everyone complaining about Tecate...

Dave - 12-11-2011 at 06:10 PM

Don't go.

There's absolutely no reason unless that's where you live.

absinvestor - 12-11-2011 at 07:14 PM

I don't know if you're just unlucky or I am just lucky but I've crossed North and South at Tecate 6 times in the last year without incident????

Mengano - 12-11-2011 at 07:17 PM

It's Christmas time. You might as well just park your truck and walk until after Epiphany.

[Edited on 12-12-2011 by Mengano]

Leo - 12-11-2011 at 07:29 PM

That's true Mengano. The 2 times we were shaked down in La Paz was in the weeks leading to Christmas. Felice Navidad?

gnukid - 12-11-2011 at 07:36 PM

Stay cool, stay calm, communicate calmy and you will have no problem. Be super patient.

Lee - 12-11-2011 at 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dave
Don't go.

There's absolutely no reason unless that's where you live.

Everyone complaining? One person complaining about 2 shakedowns.

Pass on Tecate? Don't think so. Sure as heil beats SY and Otay.

Otay

bajaguy - 12-11-2011 at 07:59 PM

Been crossing at Otay for 6 years now, daytime/nighttime both northbound and southbound, using Corridor 2000 .......

Passed and have been passed by TJ, State and Federal cops.....No shakedowns, no police problems. Also, been years since I have seen any TJ motorcycle cops on Blvd 2000.

wessongroup - 12-11-2011 at 08:10 PM

Don't think you're a "target" bajaguy... just saying .. :lol:

David K - 12-12-2011 at 09:05 AM

I have used Tecate more times than I can count, would rarely use another crossing... Even if Tecate is extra long (once waited 3 hours), it still outshines Mexicali or Tijuana's two border crossings, IMO.

I know the hill on the Ensenada route between the baseball stadium/ McDonalds and the toll highway at the top... About 4 or 5, 4-way stop signs that the locals roll through... I am not a local, so I stop and count to three before moving... It's annoying, but not nearly as annoying as dealing with a cop.

I was stopped once in Tecate right after they opened the new border into the USA... Didn't know where to go to get in line... made a U turn (legally), but that got the attention of a motorcycle cop. Just be nice, apologize while explaining... and you just might have a good experience.

mulegemichael - 12-12-2011 at 09:11 AM

two decades of crossing in tecate and haven't been stopped once.

durrelllrobert - 12-12-2011 at 12:15 PM

Back in the 50's we used to drive to Tecate (from La Mesa) to party on Fri nights. Because the border was locked up at 11:00 we always left the cars parked on the US side and would climb over the gate when we were ready to leave (usually around 1:00-2:00 AM). I remember one time when the local police gave us each a boost to get over the gate.. and they didn't ask for a propina. :lol:

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 12-12-2011 at 12:26 PM

Hola Marla Daily,

sorry to hear about your unfortunate incidents.

i have been crossing at tecate for a number of years pulling a small utility trailer and have never been stopped even though when driving through town, there were many motorcycle cops and cops in cars just parked apparently waiting to get their breakfast or lunch money.

i do stop at EVERY intersection that are and are not signed and i drive extremely slow for approximately the first couple of miles.

i have SINDICATURA stickers on my suv and on my utility trailer and i am a firm believer the stickers work.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

Lee - 12-12-2011 at 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
i have SINDICATURA stickers on my suv and on my utility trailer and i am a firm believer the stickers work.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

SINDICATURA stickers might be the new trend. Marla might benefit along with others. Can you post the sticker?

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 12-12-2011 at 02:19 PM

Hola Lee,

the sindicatura stickers have been around since around 2004 or so.

check your u2u.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

BajaWarrior - 12-12-2011 at 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee

Quote:

Originally posted by BAJA.DESERT.RAT
i have SINDICATURA stickers on my suv and on my utility trailer and i am a firm believer the stickers work.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

SINDICATURA stickers might be the new trend. Marla might benefit along with others. Can you post the sticker?

Spearo - 12-12-2011 at 06:09 PM

I was driving up that hill in Tecate last year and came up on two federales leaning against their cruiser. They looked up and started waving their arms and motioning me to pull over. I started to do so and realized they were looking at the rig behind me. I looked in the rearview and there was a pickup that had brush piled precariously at least 15 feet over the cab. It looked like a moving slash pile.

So...find someone with a huge illegal load and follow them!

805gregg - 12-12-2011 at 06:56 PM

That's the Mexican culture we miss north of the border.

David K - 12-12-2011 at 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Back in the 50's we used to drive to Tecate (from La Mesa) to party on Fri nights. Because the border was locked up at 11:00 we always left the cars parked on the US side and would climb over the gate when we were ready to leave (usually around 1:00-2:00 AM). I remember one time when the local police gave us each a boost to get over the gate.. and they didn't ask for a propina. :lol:

That is a wonderful story... Viva the 50's! My decade (but was too young to remember it)!!

