BajaNomad - Southbound inspections/bottleneck

Southbound inspections/bottleneck

thebajarunner - 4-7-2012 at 10:30 AM

Two weeks ago we crossed mid-day on Monday and there was a long backup and total confusion on approach to the line.
We needed to get our FMt's and eased to the right.
After getting our permits ($24 good for 180 days) they made us sit for 30 minutes while looking over various and sundry other vehicles that had also come in for permits.
Then they made me unload nearly half of my pickup, sorting through all of our camping gear, coolers, etc.
Our inspector was a chippy young lady with a very large gun.
And no smile, no reason for the hassle, and no effort to hurry things along.
Sigh........

woody with a view - 4-7-2012 at 10:33 AM

another reason why i pay $10 extra for each of ours from discover baja!

Ateo - 4-7-2012 at 10:45 AM

Yeah, I will never get a tourist card at SYsidro ever again for this very reason of the car inspection.

thebajarunner - 4-7-2012 at 10:58 AM

great advice,
guess I was asleep at the switch on this one

never again!!

Actually, there was a pretty funny moment while waiting for our lady to get moving.
In the regular lanes two young guys pullup in a small pickup which they had fully loaded with snow. This was right after a large snowfall in the LA mountains

The inspectors were freaked out on what to do.
You could tell they wanted to dig down, unload, or something.
In the end they walked around for a while, whilst the water ran down in streams out of the bed,
finally waved the lads along.

Might be a good way to sneak stuff over....
nah, just a thought

msteve1014 - 4-7-2012 at 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
another reason why i pay $10 extra for each of ours from discover baja!

You are still supposed to stop, at the point of entry, to get it stamped. No real savings if you do everything legal.

Ateo - 4-7-2012 at 11:22 AM

You can get it stamped in Ensenada or even G Negro last time I checked. If you pull into the San Ysidro declare area be prepared to be there for about an hour.

msteve1014 - 4-7-2012 at 11:40 AM

I was told, "at the point of entry". Another gray area in Mexican rules. I do not want to take the chance that the guy in GN thinks I am right, and now wants me to pay a "fine".

BajaBlanca - 4-7-2012 at 02:22 PM

we crossed san ysidro yesterday filled tot he BRIM with stuff ... we got thru in less than 30 minutes after declaring and paying and being checked

)))

we were MUY happy

watizname - 4-7-2012 at 02:43 PM

I get my prepaid, and try to get thru SY during the week. 7:00AM or so, Usually not busy, and last few times thru in 20 mins or so. Signed, sealed,stamped, inspected and gone. This get us to San Quintin area early afternoon, for a relaxing evening at Jardines, a good meal and early start manana. :cool:

Udo - 4-7-2012 at 03:19 PM

Quote:

However, Woody...

One still needs to get the FMMs stamped as you go into Baja, or down in Guerrero Negro, if you are brave enough to last that long. I think there is an immigration place in Ensenada, but I am not even sure where it is (if it is in fact there).

Many, many years ago there was one just south on Maneadero, but that is now gone.

But, I think you already knew that, buddy!

quote]Originally posted by woody with a view
another reason why i pay $10 extra for each of ours from discover baja!

thebajarunner - 4-7-2012 at 03:35 PM

We called the one south of Maneadero "the phone booth"

Pre-running for the 500, we took the 16 year old son of one of our sponsors along for the experience. The dude at the "phone booth" refused to let us take him, even tho we had letters, notarized, etc.

So, we drove back around the curve, up the hill, through the garbage dump, back on the highway and merrily on our way.

Last week when I drove that curve I looked uphill and smiled at the memory.

DavidE - 4-7-2012 at 04:59 PM

RE: The Aduanera

PMS and a pistola grandote make a poor combination. Break out a chilled sixer of coca-cola break one open for yourselves and press one on her. When she stops for a second press a bag of Doritos into her hand and smile. Just make sure whatever botana you offer her you have a similar one for yourself in your hand as well. This circumvents anti mordida laws perfectly. I would however resist the urge to offer a fist full of Midol.

