BajaNomad

OUR IDEAS ON DEALING WITH BAJA COPS...

Udo - 1-7-2013 at 07:05 PM

My wife Jana and I have discussed at length the Baja cops issues while traveling from Tecate to Ciudad Constitución to Todos Santos and Cabo, and places between.

I know that DK has also traveled Baja as long as I have...at least since the 1960's.
We both cross the border just as often.
I spend as much time driving the entire peninsula as well as just to Ensenada.

Neither one of us has ever been confronted by Baja cops

Here is what MY PERSONAL TAKE IS IN DEALING WITH BAJA COPS::light:

I have seen many dozens of Baja city and Federal cops in different cities as well as municipalities.
Have never been pulled over, and I don't think DK has either.
If a cop sees my rig going down the road ( built-up FJ Cruiser and large kayak on top), it could not be a better gringo target.

The below suggestions are my personal ones:

1- When you see a cop by the side of the road in his vehicle, wave and smile at them, and slowly drive by them until they wave back.

2- Do not ignore their looks...it gives them a challenge...regardless.

3- Do not give them a sheepish eye-contact look, makes you look like an easy target.

4- Do not give them the "challenging look" Most of us know what that is.

5- If you know Español, use it! The English only discussions kind of seems to make things worse.

6- When looking at the cops sitting by the side of the road, don't give them an excuse to pull you over by looking guilty.

7- If you do get pulled over, respect goes a longer way than an open challenge.

8- If you Nomads have additional suggestions to share, please do so...this is an open forum and I am sure your suggestions will be very welcomed by all members.:bounce:

mcfez - 1-7-2013 at 07:30 PM

Excellent post Udo

I have been going to Baja/Mexico since the early 80's. Never been pulled over

thebajarunner - 1-7-2013 at 07:49 PM

Wish I could say the same,
been stopped in Rosarito Beach by a sneak who was laying in wait,
while driving a Porsche in TJ
but it is all just part of the game, I guess.

I assume you read this thread- my kid was not so lucky with the TJ cops last week.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=64893

aguachico - 1-7-2013 at 08:09 PM

Why use Spanish? Put the challenge on the rata to speak english or french.
I have gotten out of radar gun speeding tickets by not even attempting to speak Spanish because my Spanish sucks.

I have been stopped in east TJ, bad place, waiting for the officer that can translate the infraction. They, like most children, lose interest quickly. Then sent on may way with a warning.

1. Ask immediately why you are being stopped.
2. be more patient then the rata.

suerte

David K - 1-7-2013 at 08:36 PM

Oh, but I have been pulled over... Tijuana, Ensenada, Tecate... more than once... It has just been a long time ago, and mostly in the 1980's. They are great, fun stories to tell... I enjoyed them all! Let me know if you want the details... I am sure they have been posted before since Nomad started in 2002, I think?

Ateo - 1-7-2013 at 09:00 PM

Totally agree with #3.

Look every officer whether federal or municipal in the eye and don't give off that "I'm scared please take advantage of me" look. Always look (even when you're lost) like you know where the hell you're going and why.

It's been a long time (11 years) since I've been pulled over in Mexico. Last time my Mexican wife took care of the dude with no payments. Before that I was a crazy teenager making mistakes and paying for what I did. Just obey the law and most of the time you'll be OK. Don't make yourself an easy target.

MMc - 1-7-2013 at 09:52 PM

I have also been driving myself starting in the mid. 70's. The last time I paid street side was in the 90's. 3:00 am doing 70+ just pass the Playas turn off south of TJ. Paid the guy, the goal was to have lunch and open the Bay of L. A.house about 12:00. Seemed easier then playing the game any longer. I was guilty. There were 3 other trucks in the caravan ahead of me.

Often when I go with the Dodge fully loaded, with Kayak, boards and rods on top. Get pulled over often but wait it out or play the Sindicatura card. The info. is taped on the back of the old and current D L. I have seen cops parked on the other side of the road run back to their cars and flip the U turn to hunt me down.

On the last truck with over sized tires and a winch, pulling a trailer full of bikes. We could not go 5 miles with out a stop in TJ. The record was 8 pullovers from the top of the hill, to the cross over. We did use the old "backdoor" on the right that trip. Didn't pay a single one but after the third, we said that all the other cops had taken all our money.

Baja Grande got KICKED OUT of Tecate!

Ken Cooke - 1-7-2013 at 10:50 PM

In Tijuana - I had a Policeman stop me with Leidys in the Jeep...sniffing around for money. I told him we didn't have any extra money to give him. Even after he rubbed his fingers together.

In Tecate - 15 Jeeps were rolling through town, and one of the Jeeps was stopped for holding up traffic at the traffic circle. We returned to help out our fellow Jeeper and the Policia became embarrassed, but told us, "Get all of your Jeeps and LEAVE TECATE IMMEDIATELY"

In Mexicali - I got a totalled Toyota out of Mexico in less than 2 hrs. (w/a little help from a full-size truck)

In San Quintin - I was asked to get out of my Jeep. But, when the Policia noticed that eight other vehicles were waiting and WATCHING, he became nervous and told me that I could leave the roadblock. Hmmm....

mtgoat666 - 1-7-2013 at 11:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by mcfez
Excellent post Udo

I have been going to Baja/Mexico since the early 80's. Never been pulled over


You wear Viking hat, cops think you are nuts or scary, not an easy mark. i too have never been stopped - I must be scary crazy :lol::lol:

Seriously, some people look like easy marks. Some don't.

