BajaNomad - my turn with the Constitucion police...

my turn with the Constitucion police...

rhintransit - 3-31-2012 at 08:39 PM

well, I'd gotten back in the habit of driving straight though town, thinking things had improved. I do take extra precautions with speed, traffic stops, cross traffic and pedestrians.
made it almost to Ley's southbound when the red and blue lights go on two cars behind me. guess who they want? the gringa with the AZ plates, of course.
young guy gets out of the passenger side of the police truck and comes to my passenger's window, asking for my license, saying it is an 'inspection.' against my better judgement I give him my license (a throw away one I've had for years for this very possibility). I asked why he stopped me, saying that I'd stopped at every corner and watched for every pedestrian. he would only say that I had an 'infraction' and that I could pay today or come back tomorrow for the fine and to get license. I told him he couldn't keep my license and that I needed it to drive on to La Paz. he said he could take it unless I paid him today. I told him to keep it and I would be back on Monday or Tuesday (fat chance). I also added a few words about how I'd done nothing wrong, that this kind of stop was not good for the city of Constitucion, and that I would not pay mordida. he tried some more but seemed flustered by my standing up to him and ended up handing me the license back and waving me on...
wrong gringa to try this on! quidada, they're back at it!

BajaBlanca - 3-31-2012 at 09:15 PM

good for you for being prepared with llicense and argument...sad to hear that it has returned to the same ole story

Marc - 3-31-2012 at 10:05 PM

Back to business as usual. I drove through last month and did not see a cop anywhere. Good for you for standing up to the swine!

David K - 3-31-2012 at 11:23 PM

Good for you!! :light:

con. police

captkw - 4-1-2012 at 06:21 AM

HOLA,myslif,,I leave la paz early and get thru before 7:20 am and never see a cop and very little traffic!! you do have to get up early... K&T... :cool:

rhintransit - 4-1-2012 at 07:09 AM

well, I do have to go back to Loreto on Tuesday and travel to/from La Paz once a month. someone will probably remember the car, I hope that's remember and leave alone. but, I think I will do the back streets bypass this time. before 7:20 doesn't work for me, way way too early!

gallesram - 4-1-2012 at 07:33 AM

Great job RH; I have used the same technique throughout Mexico (standing my ground, being firm, and making sure I hadn't actually done anything wrong) and haven't paid a mordida for several years now. In CC, I always take the road 4 blocks east that parallels the highway; never see any cops over there.

I do laugh, however, at all of the locals blowing through the stop signs on that side road; I think I'm the only one that actually stops. Once I almost got rear-ended by a local who seemed surprised that the car in front of him was stopping for a stop sign.

Your bigger issue will be them remembering your car, especially since CC is a small town (I have had the transit cops in Acapulco remember my car and hassle me daily during an entire 1-week vacation). So I'd definitely take the side road and reduce your chances of being spotted.

Frustrating but if you have a good strategy in place (which you do) and you are actually complying with the traffic laws, then you should be OK.

woody with a view - 4-1-2012 at 07:48 AM

why doesn't someone set the cops up? have a vehicle follow you and video the entire stretch thru town. all the stops and "infractions" and just let natural selection run its course. when the cop pulls you over have your friend pull up behind the cop and get out, camera rolling, and ask the cop for their badge number. tell them you are going straight to the JEFE and press. watch the little worm shrivel before you.

gallesram - 4-1-2012 at 08:00 AM

Woody, I'd love to do something like that; but I'd be afraid that if I got too aggressive, I'd probably never escape getting through that town without being hassled, no matter where I drove. At the end of the day, they are cops and we are foreigners and they do hold the cards. The message I want to convey is (1) I haven't done anything wrong and (2) I know how this works and I'm not going to pay you anything. Once they sense that, you're on your way since they probably assume they can find someone else who will pay.

I think one of the reasons I was pulled over daily in Acapulco earlier this year was because I got really aggressive with them (stemming partly from anger and partly from fear). When I was there in March, I took a more matter-of-fact approach and I only got pulled over once.

I know that there have been things written here about that Sindicatura sticker which makes a reference to fighting police corruption. I do have that sticker on my car because I think it conveys the message of "I know this game and I'm not going to pay a mordida" in advance. I haven't been pulled over in CC ever since I did that (but I think it's more to taking the side route than the sticker alone).

rts551 - 4-1-2012 at 08:04 AM

If the remember you, and you never came back to pay your fine and pick up your license, is that an additional infraction?

