BajaNomad - Tecate Crossing

Tecate Crossing

Bajahowodd - 3-14-2012 at 03:46 PM

Last Friday, we approached the Tecate gates around 3pm. Net result was a wait of one hour from start to finish. Yet, our time at the gate was probably 90 seconds.

I have always felt that going through Tecate was worth the extra driving. In fact, the last two times we went through there, our wait was zero and ten minutes.

Since we need to access I-5 North, the Tecate gate only makes sense if the wait is very short.

Just wondering what others have experienced lately at both Tecate and Otay.

That said, driving North on I-5, they had the thingy going at San Onofre that found us in over a mile back up, wasting like 20 minutes.

I wonder just what the hit ratio is at this checkpoint.

Personally, I find it offensive to be harassed almost 100 miles North of the border. Freedom?????

[Edited on 3-14-2012 by Bajahowodd]

Cisco - 3-14-2012 at 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Last Friday, we approached the Tecate gates around 3pm. Net result was a wait of one hour from start to finish. Yet, our time at the gate was probably 90 seconds.

I have always felt that going through Tecate was worth the extra driving. In fact, the last two times we went through there, our wait was zero and ten minutes.

Since we need to access I-5 North, the Tecate gate only makes sense if the wait is very short.

Just wondering what others have experienced lately at both Tecate and Otay.

That said, driving North on I-5, they had the thingy going at San Onofre that found us in over a mile back up, wasting like 20 minutes.

I wonder just what the hit ratio is at this checkpoint.

Personally, I find it offensive to be harassed almost 100 miles North of the border. Freedom?????

[Edited on 3-14-2012 by Bajahowodd]

No, it's not freedom. It is another loss of your civil liberties.

The San Onofre checkpoint is well within their 100 mile from ANY border assigned boundaries. In this case the Pacific is the border.

oxxo - 3-14-2012 at 03:54 PM

We usually pass through Tecate going north about 3 to 4pm. Wait is usually anywhere from 20 minutes to no more than one hour. We passed through Otay for the first time about a year ago. Three hour wait in line. Never, never, never again. We'll take the one hour wait at Tecate.

Personally, I don't find it offensive or a loss of freedom to pass through an immigration checkpoint, but yes, inconvenient. Some people want a crackdown on those pesky illegal immigrants and this is the price we all pay.

[Edited on 3-14-2012 by oxxo]

David K - 3-14-2012 at 04:04 PM

Because not everyone uses the legal border to enter the U.S., we have secondary checks 50-100 miles from the border. You might feel differently if you saw the amount of drugs found at those checkpoints... It is on our local San Diego news stations.

While in Mexico, how do feel about stopping 1-3 or more times a day for the military inspection... looking over the same places as the one you passed a couple hours earlier? It is all part of the trip... and a Baja trip is worth a few delays (on either side of the border).

woody with a view - 3-14-2012 at 04:09 PM

this last monday at 5am the Pendleton border station was open. the previous 4 monday mornings nothing. who cares? WASTED 20 minutes of your life?

heheheh..... :lol:

Udo - 3-14-2012 at 04:16 PM

Last Sunday's (03/11/2012) crossing in Tecate was 2 hours and 10 minutes.
There was a double line as always, but the start of the line was at the top of the hill (I.E. we could see the end of the line).
It's a crap shoot which line is faster.

TMW - 3-14-2012 at 04:40 PM

I went to the Tecate border last Sunday night. Got there at 8:30pm two lines. Got over the hill and near the bottom and they closed the gates at 11p. and turned us away. Went to Santa Veronica for a hotel room no one there to help. Drove down to the desert and camped over night. Next day got in line at Mexicali west gate at 8:30am and crossed at 10am.

Normally after a race I leave Ensenada and get to Tecate at about 8 am on a Sunday and wait about 10 to 20 minutes.

Bajahowodd - 3-14-2012 at 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by David K
Because not everyone uses the legal border to enter the U.S., we have secondary checks 50-100 miles from the border. You might feel differently if you saw the amount of drugs found at those checkpoints... It is on our local San Diego news stations.

While in Mexico, how do feel about stopping 1-3 or more times a day for the military inspection... looking over the same places as the one you passed a couple hours earlier? It is all part of the trip... and a Baja trip is worth a few delays (on either side of the border).

Actually, I really think you are talking apples and oranges.

The only reason they have military checkpoints in Mexico is the so-called "War On Drugs".

I have no direct authority on this, but have a conviction that Mexico's checkpoints are more about pressure from the US War On Drugs than anything else.

Checkpoints inside the US borders present an erosion of personal liberties to US citizens.

And, fundamentally, there is a huge distinction between huge cartels trafficking drugs internationally, versus trying to grab a few poor souls who crossed North for either work to feed their families, or to re-join their current families.

According to reports, Osama Bin Laden is dead. So, I ask anyone on this forum to show me where international terrorists breached our Southern border.

Anyone have any idea how much taxpayer money gets spent trying to prevent poor Mexicans to either find (hard) work or re-join their families?