Udo - 1-8-2013 at 07:59 AM

I really think that the nail was hit by a hammer on this one!
Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666

Seriously, some people look like easy marks. Some don't.

mulegejim - 1-8-2013 at 08:49 AM

Only been stopped a few times over the years - no tickets issued and no money exchanged. One stop was just out of Colonet a few years back. I was driving my PU and my wife was driving hers behind me at about 7:00 AM heading north. Passd a Federal cop pulled up a drive to a farm. Out he came passed my wife and pulled in behind me with lights flashing. Pulled off the road with him behind - my Spanish wasn't good so asked him to wait for Melinda. Turned out he wanted me to give his wife a ride to the airport in Tijuana - he wanted her to ride with me not Melinda, must have thought men are better drivers. Long story short dropped Victoria off in Ensenada after a funny encounter at one of the military check points where she really dressed down the poor guy who asked what she was doing riding with me.

Had another stop a year ago and was asked to give the cops friend a ride north but when I indicated I wasn't going as far as needed he apologized for delaying me and off I went.

Luck of the Irish I guess.

MMc - 1-8-2013 at 09:05 AM

I have never lived or thought myself as a mark. Quite the opposite. It has fallen off now that I don't ride anymore, no trailer. My friends would call the rig a "Mexican cop lure":lol::lol::lol:

LarryK - 1-8-2013 at 09:08 AM

43 years driveing the Baja, pulled over twice, let go twice.

Bajaboy - 1-8-2013 at 09:27 AM

Pulled over three times in roughly 29 years. First two times, cops were looking for mordida...I did not pay. Last time was near San Quintin by the Driscoll plant. I made an illegal pass and was pulled over. Very professional gentleman reminded me of the law and let me go with a warning.

Pulled over three times in the US....got a ticket each time.

Barry A. - 1-8-2013 at 10:17 AM

Drove in Baja for some 45+ years--------pulled over maybe 5 times???-----asked for mordida maybe once or twice-------never paid, and always released. Never really had a bad experience with either local or Federal Cops in Baja for a "pull over".

It's Karma !?!?!?!?!?!

Barry

PS on edit---------Loved the first post on this thread, and agree with all of it.

[Edited on 1-8-2013 by Barry A.]

sancho - 1-8-2013 at 11:23 AM

In my 25 yrs. or so, I remember 3 times, all were my
fault, open beer for 1, I found Bajarunner's post about
his son having to pay $40 dlls for a TJ cop to his job
and write up an accident report a bit troubling, but I suppose it part of travelling in Mex, others have reported
pure fabrication for traffic stops. Back in the day surfing
San Miguel cops searched my van, one is certainly not
going to deny them, they went away empty handed.
I'm not sure a good % of Mex cops are above making
up a flimsy excuse if there is Mordida in it for them
I have a theory that the older I get the less I'm likely
to be pulled over for no reason

[Edited on 1-8-2013 by sancho]

BajaGeoff - 1-8-2013 at 11:43 AM

In my 20 years of driving down there I have never been pulled over by a cop. On one occasion I was going down a narrow dirt road to check the surf and came head to head with a couple municipal cops. They asked if they could search my truck and I obliged. I chatted with one cop in Spanish about my time living with a family in San Miguel de Allende while studying down there and how much I loved being in Mexico. After a couple minutes it was smiles and handshakes and we were on our way to go surf!

[Edited on 1-8-2013 by BajaGeoff]

jadams - 1-8-2013 at 01:06 PM

stopped once in 40+yrs at TJ , motor cylce officer wanted me to pay him, told him no , that I would follow to police station, he point to road and told me to go. I went.

vgabndo - 1-8-2013 at 01:49 PM

Several years ago an elderly motocop in TJ pulled us out of a line of Mexican vehicles on the hill top before Playas to charge us with speeding. This guy was clearly "embedded", I had NO trust, and I paid. peeed!

The envelope he handed me, so no money would be visible passing through my window, was so worn-out it looked like tissue paper!

Can someone please post the Sindicatura logo, and anything else I might tape to my license?

David K - 1-8-2013 at 01:57 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by vgabndo
Several years ago an elderly motocop in TJ pulled us out of a line of Mexican vehicles on the hill top before Playas to charge us with speeding. This guy was clearly "embedded", I had NO trust, and I paid. peeed!

The envelope he handed me, so no money would be visible passing through my window, was so worn-out it looked like tissue paper!

Can someone please post the Sindicatura logo, and anything else I might tape to my license?


DavidE - 1-8-2013 at 02:21 PM

Get A bumper sticker made. But glue it on with velcro. Yellow background, black letter

Z un ZETA GRANDOTE

Remove it when you get through corrupt towns, and save it for the next town.

Don't let the SSP or Militar see it though.

No, this is not serious. Meant to bring a chuckle.

mooose29 - 1-9-2013 at 11:49 PM

I completely agree with the eye contact and smile and wave technique. I do it every time I see a cop in fact I usually look to initiate contact. Figured it tells the, I'm not afraid.

In 20+ years I have been pulled over 2 times in probably 75+ trips all over Baja. Both times I was completely at fault both were over 14 years ago.

First time I was going about 70 mph at 11pm on the border fence road. That cost me about 50 bucks. I was young and anxious to get home so just paid the amount. I figured I was speeding so I didn't really have an argument to not pay.

2nd time while passing a slow truck I failed to notice a federal police officer passing me at the same time and ended up running him off the road. I thought I was going to jail that evening for sure. He got back on the road and was beyond peeed. I gave me the what for for about 5 minutes then stopped returned to his car and wrote me a ticket for something like reckless driving. when I went to Ensenada to pay it a couple weeks later it ended up costing me 30 bucks and they even still had my license to give back to me

Moose

captkw - 1-10-2013 at 02:09 AM

Hola,,On # 2. you must be jokeing !! Pleezze,, tell me thats a joke and I missed it !!!