DENNIS - 4-1-2012 at 08:05 AM

It'll never stop. Just hope you hit it during a lull in the activity.

LaPazGringo - 4-1-2012 at 08:34 AM

You're my hero for the day, man! Good for you for doing the right thing.

Dirty, rotten liars and thieves...

wilderone - 4-1-2012 at 08:35 AM

A curious thing - maybe someone can explain. When I was traveling in Baja last month, on 3 occasions, policia came up behind me with lights flashing. TWICE - it was the hill in Tecate heading to the Ensenada Hwy 3 (leaving Tecate and returning). On both of those occasions, they were just feet from my bumper, but I had no place to pull over - so I just kept driving and at the same time looking for a place to safely park. The police eventually passed me after a couple blocks. The other occasion was south of Guerrero Negro past the whale turnoff. I spotted what I thought was the policia way behind me - about 1/2 mi - no lights. They came right up behind me, lights on - I slowed down for them to pass me (if in fact they didn't want ME), but they didn't pass. I did nothing wrong - just driving along on the highway. They didn't pass, and I had no place to pull off the highway so I kept driving - about 45 mph. After driving for 1/2 mi. or so, they finally passed me, and I could see they turned off their lights about a mile down the highway. What gives? Do you think my Baja Nomad bumper sticker was a deterrent?! Ha!

LaPazGringo - 4-1-2012 at 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by wilderone
A curious thing - maybe someone can explain. When I was traveling in Baja last month, on 3 occasions, policia came up behind me with lights flashing. TWICE - it was the hill in Tecate heading to the Ensenada Hwy 3 (leaving Tecate and returning). On both of those occasions, they were just feet from my bumper, but I had no place to pull over - so I just kept driving and at the same time looking for a place to safely park. The police eventually passed me after a couple blocks. The other occasion was south of Guerrero Negro past the whale turnoff. I spotted what I thought was the policia way behind me - about 1/2 mi - no lights. They came right up behind me, lights on - I slowed down for them to pass me (if in fact they didn't want ME), but they didn't pass. I did nothing wrong - just driving along on the highway. They didn't pass, and I had no place to pull off the highway so I kept driving - about 45 mph. After driving for 1/2 mi. or so, they finally passed me, and I could see they turned off their lights about a mile down the highway. What gives? Do you think my Baja Nomad bumper sticker was a deterrent?! Ha!

They really seem to enjoy those lights. Maybe they were just driving with them on as they so often do?

acadist - 4-1-2012 at 08:39 AM

I have always carried an expired licence just for this situation, when I cross the border it becomes the 'main' licence in my wallet until i am back nob

LaPazGringo - 4-1-2012 at 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by acadist
I have always carried an expired licence just for this situation, when I cross the border it becomes the 'main' licence in my wallet until i am back nob

Me too and when I get a SD license, I'll have an expired and a current Calif. as throw-aways. :tumble:

No mordida!

DENNIS - 4-1-2012 at 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaPazGringo

Quote:

Originally posted by acadist
I have always carried an expired licence just for this situation, when I cross the border it becomes the 'main' licence in my wallet until i am back nob

Me too and when I get a SD license, I'll have an expired and a current Calif. as throw-aways. :tumble:

No mordida!

Got a slick, inexpensive laminator from Amazon and I'm making two right now.

DavidE - 4-1-2012 at 01:24 PM

It is a crime in Mexico to photograph military, police, or judicial personnel, equipment or installations.

Grab your cell phone. Turn around, away from the cops and say...

"Bueno. Favor a hablo a la sindicatura".

BWAY-no fah-VOAR ah AB-low ah la seen-dee-cah-TOUR-ah

Turn back around and keep your eyes on the ground like you're waiting. After a few seconds say "Gracias". Let your eyes wander over to the license plate on the patrol car.

Guar-an-freakin'-teed, those cops are going to come unglued. Ten to 1 says they'll turn around, jump in their car and haul ass.

DENNIS - 4-1-2012 at 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE
It is a crime in Mexico to photograph military, police, or judicial personnel, equipment or installations.

That must be a really cumbersome law, given the amount of civic events going on in Mexico, such as parades etc..

I think it's just more of the unfounded fear that has caught on and spread....probably by police.
I can understand a locked 'n loaded military checkpoint having problems with it, but a cop on the street enforceing traffic regs? I doubt he has that power.