BajaBlanca - 12-12-2011 at 08:27 PM

jeez, it is so annoying to have to deal with being pulled over ..... I feel your pain, Marla ...

I do like that sticker, Rat !!

Roberto - 12-12-2011 at 10:02 PM

Marla has been across more than once. And more than once at Tecate. She is reporting a situation of police corruption (shocking, I know!!!!). I don't think she needs explanations on what she did wrong, or how she should "be nice", etc.

Just take the information and use it. Or not. As you wish.

But, whatever you do, stop with the damn apologies for behavior south of the border. Corruption is a problem. End of story.

[Edited on 12-13-2011 by Roberto]

paranewbi - 12-13-2011 at 06:21 AM

The simple solution is:
Spend as much time as possible in the Bar Diana (right side of Zocola, just past bank). Eventually you and the police will recognize each other!

)

durrelllrobert - 12-14-2011 at 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaWarrior

I have one of these in the rear window of both my cars and twice I have been stopped by a motorcycle officer in Ensenada and as soon as he approached the back of my car he just turned around, got on his bike and rode off.

bajaguy - 12-14-2011 at 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert

Quote:

Originally posted by BajaWarrior

Click on sticker, save to file, reduce size to about 3" and print on waterproof photo paper, stick in back window on drivers side......

capn.sharky - 12-14-2011 at 01:37 PM

so, where do you get the stickers?

BAJA.DESERT.RAT - 12-14-2011 at 02:15 PM

hola,

the originals were much bigger, around 10" or so and 6" or so.

capn.sharky....as posted above, Click on sticker, save to file, reduce size to about 3" and print on waterproof photo paper, stick in back window on drivers side......

if that doesn't work, send me a u2u and i'll send it to you via email and you can print it out. need your email address.

BIEN SALUD, DA RAT

David K - 12-14-2011 at 02:37 PM

In the thread from 2007 named 'decal' is a photo of the original sticker on the Wet Buzzard Bar sliding glass door... next to my 'got baja?' sticker.... Here is the link: http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=24184

I just added the link for the decal/ sticker image there, as well!

my way

captkw - 12-14-2011 at 05:11 PM

I have spent a bit of time in baja and have driven to panama and back,,that does not make me a expert,, but being I have been stopped a coulpe of time's,,this is my system,,1st drive,with caution,watch all sign,s,,,give yourself plently of following space so that you have time to react and see way up the road ahead of you.. dosnt hurt to keep an semi behind you while getting near a town//make's a nice buffer:..I usally keep a 20 and a credit card in my pocket/wallet..and if I get stopped,,pull it out and say" muy pobre" they see the card and do not want to go to the bank with you and be seen on a camara that proble isnt working any way..BTW in the old days the main road hazard's were cow's and SLOW moving truck,, with worker's in a curve uphill at 3mph !! now ,,,I think unmarked tope's are my biggest b-tch LOL :lol:

ps..having a dog hanging out the window wearing shade's,,seem's to help,for some reason !!

[Edited on 12-15-2011 by captkw]

[Edited on 12-15-2011 by captkw]

vgabndo - 12-14-2011 at 06:44 PM

Folks who have been doing this know what to do, but new folks, may be missing the one thing I think is most important. If you can carry on a lengthy conversation with the officer in his language, and especially if you've done nothing wrong you can respectfully stand your ground. If he's just running a fishing hole, after he watches too many fat fishes swim by, he's likely to make a new cast. The sticker they used to give away at the tourist place in San Quintin that said in Spanish, "tourism is beneficial to everyone", got my off at the end of a 10 minute stand-off in Ensenada!

:lol:

vagabundo

captkw - 12-14-2011 at 06:50 PM

awsome reply and the IT"S true,,,by the way you do know "FOSTER's" in rio vista,ca. ???

vgabndo - 12-14-2011 at 06:56 PM

Sorry I don't know Fosters. Rio Vista? Isn't that where our useless %#@&*! Congressman lives. :lol:

captkw - 12-14-2011 at 07:03 PM

:lol:

that's where the big stribper's and sturgeon live,,,also the office of..vaga del bundo's..is located at..the gybsie's of the sea...rio vista...I think without question..the oldest baja travel club..but I dont know that for a fact..but am rather shure...K&T

captkw - 12-14-2011 at 07:59 PM

HOLA, amigo's..they are the oldest and best baja travel club !! but the only problem,,seem's to be that I have had with them,,,,Is I seem to be one of the youngest....LOL...IM 52 and amd still am called the KID on the east cape..LOL what can I DO??? LOL :lol:

David K - 12-15-2011 at 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by captkw
HOLA, amigo's..they are the oldest and best baja travel club !! but the only problem,,seem's to be that I have had with them,,,,Is I seem to be one of the youngest....LOL...IM 52 and amd still am called the KID on the east cape..LOL what can I DO??? LOL :lol:

Join Discover Baja Travel Club, but you will still be a kid... :lol:

Fernweh - 12-15-2011 at 10:08 AM

Thanks for the image.

