BajaNomad - Military checkpoints

Military checkpoints

ehall - 4-3-2014 at 10:35 AM

What kind of info is asked for at these checkpoints?

Sandlefoot - 4-3-2014 at 10:38 AM

Where are you going? Where are you coming from? Do you live in mexico full time or are ou on vacation? They mostly just look. Sometimes they look hard and other times they don't look at all!!! They are not there to intimidate, they have a job and they do it largely with respect!

Happy Trails

sancho - 4-3-2014 at 10:48 AM

I've personally have never had a problem, but in the past there have
been reports of petty theft, $, small items, I would not
want to be driving by myself with one soldier looking
in the back of the truck and one looking in the cab,
not saying theft is the rule/normal but is HAS happened. It is helpful to know a bit of Spanish. On a very rare occasion
they look at passports, they used to ask about drugs/guns,
haven't had that lately, they are of no concern

Alm - 4-3-2014 at 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ehall
What kind of info is asked for at these checkpoints?

What info you are afraid that they may ask?

Ateo - 4-3-2014 at 11:03 AM

Sometimes they ask what model year your vehicle is. They've also inquired with my Mexican wife as to why she married a gringo.

apple - 4-3-2014 at 11:12 AM

"¿De dónde vienes?" = Where are you coming from?
"¿A dónde vas?" = Where are you going?

In that order and that will be about it.
They may ask you to exit the vehicle, especially while headed north, so they can poke around. I was once asked for ID so they could write my name down in their little book, also northbound.

David K - 4-3-2014 at 11:20 AM

ehall, they are there to prevent the transport of illegal drugs and guns/ ammo. Nothing more. So, don't have any illegal drugs (including pot), guns or bullets in your vehicle. Keep original prescription bottles for any meds you take.

The most typical questions if they even ask any (often you will be waved through if you look like a tourist, specially southbound) are where are you coming from (in Spanish usually)... and sometimes where are you going.

Drive up to the checkpoint with your windows rolled down and take your sunglasses off (same story for when you come to the U.S. border officer).

If they want to inspect your car, keep your wallet on you (some say to take any loose things like a phone, camera or GPS as well). Then watch them make the inspection... they might open glove box, compartments, ice chests, etc. You can watch them to make sure nothing gets taken. I personally have never had an issue at any checkpoint. They are always nice and just doing their job.

Sometime they write down your vehicle description and may ask for an ID, to spell your name correctly. A passport is the easiest for them to read, but they are not immigration and neither a passport or FMM is what they are looking for.

In addition to military checkpoints, sometimes there will be federal highway patrol run checkpoints or narco drug enforcement checks. There may even be an INM checkpoint and that is where you need to show the FMM. It has been at Guerrero Negro, just past the Eagle Monument, but for a while one was between Maneadero and Santo Tomas (according to Nomad posts).

willardguy - 4-3-2014 at 11:20 AM

can I have a cigarette?
if your going to the tienda, can you bring us back coca cola?

David K - 4-3-2014 at 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by apple
"¿De dónde vienes?" = Where are you coming from?
"¿A dónde vas?" = Where are you going?

In that order and that will be about it.
They may ask you to exit the vehicle, especially while headed north, so they can poke around. I was once asked for ID so they could write my name down in their little book, also northbound.

THIS! Thanks apple... :light:

Udo - 4-3-2014 at 11:44 AM

The only place they have ever asked my name & car information and written it in their book has been at the military stop just north of Guerrero Negro.

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

THIS! Thanks apple... :light:

BajaUtah - 4-3-2014 at 11:59 AM

As others have said Southbound checks are a different animal from Northbound stops.

On our drive south to La Ribera last May it was "Donede vas?, La Ribera, Adios" at every stop. Never got out of the truck.

Northbound at Loreto, San Ignacio and Jesus Maria we had to get out of the truck, asked to put down passport numbers and sign a form and 4 or 5 guys pretty throughly crawled in and out of my old crew cab. They flipped forward the back seat and went through my bed mounted tool box. All the spares I carry were looked at and involved a lot of pointing and grunting. The spare AC compressor seemed to be of particular interest. They really seemed to be nervous around our 100lb Golden Retreiver who just wanted to play with everyone. My wife kept him on a pretty short leash and out of the way.

The time for the Northbound inspections was less than 10 minutes each but add that up for a line of 10 cars plus big rigs in line and I think it took maybe an hour at each stop. No biggy, just part of the experiance

DavidE - 4-3-2014 at 12:23 PM

A Donde Va?

Gringolandia

After they stop laughing they wave me on...

[Edited on 4-3-2014 by DavidE]

Martyman - 4-3-2014 at 01:25 PM

Last time I was going north I was stopped and search at the military stop by the Ensenada toll booth. The young soldiers tried to confiscate my fillet knife. They said it was too big/long. Luckily a local was walking by with a big machete on his belt and I pointed that out. Es differente! Then they tried to buy it for $10 (it is an $80 item). I held out until their supervisor started coming back from lunch. I was quickly dismissed.
Very atypical from all my previous stops by the military.

ehall - 4-3-2014 at 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alm

Quote:

Originally posted by ehall
What kind of info is asked for at these checkpoints?

What info you are afraid that they may ask?

just curious what paperwork I needed to keep handy

Loretana - 4-3-2014 at 01:34 PM

Our friends had an Iphone stolen at the San Ignacio checkpoint recently.

Watch your stuff! They left it in the truck's open console, and noticed it gone 50 miles later. They were bummed they lost 300 photos taken during their trip.

David K - 4-3-2014 at 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ehall

Quote:

Originally posted by Alm

Quote:

Originally posted by ehall
What kind of info is asked for at these checkpoints?

What info you are afraid that they may ask?

just curious what paperwork I needed to keep handy

None, but obviously your drivers license is in your wallet, and that should be in your pocket when you get out of your car. I recommend the passport if they ask to see ID... easy for them to get your name spelled and they don't see your wallet.

They are checking for drugs, ammo, and guns... NOT PAPERS.

David K - 4-3-2014 at 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Udo
The only place they have ever asked my name & car information and written it in their book has been at the military stop just north of Guerrero Negro.

Quote:

Originally posted by David K

Quote:

THIS! Thanks apple... :light:

For me it has been the one at Gonzaga Bay... the lonely ones where they aren't busy.

DavidE - 4-3-2014 at 02:10 PM

But NO ONE stops do they? A flag down of a Green Angels truck. Ten minutes for a report. Nope. They flee northbound like a chicken with a coyote after them.

Every item asked for and given, every item stolen and unreported throws gasoline on the problem. You are creating a Pavlov's nightmare scenario with the ejercito and marinas thinking every time they see an extraneous license plate it's Dia de Los Reyes.

If I had seen a camera stolen FIFTY LOUSY MILES from where it was stolen I would have turned around. You may not get the camera back but an official denuncia WILL ACT to tamp down thieves. Nah what am I thinking. Keep giving till it hurts.....

[Edited on 4-3-2014 by DavidE]

David K - 4-3-2014 at 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE
But NO ONE stops do they? A flag down of a Green Angels truck. Ten minutes for a report. Nope. They flee northbound like a chicken with a coyote after them.

Every item asked for and given, every item stolen and unreported throws gasoline on the problem. You are creating a Pavlov's nightmare scenario with the ejercito and marinas thinking every time they see an extraneous license plate it's Dia de Los Reyes.

If I had seen a camera stolen FIFTY LOUSY MILES from where it was stolen I would have turned around. You may not get the camera back but an official denuncia WILL ACT to tamp down thieves. Nah what am I thinking. Keep giving till it hurts.....

[Edited on 4-3-2014 by DavidE]

Okay, after reading this a few times (and a shot of tequila), I think Dah-veed is responding to the unasked question: "IF YOU DISCOVER SOMETHING MISSING AFTER A CHECKPOINT INSPECTION..." Yes?

[Edited on 4-3-2014 by David K]

dasubergeek - 4-3-2014 at 02:30 PM

If you're a car full of obvious tourists with no Mexican-looking people inside, many times they will just look at you and wave you through.

One new kind of stop is when the federal police hold DUI checkpoints. Those were illegal (but not unheard of) in Baja for a while, but are now commonplace.

ehall - 4-3-2014 at 03:42 PM

Thanks for all the good info and advice everyone

Bajahowodd - 4-3-2014 at 05:03 PM

The checkpoint outside San Ignacio has always been the slowest and most thorough in my experience. In fact, they are the only checkpoint that has ever asked me to provide ID. Not to mention, it is the only checkpoint that has regualrly inspected my vehicle when headed Southbound.

Alm - 4-3-2014 at 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DavidE

If I had seen a camera stolen FIFTY LOUSY MILES from where it was stolen I would have turned around. You may not get the camera back but an official denuncia WILL ACT to tamp down thieves. Nah what am I thinking. Keep giving till it hurts.....

I know what you are thinking - you are thinking that all gringos "ablan" enough for that. To my observations, it's 30% at best. Lower yet percentage among short-term visitors.

baconjr - 4-3-2014 at 06:15 PM

We have dogs who we wake up when we get to an inspection station. They don't care much for dogs and flag you through, then the dogs go back to sleep. Over 8 years we have had only one incident. At our camp we had hot showers, a sit down throne and water. They were on patrol when they stopped by my camp site That's when one of the grunts tried to lift a log fire starter. Aside from that they are no problemo.

Two suggestions

bajaguy - 4-3-2014 at 06:21 PM

We keep all of our "portable stuff" that might walk off in a couple of small day packs. When we get out of the truck, the packs go with us.

If you ever have a problem (not self induced) at a military checkpoint ask to speak to the Sargento Primero or the Teniente

liknbaja127 - 4-3-2014 at 07:27 PM

We have had very little problems at check points, as David K has said, they are only checking for drugs and guns. we have had mechanics gloves, and a small flash light taken, but that was during race time! we have given them sodas, water. But most times they don't even make us get out of car. do not be afraid :lol:

Mulegena - 4-3-2014 at 07:55 PM

Good advice and the practice of my husband, a former soldier who served checkpoints of Baja:
When traveling at night, turn off your headlights as you approach the checkpoints.
This will make the soldiers much more comfortable as they, too, feel vulnerable out there,
especially at night when they cannot see who approaches in the darkness.

micah202 - 4-4-2014 at 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by willardguy
can I have a cigarette?
if your going to the tienda, can you bring us back coca cola?

...yeh,,usually the most pressing question.
...those guys always seem happy to comply to my request of 'una personna' to search the car
..........and I'm always happy to be carrying a few sets of playing cards for those bored young lads

......but as far as I'm concerned,,it's 'no cerveza' when asked...I usually do a pantomime of quaffing a beer,stagger a bit,,then shooting at everything in sight....
...unlike the usbp,,those lads like to have a good laugh :biggrin:

[Edited on 4-4-2014 by micah202]

mcfez - 4-4-2014 at 08:59 AM

Few questions with extreme politeness attached :-)

At night coming up to the ck points .....I will turn on the interior lights of the truck.

Before reaching the ck points.....I'll pull over to leash the dog(s). Once at the point....I'll take the dogs out of the truck 25 feet away from the soldiers...they get nervous with dogs.

On a hot day....I'll offer them cold drinks AFTER the inspection.

They just love dumb gringos

durrelllrobert - 4-4-2014 at 09:11 AM

Last year when I reached the check point south of Manedero they asked the 2 guys and 2 chicks in the car in front of me to exit the vehicle for a search. While one of the military searched the vehicle the other was talking to one of the guys. Don't know what was said but that guy took a baggie with a white substance out of his pocket and handed over. Just like that all 4 of the Americans were on the ground and handcuffed.

David K - 4-4-2014 at 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Last year when I reached the check point south of Manedero they asked the 2 guys and 2 chicks in the car in front of me to exit the vehicle for a search. While one of the military searched the vehicle the other was talking to one of the guys. Don't know what was said but that guy took a baggie with a white substance out of his pocket and handed over. Just like that all 4 of the Americans were on the ground and handcuffed.

Idiots

micah202 - 4-4-2014 at 10:06 AM

.
....ohh,,Cwapp^^....all's usually pretty fun,,even joke's about 'droggues',,,
,,,but it'd be different if someone produces some!

dasubergeek - 4-4-2014 at 10:40 AM

Cute, like bunny. Smart, like hammer.