TSThornton - 12-7-2022 at 09:20 AM
Just completed my fourth drive to and from Todos Santos in the past 2 years and thought I would share just a few notes for the common good:
1. The security stop north of Loreto replaced the personal discussion with the soldier with an xray machine that has an arm like a concrete pumper
truck that you drive under. No discussion with any soldiers. But there is only one, so they were alternating north and south traffic through it and
the like backed up a bit.
2. Hotels in Guerro Negro sell out sometimes! Saturday night, there was some big event. I went to 5 hotels and all were full (including the Half
Way). I was about to drive out near the airport well after dark to sleep in my truck (not ideal) when I saw one more hotel I hadn't checked. He had
just received a cancelation a few minutes before so I was very lucky. Two more people came in while I was checking in and were turned away. The point
is that, at least on some weekends, reservation are needed!
3. This was my second time crossing north at Mexicali East with Sentri. The first time I approached from the east and it was no problem, but I
understand that' a no-no. This time I came from the west on Sunday at around noon and the line in the far left lane was very, very long, over a
mile. I decided to drive up the second lane just to check it out, and indeed when I got to the left turn toward the border the Sentri lane was not at
all full so I cut the the left in front of the main line and it was fine and I was over in less than 10 minutes.
AKgringo - 12-7-2022 at 11:16 AM
Thanks for posting! I drove back from Todos Santos just before Thanksgiving, and did not encounter any X-ray machines. Did they Xray the vehicle
while you were driving it, or were you pulling a trailer of some sort?
The only inspection points that looked in my vehicle were at the Mexicali west when I crossed southbound, and the one north of San Felipe.
TSThornton - 12-7-2022 at 02:35 PM
Yes, my truck while I was driving it. No trailer. You just drove slowly under the boom. It looked like there was an xray unit on the side of the
truck and at the end of the boom arm that articulated up, over and down in an upside down U shape so they scanned both sides. I wonder what they can
see?
The station north of San Felipe has been unmanned the last couple of times through. I wasn't stopped at the one north of La Paz. I was stopped at
the ones north of Loreto, San Ignacio and Guerro Negro. No issues.
SENTRI lane turn
John M - 12-7-2022 at 04:37 PM
I've not tried to make the approach from the west for the reason you stated, a mile long line just waiting to get into the Ready or regular lane. I
had thought about doing what you did, but haven't tried it.
No one seems to care? Were there traffic officers there at the turn? If so did they wave you on or ignore your move? SENTRI is a blessing!
John M
TSThornton - 12-8-2022 at 08:34 AM
John, no cops, no hassle. The Sentri lane was so empty there was nothing to complain about by me ducking into it. Indeed, Sentri is great.
boe4fun - 12-8-2022 at 11:04 AM
When I crossed at Mexicali East a couple of years ago it was unnerving to say the least. Traffic for the regular crossing was in the far left lane,
Sentri lane was second from left. But after turning left across oncoming traffic, you had to cross over the traffic going into the regular crossing
lanes as they were on the right and the Sentri lane was on the left. Not well thought out IMO.
floydo - 12-8-2022 at 07:31 PM
Haven't had any issues for several years approaching from the east to the Sentri lane....It is a hard right but seems to work. I must have missed
posts of people having difficulties?
Just came southbound thru the (north of) Loreto security check on the 3rd and there was just a wavethru...The strange machine that looks like an xray
was oriented to perhaps scan northbound traffic. At the time there was no northbound vehicles.
[Edited on 12-9-2022 by floydo]