UPS self adhesive shipping label, covered with clear packing tape works bueno.

Karl

DENNIS - 12-15-2011 at 11:27 AM

OK....so now everybody is hyped up about the sticker, but in my opinion, it's pretty much the same as giving a cop the finger.
That said, if anyone here was asked, "What does the sticker mean....or do?"
Could you answer the question?
Furthermore....has anyone here ever been through a process with Sindicatura?
Does the program still exist, and if yes, how do you know?

Lee - 12-15-2011 at 12:29 PM

Isn't the Sindicatura sticker stating: if you're a cop looking for mordida based on a scam, a shake down, a fraud, you'll get an argument from the driver of this vechicle?

If a cop thinks the sticker is the bird, so what? Don't mean a thing.

If it makes a dirty cop uncomfortable seeing the sticker, that's a good thing, isn't it?

Marla Daily - 12-15-2011 at 08:27 PM

Thank you all for your thoughts. Yes the point of my post is so others are aware of the current corruption going on now on that hill in Tecate. Many of these clusters of incidents seems to come and go with the season and the different employees and their political administrations. (Not long ago there was a huge problem transiting Constitucion.)

VGABNDO is absolutely correct: "If you can carry on a lengthy conversation with the officer in his language, and especially if you've done nothing wrong you can respectfully stand your ground."

Using this exact strategy, we were able to get out of both recent incidents in Tecate with everyone saving face and no money changing hands. My husband says he doesn't speak Spanish and turns to me. I then let the officer(s) know that I'm a Cultural Anthropologist who lives in Loreto, and that I am studying the first families of the Baja California peninsula, and have been doing so for more than 20 years. I ask their last names and where they were born; I make small talk about Baja California history.

Through the years, we've been stopped a half-dozen times without cause: several times along the Tijuana border fence; in Insurgentes; and twice in Tecate. Knock on wood—it has worked thus far.

captkw - 12-15-2011 at 10:06 PM

SE,clarro ! did I spell that right??

Pompano - 12-15-2011 at 10:19 PM

I made a 'Christmas gift' of 20 bucks to a pair of patrolmen on Dec 6th. Why pay them? Because I was guilty... my rear carrier box was partially obscurring the license plate.

I knew I was going to either go to the station in my 35 motorhome to a faraway spot in Tecate and paying a much larger fine...or settle the business on the scene.

They talked 100 bucks, so I invited them in the coach for a cold coke, where we sat and yakked about Baja stuff, and some citizens I know here and there. 20 bucks for a 'fine' to pay a traffic violation was fine with me...and with Jorge and Jose...or was it Pedro and Manuel?...Odd, my memory fails me now. Merry Christmas, guys. :rolleyes:

20 bucks

captkw - 12-16-2011 at 08:41 AM

HOLA,,20 buck's is fine for me...in N-zi calif, a ticket is in the hundred's,,,bring's up your inshure,,and if you miss your corut date, or for any reason,,(they dont care that your kid got ran over by a semi)dont pay the bribe (they call a fine) you go to jail..I'll take mexico system any day over the us N-zi sysstem.....can write a book about how much time I have spent in jail for driving a car!!!santa cruz county,,calif where you go for a vacation and leave on probation !!! :fire:

LaTijereta - 12-16-2011 at 08:49 AM

Been through Tecate twice in the last 10 days..Towing a 35' fifth wheel and 12' enclosed trailers back and forth to BCS..
No problems experienced on either trip.. :cool:

15 minuite wait on Thursday at Noon crossing US border.. :biggrin:

viabaja - 12-29-2011 at 04:26 PM

Marla Daily, HOOK your dogs up in the back seat in a harness! It's the law. I noticed you had another post about the same issue (2nd time)! I'm also surprised the cops didn't hassle you about having US plates with a Mexican license? That too is the law. Mexican license - Mexican plates.

via baja

captkw - 12-29-2011 at 09:09 PM

hola,,I beg to differ,,you say it's a law..dog's have to be seat belted...uummm,, I dont know how to respond to that !! and as a U.S.C.G. captain,that used to do L.E. on the sea's,,I think,, this is the first time in my life,,THat,im at a lost of word's,command's,question's,,,Talk is cheap,,so ,,that said,, ,can you back up your ,,crazy,,crap !! not to be rude,again,,SIR,,but ,,have you been drinking tonight,,' sir???

any more info ???

captkw - 12-30-2011 at 08:59 AM

Hola,nomads,,trying to get any more bout this crazy stuff?

hello,any answers

captkw - 12-30-2011 at 09:27 PM