[Edited on 4-8-2012 by DavidE]

Marc - 4-8-2012 at 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE
RE: The Aduanera

PMS and a pistola grandote make a poor combination. Break out a chilled sixer of coca-cola break one open for yourselves and press one on her. When she stops for a second press a bag of Doritos into her hand and smile. Just make sure whatever botana you offer her you have a similar one for yourself in your hand as well. This circumvents anti mordida laws perfectly. I would however resist the urge to offer a fist full of Midol.

[Edited on 4-8-2012 by DavidE]

Midol

Bob H - 4-8-2012 at 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE
RE: The Aduanera

PMS and a pistola grandote make a poor combination. I would however resist the urge to offer a fist full of Midol.

[Edited on 4-8-2012 by DavidE]

That is HILARIOUS! :lol:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midol

acadist - 4-8-2012 at 07:42 AM

Quote:

LOL

David K - 4-8-2012 at 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by thebajarunner
We called the one south of Maneadero "the phone booth"

Pre-running for the 500, we took the 16 year old son of one of our sponsors along for the experience. The dude at the "phone booth" refused to let us take him, even tho we had letters, notarized, etc.

So, we drove back around the curve, up the hill, through the garbage dump, back on the highway and merrily on our way.

Last week when I drove that curve I looked uphill and smiled at the memory.

On a trip to Castro's Camp (Ejido Erendira) for some bottom fishing... mid 1970's, with my folks... Stopped at that immigration checkpoint (just south of Maneadero), and after getting our tourist cards (which were free before mid 2000), the official in the booth (looking so much like an old army general ready for retirement)... said calmly to my father: "If you would like to give me a tip, I WILL accept it"
:lol:

Loved Mexico then, and now! :cool:

acadist - 4-8-2012 at 07:48 AM

Driving through 1-3 times per year for the last 10 years I have been inspected once. Why complain? It's Baja and I'm on vacation

john - 4-9-2012 at 10:19 PM

Let's say you are just going to bay of LA. Where and who would check you for a tourist card? Been down there before without a card an never been asked by anyone

Don't get in a wreck

thebajarunner - 4-10-2012 at 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by john
Let's say you are just going to bay of LA. Where and who would check you for a tourist card? Been down there before without a card an never been asked by anyone

You will be eating posole in the carcel for a while without papers

durrelllrobert - 4-10-2012 at 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by john
Let's say you are just going to bay of LA. Where and who would check you for a tourist card? Been down there before without a card an never been asked by anyone

the point is to BE LEGAL. The US doesn't normally ask undocumented immigrants in San Francisco for their papers either.

vgabndo - 4-10-2012 at 04:21 PM

the point is to BE LEGAL. The US doesn't normally ask undocumented immigrants in San Francisco for their papers either.

EXACTEMENTE!

woody with a view - 4-11-2012 at 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by msteve1014

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
another reason why i pay $10 extra for each of ours from discover baja!

You are still supposed to stop, at the point of entry, to get it stamped. No real savings if you do everything legal.

you are correct. i usually cross at 4-5am and the $10 extra saves me from the back and forth and back and forth routine. last time the door facing the parking area was closed so we walked around towards the turnstile office. just as we passed the back door to the office at the parking area it opened and the guy asked where we were going? i said when the door is closed it usually means you are closed for business. he looked at me like i was stupid (why does everyone do that? :lol:

) and ushered us in.

[Edited on 4-11-2012 by woody with a view]

BajaBlanca - 4-11-2012 at 10:13 AM

Advice for the Mexico customs side:

do not sit in your vehicle and wait for them to approach

go to the front wooden counter and say, I want to make a declaration/ I am ready for insepction....their English is impeccable (as far as we can tell from all the agents we have dealt with). They will inspect your vehicle and either write up a form (and then you go to bank walk-up and pay) or send you on with nada but a HAVE A GOOD TRIP. We have had both experiences this past week since we went thru 2 times in 3 days.

Visa

EdZeranski - 4-13-2012 at 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by woody with a view
another reason why i pay $10 extra for each of ours from discover baja!

Thats what we do, get the visa from Discover Baja then take the trolley to the Border for the stamp etc. That way we just roll from the Border to El Rosario before we stop.Will be heading back down in May-June with the kayaks...can hardly wait.

EdZ KG6UTS

woody with a view - 4-13-2012 at 09:07 AM

say hi to Andy and Bonnie for me.