CP - 4-1-2012 at 02:42 PM

Got pulled over in Loreto and gave the cop an expired CA license. Took him all of a second to point out that I was driving on an expired license. Dug out the current one to avoid THAT infraction.

Spearo - 4-1-2012 at 03:16 PM

I got pulled over in Constitucion about three weeks ago for supposedly running a stop sign. I knew what was going to happen when the first question out of the cops mouth was "Do you speak Spanish?" He told me I could either pay him 1000 pesos now or come to the station tomorrow. I actually laughed when he hit me up for the 1000 and I think he realized at that point that this wasn't going to go as planned. We went round and round, him holding my license. Then my buddy called me on the radio and I started to explain to him in unflattering terms what was going on, the cop tossed my license on the seat and left.

I got held up in Tecate as well this trip. The cop told me 500 pesos now or we go to the station. I told him lets go to the station so we took off and he drove a couple blocks and stopped again, motioning me to the car. 500 now or we go to the station. Lets go to the station. This happened three times before I paid him 200 for my license. I was losing my temper and bad things were going to happen. I hated to give him money but he had all day and I did not. I did get a police guided tour of residential Tecate for a mere 200 pesos.

Ten years of driving down there without a problem then twice in one trip...

Bajahowodd - 4-1-2012 at 03:35 PM

Last two times I passed through Cd. C, not a cop in sight. A couple of years ago, they seemed to be everywhere. It may well be something to do with the day of the week and the time of the day. Never saw a cop anywhere there on a Sunday.

I do find it curious that it appears we are now seeing increased harassment all over. And it's not even close to Christmas. :lol:

Loretana - 4-1-2012 at 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bajahowodd

I do find it curious that it appears we are now seeing increased harassment all over. And it's not even close to Christmas. :lol:

They're gearing up for Semana Santa, the other important "mordita" week.......(today is Palm Sunday, Holy Week follows) :rolleyes:

windgrrl - 4-1-2012 at 04:30 PM

A few weeks ago we had a police escort of close scrutinization by officers in truck and on a motorcycle as we drove carefully through town around noon. They lost interest and turned back before the town exit.

Lee - 4-1-2012 at 05:17 PM

Seems like there is a large contingency who believe ''going to the station'' is the correct thing to do and justice will be meted out by the Commandant once there.

I've written that last month, a friend passing through CC was stopped, he chose the station, and it turned out badly with a $50 fine: a ticket for speeding and one for reckless driving -- both, according to my friend, were untrue. (My friend said he thought things could have been settled for less, on the street, but he (friend) got angry and, I'm assuming, had some attitude.)

If a cop follows you for awhile with lights off, he's checking you out. They might be drinking beer, laughing, wondering if they're making you nervous. Maybe wondering whether they should stop you or not. They're probably bored.

I think my chances are in my favor negotiating on the street than at the station. Nothing to back that up -- just a feeling.

For the record, I expect to be stopped more often than I am. (I'm never stopped -- been stopped once in the past 10 years.) But I always expect it. And, mentally, I'm always prepared to negotiate.

LaPazGringo - 4-1-2012 at 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SpearoI was losing my temper and bad things were going to happen.

Listen man, I totally understand. But you have to train yourself that things are different down here and getting mad and beligerant will not solve the problem, it will only make it worse. Right or wrong, he has authority and a loaded weapon on his side. Smiling allot and playing dumb is still my tactic. Not a word of Spanish and a billion of english; a barrage of English until he can't take it anymore and waves the white flag.

BajaNomad - 4-1-2012 at 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaPazGringo
Smiling allot and playing dumb is still my tactic. Not a word of Spanish and a billion of english; a barrage of English until he can't take it anymore and waves the white flag.

David K - 4-1-2012 at 07:58 PM

Yup, that is the answer of the day!

Lee - 4-1-2012 at 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by LaPazGringo
Not a word of Spanish and a billion of english; a barrage of English until he can't take it anymore and waves the white flag.

How does one play dumb when the cop says in perfect English: 1,000 pesos or follow me to the station?

LaPazGringo - 4-2-2012 at 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee

Quote:

Originally posted by LaPazGringo
Not a word of Spanish and a billion of english; a barrage of English until he can't take it anymore and waves the white flag.

How does one play dumb when the cop says in perfect English: 1,000 pesos or follow me to the station?