The whole thing is ludicrous. And we pay for it, big time.

Cisco - 3-14-2012 at 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

Quote:

Very well stated. Thank you.

woody with a view - 3-14-2012 at 05:09 PM

welcome to democracy. i don't agree with how they spend my tax dollars, either, but only in other areas. there are too many opposing interests to ever make sense. the genie is out of the bottle.

cut out lobbyists and we might have a chance.

watizname - 3-14-2012 at 05:42 PM

The stop in Pendleton has been there a looooooong time. Long before 9-11. I remember it taking my kids south for the Gringo Enduro in Rosarito during the 70's. It was about 3 mins two weeks ago and got waved thru, just like days of yesteryear. No problemo. I think it serves as a break for the people with tunnel vision doing 75 and 80 mph on the highway. RELAX,------ BREATH.

LisaR. - 3-14-2012 at 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
there are too many opposing interests to ever make sense. the genie is out of the bottle.

cut out lobbyists and we might have a chance.

I see a lot of political bickering on this forum, and I certainly don't wish to start any of that--but liberal or conservative, I think THIS is something we can ALL agree on!

BajaRat - 3-14-2012 at 06:57 PM

Sixty percent of the time, it works every time. :lol:

wilderone - 3-15-2012 at 09:23 AM

At 2:00 pm on March 12th, Tecate wait was 25 minutes. 10 minutes of that was spent with one vehicle two cars ahead of me. I try not to cross on a Saturday or Sunday.

tripledigitken - 3-15-2012 at 09:34 AM

We always cross NB at Tecate. Over the last two years and some 6+ crossing only on weekdays, we have never have waited over 40 minutes. The usual wait is less than 15 minutes.

DianaT - 3-15-2012 at 09:48 AM

Once when we had to wait a long time at Tecate----line was on the main street about a block or so beyond the turn, the agent told us to try and not cross on Mondays, Fridays, holidays and the day before and after holidays.

Thus we try to cross about mid-day in the middle of the week. Friday at 3 pm --- not a good time.

However, even when we had to wait in the very long line, we still found it far more comfortable than San Ysidro------just a more relaxed atmosphere.

DENNIS - 3-15-2012 at 10:32 AM

If only the inspectors at the border could be as cordial and polite as the Border Patrol at the Imm stops, things would be so much better. The border crossings going north have me terrorized twenty miles before I get there and I catch myself rehearsing my demeanor at the gate as I drive.

Lee - 3-15-2012 at 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
The border crossings going north have me terrorized twenty miles before I get there and I catch myself rehearsing my demeanor at the gate as I drive.

Terrorized? With that kind of feeling, you must look guilty when you pull up. Try acting natural, or less guilty.

Is your name in their computer for some reason?

I've never heard of anyone being terrorized. My experiences have been mostly enjoyable. Strange.

DianaT - 3-15-2012 at 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS
If only the inspectors at the border could be as cordial and polite as the Border Patrol at the Imm stops, things would be so much better. The border crossings going north have me terrorized twenty miles before I get there and I catch myself rehearsing my demeanor at the gate as I drive.

At Tecate, we just wait until we have to make that fatal decision of right or left lane---we can't see the agents and some we really like and others, well we just keep repeating, say as little as possible, bite your tongue before responding, and just keep smiling.

DENNIS - 3-15-2012 at 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee
My experiences have been mostly enjoyable. Strange.

I'll have to agree with you, Lee. That is strange. I think you're the first person I've ever heard say the border experience was enjoyable.....except after the fact.

Nah....I don't have a history with them or anything like that. It just takes the occasional imperious a-hole inspector to give me bad memories of the place. Authority issues are consistant with at least one of my diagnoses.
Life goes on.

DENNIS - 3-15-2012 at 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT
we just keep repeating, say as little as possible, bite your tongue before responding, and just keep smiling.

See?? You do the rehearsal thing too. I guess I'm not so strange after all. Well....maybe just a little. :biggrin:

willardguy - 3-15-2012 at 03:20 PM

there's a really nice asian officer there, if he sees rods in your car or if you mention you were down there fishing, you might as well shut the engine off! :tumble:

Barry A. - 3-15-2012 at 03:25 PM

I have always just treated and reacted to them like people :light:

and everything has always been just fine.

Barry

DianaT - 3-15-2012 at 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by DianaT
we just keep repeating, say as little as possible, bite your tongue before responding, and just keep smiling.

See?? You do the rehearsal thing too. I guess I'm not so strange after all. Well....maybe just a little. :biggrin:

Strange?--- well the jury may be out on that one for both of us. :biggrin:

We never have had a problem with them, but considering the attitude of a couple of the officers there, I think it is only because we do the rehearsal thing. We usually have a pleasant conversation, but there is this one John Wayne want-a-be who goes out of his way to try and provoke people and one lady who is quite snappy and appears to dislike her job a lot. That is where the say as little as possible, bite lip before responding, and just keep smiling comes in handy. :biggrin:

There was another lady who was really, really very ill-tempered and practically threw our passports back at us, but she apologized and pointed to her replacement who was headed toward the booth and complained to us that she was fed up with him ALWAYS being late. Fortunately, she just vented and did not take it out on us --- except for the semi-flying passports.

