BajaNomad - Mordida...again!

Mordida...again!

Cardon Man - 3-25-2005 at 05:15 PM

Still very cautious after last years Mordida at the hands of the La Paz policia...I've been ultra carefull to not even drive a kilometer over the speeed limit. Nevertheless, I fell victim to the Constitucion cops for no reason at all ( claimed over speed limit in busy downtown with cars in front and behind me ). They kept my license and suggested I pay them cash on the spot to avoid a lengthy delay. I regret to say i did just that so I could get on my way. They cops were really freindly after they realized I spoke Spanish...we talked and had a few laughs. They decided to just charge me 200 pesos and call it good.

Here's my question...Since this seems to be happening to myself and others alot these days I'd really like to know the best way to handle such a situation? I'm getting tired of being robbed. I welcome your thoughts and/or anecdotes.

lizard lips - 3-25-2005 at 05:26 PM

When you have an experience such as this or any contact with the police where they advise you to pay them on the spot, just ask to be taken to the police station to pay the fine. ALWAYS be respectful and never raise your voice. Never pay the officer......

Pops - 3-25-2005 at 05:44 PM

Mordida? I don't pay no stinkin' mordida!

Germanicus - 3-25-2005 at 06:28 PM

Pops, that pic is as dull as dishwater.
If you really mean it that way > get out of Baja a.s.a.p.
There is no place in Baja for you , ********************.
guns are not allowed in Baja!
Face it.

[Edited on 3-26-2005 by BajaNomad]

elgatoloco - 3-25-2005 at 07:11 PM

I always ask to go the station.

yankeeirishman - 3-25-2005 at 07:24 PM

Hi, my name is Pops! Mordida? I guess I should have paid the stinkin' mordida months ago!

Quote:

Originally posted by Pops
Mordida? I don't pay no stinkin' mordida!

[Edited on 3-26-2005 by yankeeirishman]

Bruce R Leech - 3-25-2005 at 07:25 PM

Mr. Lips is correct always go to the station . if you pay it only feeds the problem. If no one paid the bribes there wouldn't be anymore bribes.

Germanicus - 3-25-2005 at 08:09 PM

This now might be discussed very controversial:
By law , Police Officers are not allowed to accept cash in Mexico.
Now?
What?
Any gun showing comment?

Bruce R Leech - 3-25-2005 at 08:12 PM

Germanicus can you please rephrase that last post???

Germanicus - 3-25-2005 at 08:24 PM

Bruce, all clear?
it should read > Now What? Any Gun loving comment against this?

Bruce R Leech - 3-25-2005 at 08:47 PM

OK I think that Makes perfect sense now :no:

BajaNomad - 3-25-2005 at 09:01 PM

The mordida is paid frequently by those that have to be 'on their way' and wish to avoid further delay - as you stated you did. This is a common situation for many. The policia know this - and take full advantage of it daily.

If you expect to have a chance to avoid being "robbed" - the first thing is you can't be in a hurry... or at least you'll need to be in less of a hurry than the officer.

Just my $.02 - and past experience.

--
Doug

Bob and Susan - 3-26-2005 at 06:46 AM

A few years back I put a sticker on the back of my Dirvers License...

It says...

Sindicatura del Gobierno Municipal
Tijuana 683-4095
Ensenada 617-1561

No problems...license just comes back and we go. :yes:

stickers for drivers license

Phil S - 3-26-2005 at 07:34 AM

Bob & Susan. Great idea. Any chance you printed up some extras of those, and would be interested in selling me one?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!If not, may I have your permission to make up one for myself and my wifes? Thank you.

woody with a view - 3-26-2005 at 07:51 AM

thanks bob!

i was gonna ask who remembers the "Sincutererra" or whatever i thought it was. thanks agian!

Bruce R Leech - 3-26-2005 at 07:53 AM

good Idea Bob I'm doing that to day. only will change numbers for our aria.

Phil you can print them on your computer. use the Avery stickers. they come in all sizes and shapes. :yes:

woody with a view - 3-26-2005 at 07:57 AM

bruce, make sure you post the numbers for your area. we'll be in the region soon (well, two months.)

Bruce R Leech - 3-26-2005 at 07:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Desert Rat
I have a question about the police station . Are the Mexican police stations (or where ever you are supposed to pay the fine) open 24 hours a day, and open week-ends?

I was stopped on a Friday afternoon around 5 o'clock for driving too fast in a flea-market area---so the police said!
He said that I would have to pay the fine right here, right now, or spend Friday night, Saturday and Sunday in jail. He said that the judge (or who ever) who decides the fine, had gone home and wouldn't be back in court until Monday morning.

I was almost certain that he was lying, but I didn't know how the court system operated in Mexico, and hell, maybe he was telling me the truth!

Anyway, I wasn't about to spend the week-end in jail, so I hee-hawed, and squirmed around, telling the cop that I couldn't meet his demand for $80 dollars. I told him that I only had $20 dollars and that was needed to get me back to the States. He talked it over with his partner and they decided to take ten dollars and leave me with ten to get home.

And that's the way we settled it! However, if I was a hundred per cent sure that he was lying about the judge not available until Monday morning, I might have demaded to be taken to the court.

So, my question still is: Can the fine be paid at a court or whatever they call it, on a Saturday and Sunday? Thanks!

[Edited on 3-26-2005 by Desert Rat]

that is the favorite trick here in Mulege also. I just put my arms up and together and tell them to cuff me and take me away . and they let you go fast.

yankeeirishman - 3-26-2005 at 08:26 AM

This idea is as good as your Website! By the way....this contraption that I see in this picture....is it a movable ladder or what. Very interesting. Can you post a closer pic of it?