By giving a very wordy, round-about Gomer Pyle kind of answer full of random questions, observances and even maybe a recital of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence if you know it. Why? Because "1,000 pesos or follow me to the station" are the only words of English he knows.

Lee - 4-2-2012 at 09:24 AM

Seriously, there's lots of ways a traffic stop can play out. And the cop I'm alluding to (the one that stopped my friend last month) spoke fluent English. This cop is probably clueless as to who Gomer Pyle is -- so play on. Slow/goofy gringo is a valid ploy especially if it works for you.

In CC, at least, there's always the call to the Mayor, who's number I have in my cell phone contact list, but not sure how that play's out either.

Here's a scenario I think is funny and could work and I'm tempted to try it: when entering CC, stop and talk to the first cop you see. Tell him some cops (not all cops) in town have a bad reputation for harassing tourists. Offer to pay him to escort you through town. 50 pesos? I bet he takes it.

Barry A. - 4-2-2012 at 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Lee

Here's a scenario I think is funny and could work and I'm tempted to try it: when entering CC, stop and talk to the first cop you see. Tell him some cops (not all cops) in town have a bad reputation for harassing tourists. Offer to pay him to escort you through town. 50 pesos? I bet he takes it.

I like it!!!! and it could really work, I am thinking, if you can get past the language barrier. :yes:

Barry

DENNIS - 4-2-2012 at 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
if you can get past the language barrier. :yes:

Barry

Only one way that I know of to do that. :yes:

Barry A. - 4-2-2012 at 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
if you can get past the language barrier. :yes:

Barry

Only one way that I know of to do that. :yes:

Mucho pesos????

Barry

gallesram - 4-2-2012 at 11:20 AM

I don't think that any one thing (speaking English) completely takes care of the problem; I think it's a combination of things (speak only English, be firm and stand your ground, use only a copy of your license, have a sticker on your car & act like you're calling the Sindicatura). Since you're dealing with crooked cops, there is no fool-proof formula here, but I think that by doing all of these things you greatly reduce your chance of having to pay a mordida.

Clearly, there are going to be exceptions and you always run the risk of calling the cop's bluff by going to the station and actually paying more at the station, although I have only heard of that happening once. The great majority of times people (including me) who use the tactics above have not had to pay anything.

BTW, I used to routinely pay cops who pulled me over anywhere in Mexico since I was pretty scared; it wasn't until reading the posts about CC a few years ago that I learned what to do and now I never pay. There are probably a lot of tourists out there who are scared and don't know the game and end up paying. I definitely wouldn't use these tactics in another country until I knew from others who traveled there that they worked.

DENNIS - 4-2-2012 at 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Barry A.
Mucho pesos????

Barry

That's better than what I had in mind. :lol:

oladulce - 4-3-2012 at 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by CP
Got pulled over in Loreto and gave the cop an expired CA license. Took him all of a second to point out that I was driving on an expired license. Dug out the current one to avoid THAT infraction.

BigWooo tried the expired license technique in Cd Constitución during the peak of the harassment a couple years ago with the same results. The guy scanned his name and then commented on the expire date and we had to quickly back peddle and produce the current license before the guy actually had a real infraction to site us for. I wouldn't recommend producing an expired license in Cd C.

We spend a day in Cd C every few weeks and haven't had a problem since the peak a couple years ago. Every trip we're on at least 50% of the back streets in town to hit all the building materials places, to get to municipal bldgs, banks,etc. I see way more police on the back streets in town than on the main drag, but we don't get that "target" feeling as in the past. Hopefully this won't be another trend.

[Edited on 4-3-2012 by oladulce]

fixtrauma - 4-3-2012 at 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DENNIS

Quote:

Originally posted by LaPazGringo

Quote:

Originally posted by acadist
I have always carried an expired licence just for this situation, when I cross the border it becomes the 'main' licence in my wallet until i am back nob

Me too and when I get a SD license, I'll have an expired and a current Calif. as throw-aways. :tumble:

No mordida!

Got a slick, inexpensive laminator from Amazon and I'm making two right now.

That is funny!! I carry a half dozen nicely laminated ones myself when driving down!

rhintransit - 4-4-2012 at 05:28 AM

am back in Loreto, took the Constitucion back streets detour yesterday. just didn't want to deal with the possibility of another stop, or being recognized. is a pain to have to plan one's trip this way...