[Edited on 3-15-2012 by DianaT]

willardguy - 3-15-2012 at 03:42 PM

and don't forget to take your hat and sunglasses off

DENNIS - 3-15-2012 at 03:48 PM

Perhaps we should set up our hidden cameras and put together a Rogues Gallery of the Good, Bad and Ugly at the gate. Include a list of triggers to avoid with each of them.

Yeah...Yeah....I know. Cameras are a no-no, but..........these are desperate times. :cool:

Bajahowodd - 3-15-2012 at 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by watizname
The stop in Pendleton has been there a looooooong time. Long before 9-11. I remember it taking my kids south for the Gringo Enduro in Rosarito during the 70's. It was about 3 mins two weeks ago and got waved thru, just like days of yesteryear. No problemo. I think it serves as a break for the people with tunnel vision doing 75 and 80 mph on the highway. RELAX,------ BREATH.

Your observation is partially true. We live in central Orange County and have relatives in Encinitas that we visited quite often.

My personal experience has been that there was a period of many years where this checkpoint was inactive.

That said, I couldn't begin to consider the amount of taxpayer money that is spent to pay these agents their salary and benefits, just so they might capture a few( and I mean FEW) poor undocumented brown-skinned types from Mexico, Central and South America. A good deal? Factor in the inconvenience for us citizens, and it becomes ludicrous.

J.P. - 3-15-2012 at 04:13 PM

Crossed Tecate this morning about 10 am. about 45 min. wait . When we got to the ******* checkpiont on 94 n. there was a backup about half a mile they were jacking everyone. :no:

DENNIS - 3-15-2012 at 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
My personal experience has been that there was a period of many years where this checkpoint was inactive.

That said, I couldn't begin to consider the amount of taxpayer money that is spent to pay these agents their salary and benefits, just so they might capture a few( and I mean FEW) poor undocumented brown-skinned types from Mexico, Central and South America. A good deal? Factor in the inconvenience for us citizens, and it becomes ludicrous.

I think there was a time when there were quetions of the constitutionality of it and they closed pending determination, or they just decided they could do anything thay wanted to do.

Anyway, Howard,.....doncha think it's a deterent for more than just a few illegals? That stretch would be a wide open drug run without it.

DianaT - 3-15-2012 at 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by willardguy
and don't forget to take your hat and sunglasses off

Glasses are a problem anymore. We both wear transition lens so when the window goes down, the glasses turn dark. And if we took them off, all would be a blur---well, maybe that is not such a bad idea.

Our secret weapon is our Tommy Dog---the big friendly one. He is in the back seat and we roll down his window so that not only can the agent see in the back, but he usually distracts them with his determination to make friends. That is of course with the exception of John Wayne and Ms. Snappy. :biggrin:

rts551 - 3-15-2012 at 08:10 PM

crossed today without a passport (forgot it). Only a license (Arizona). NO problem. Officers were very nice.

BornFisher - 3-15-2012 at 08:20 PM

Really don`t understand this obsession with Tecate. Ready lane midday, midweek, at Otay usually works. Today-- 30 minutes for me (1:30 PM). Yesterday for my friend, 2 minutes at 3PM.
And southbound why anywhere else but San Ysidro? Takes less that 10 minutes to get on the toll road, with no traffic lights or stop sighs. I doubt you can get through Tecate in less than 10 minutes.

Bajahowodd - 3-16-2012 at 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Ya know, Dennis. I did ask about the record of that checkpoint.

Drugs? Anyone really think that folks in vehicles crossing at the border are loaded with drugs and pass?

EdZeranski - 4-29-2012 at 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Last Friday, we approached the Tecate gates around 3pm. Net result was a wait of one hour from start to finish. Yet, our time at the gate was probably 90 seconds.

We like returning to the US through the Tecate gate. The border check on Hwy 94 takes longer than the actual border at times.

EdZ KG6UTS

Mexitron - 4-29-2012 at 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Well, you know the saying---why can't they do the job right the first time(at the border with Mexico)?
Drugs are still flowing into the US with or without the checkpoints---drug use has not declined since Reagan Admin. and all after them spent enormous sums on the war on drugs, what a waste. Heh, besides the largest drug dealers in the US are Big Pharma---what's anyone doing about that?

Bajahowodd - 4-29-2012 at 03:24 PM

Big Pharma, eh?

Nobody's doin' nuthin'.

Under the radar for most is the fact that with the blessing of the pentagon, our troops deployed in combat areas are being given huge amounts of pain killers, mood enhancers and psychotropic drugs that big pharma is undoubtedly selling at "their price" to the military.

http://www.nextgov.com/health/2011/01/militarys-drug-policy-...