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
A few years back I put a sticker on the back of my Dirvers License...

It says...

Sindicatura del Gobierno Municipal
Tijuana 683-4095
Ensenada 617-1561

No problems...license just comes back and we go. :yes:

El Jefe - 3-26-2005 at 08:48 AM

This topic has come up many times here and usually sombody gets around to posting information about the Sindicatura. However, the only phone numbers listed are those in TJ and Ensenada. They wouldn't be much use in Baja Sur. Does anybody know a resource to find the Sindicatura phone numbers in BCS?

On the other hand, I bet if I just made up some phone numbers that looked like numbers from the local area and posted them on the back of my drivers license, that would do the trick. What do you think?

By the way, my last two trips through La Paz we were stopped for driving gringo and I just waited them out. No $ paid.

Bob and Susan - 3-26-2005 at 09:16 AM

Jefe...you are absoloutely right....

We copied the idea from others and it works.

Sometimes the best thing to do is just do the samething over and over.
If it works don't change it.
:yes:

Sindicatura

BajaNomad - 3-26-2005 at 09:29 AM

As I've posted before, I believe that the Sindicatura department presently pertains to issues only in the Municipio de Tijuana.

http://www.tijuana.gob.mx/Turismo/TouristGuide/English/pag13...

http://www.sindicatura.gob.mx

Also, Here's another previous similar thread:

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=3354

--
Doug

[Edited on 3-26-2005 by BajaNomad]

bajajudy - 3-26-2005 at 09:30 AM

A few months back my husband was double parked in front of the post office while I ran in to check the mail. I get in the car and this cop comes up and motions us to pull over. (We are in a car with Mex plates...if that matters.) He strides up to the car and proceeds to tell us in relatively good english that it is illegal to double park. My husband says, " I was in the car and would have moved if there had been a problem". The cop says, "Sorry I will have to give you 200 pesos ticket;can I see you registration". We show him the copy of our registration and he says "Sorry but I will have to give you another 200 peso ticket for not having your registration in the car". We say "What is your name?"...."John" he says. We say "We were told by the police when one of our vehicles was stolen last year to never keep original documents in the car". He said "Sorry I will have to give you a ticket for 400 pesos". Jim and I decide to change tactics and start speaking Spanish to him at which point we start calling him Juan. We tell Juan that we would like to take care of this at the police station at which point John starts speaking English. We continue in Spanish and after a few minutes, he just turns and walks back to his car. That was that. We looked at each other and shook our heads. We simply wore him down.

[Edited on 3-26-2005 by bajajudy]

Germanicus - 3-26-2005 at 10:32 AM

Not only TJ, ther is one Sindicatura in Ensenada.
Here the ph. #
Sindicatura Del Gobierno Municipal
Tijuana:665-688-3810 // 973-7770 // 973-7759
Ensenada: 646-617-1516 // 176-2222

But what about the fact that no policeofficer is allowed to take cash in Mexico?
Is it helpful to tell him:: " According to the Sindicatura Del Gobierno Municipal you are not allowed to take cash!" " So let's go to the station."

Any experience?

yankeeirishman - 3-26-2005 at 11:09 AM

Would it be effective to have a decal on the rear window of your car with a statement (of sort) that we go to the Police station to pay any fines?

Quote:

Originally posted by Germanicus
Not only TJ, ther is one Sindicatura in Ensenada.
Here the ph. #
Sindicatura Del Gobierno Municipal
Tijuana:665-688-3810 // 973-7770 // 973-7759
Ensenada: 646-617-1516 // 176-2222

But what about the fact that no policeofficer is allowed to take cash in Mexico?
Is it helpful to tell him:: " According to the Sindicatura Del Gobierno Municipal you are not allowed to take cash!" " So let's go to the station."

Any experience?

woody with a view - 3-26-2005 at 09:47 PM

Quote:

Would it be effective to have a decal on the rear window of your car with a statement (of sort) that we go to the Police station to pay any fines?

right next to the sticker i saw that said, "Bad cop, no donut". or in this case taco! :bounce:

:moon:

Bruce R Leech - 3-26-2005 at 10:04 PM

:lol:

that is funny you guys are to much.

Pops - 3-28-2005 at 03:31 PM

Germanicus..
Gun? If you think that is a gun you must call alligators lizards!

Quote:

Originally posted by Germanicus
Pops, that pic is as dull as dishwater.
If you really mean it that way > get out of Baja a.s.a.p.
There is no place in Baja for you , ********************.
guns are not allowed in Baja!
Face it.

[Edited on 3-26-2005 by BajaNomad]

neilmac - 3-28-2005 at 04:39 PM

I'm sorry, guys, but I've gotta call 'mierda' on that one. Most all of you have more experiance than me... but just on casual observation, Baja appears to be awash in small arms...
Every criminal of any stature, every cop, whether local or federale, all those poor kids in the army beside the road, hell, they're all packin'...

The only disarmed people in Baja are the innocent, law-abiding types.. either Mexicano o Gringo....

And, juat like on the mainland, and in the USA, all the people you wouldn't want to be armed ALREADY ARE!

now, thank you all for letting me share

NeilM

D(*&&^ it; that was supposed to have the

neilmac - 3-28-2005 at 04:43 PM

heading:
"Guns aren't allowed in Baja"

Nothing like a good rant, with foot in mouth! Where's the pacifico, anyway?

NeilM

marla - 3-29-2005 at 11:26 AM

Bob and Susan!!!! Great idea!!!! I am printing it out and putting it on my license right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob and Susan - 3-29-2005 at 09:21 PM

We don't derserve ANY credit....

We just did what you others have advised in the past...and it works :yes: