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comitan
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4177
Registered: 3-27-2004
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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When I was new to La Paz there wasn't a cop on every corner, and you could cop a "U" or park any side of the street. My take on driving in La Paz is
I would rather drive here than San Diego, Mexican drivers do have some bad habits to get over, but in my opinion are as courteous as San Diego
drivers.
Strive For The Ideal, But Deal With What\'s Real.
Every day is a new day, better than the day before.(from some song)
Lord, Keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
“The sincere pursuit of truth requires you to entertain the possibility that everything you believe to be true may in fact be false”
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3509
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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One LAST important issue for the Girls!
Can't find where the dreaded issue of MORDIDA has been broached so here goes.
Hey Girls, when driving in Baja, especially if you have US plates, are ''white,'' or have blonde hair, you are subject to being pulled over by the
police, sometimes for a legitimate traffic violation, and sometimes for a simple ''shakedown.''
Think the subject has been beaten to death here so you might not get alot of feedback on this thread so I"ll try to sum it up into a few categories.
Personally, I've been stopped a few times, always been guilty, and have never paid a mordida I had a problem with. I would NEVER pay what I
consider an excessive mordida. I've never been ''shaken down'' and would NEVER pay for a shake-down. I say ''never'' with reservation here.
Let's just say today I would never pay if I was innocent of the charges presented to me.
I believe there are more good cops in Baja than bad cops so it's probably luck of the draw if you get pulled over, racial profiling aside.
My POV is that I am not interested in ''going to the station'' to pay a fine. Ever. My time is money and I'd be losing money by going to any
station to pay a fine. If the fine ''offered'' to me is excessive, I'll always negotiate it down. I'll plead stupidity, ignorance (like Oxxo),
temporary insanity. I won't pay an excessive mordida.
It's important to remember that most cops provide they're own equipment, gas, etc., while serving an important function: keeping the bad guys under
control.
So, pay or not, it's your call. Just be aware that you may be pulled over -- and the issue of mordida may or may not come up.
(This post does not constitute a violation of MX law pertaining to the illegal payment of ''fines'' outside of an official police station.
''Mordida'' is against the law in MX and any police officer solicitating mordida is breaking the law.)
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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Have to second Wiley's "Blah,blah, blah", with a bullsh*t addition.
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pearl
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 6-26-2008
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I'm sorry Lee, but I'm guessing that " MORDIDA" is paying off the police if they are dirty cops?
Thanks to everyone for the great advice! And laura from Kalispell....wow, that was a perfect way to describe the roads. Now we have a really good idea
since you know how some of the roads are here!
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3509
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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Pay or don't pay mordida -- your call
| Quote: | Originally posted by pearl
I'm sorry Lee, but I'm guessing that " MORDIDA" is paying off the police if they are dirty cops? |
For some, the discussion of MORDIDA is a very emotional issue -- along with any discussion of the ''rights'' of foreigners while driving in La Paz, or
MX. It's possible that both issues bring up a strong sense of ''injustice'' some foreigners might experience in 3rd world developing countries.
Racial profiling is not a pleasant subject but that's exactly what ''some'' MX police do.
So, paying a ''fine'' on the spot, rather than having your license confiscated, picking it up at the local police station, and paying the ''fine''
there, is considered MORDIDA. Some people have no problem doing this -- to others, it contributes to the ''moral corruption'' of the police, and
hence, to the country. Boo hoo.
Most Nomads have very strong opinions about MORDIDA. I have strong judgments about people who make MORDIDA a moral issue. My opinion is that
these people have ''money'' issues, generally speaking.
Again, I've never been pulled over for a ''shake-down'' -- that is, like Oxxo was recently outside La Paz -- where he was innocent of any wrong doing,
was obviously singled out by a cop wanting money, and if any situation would bring up any moral outrage for me, that would be one.
Oxxo chose NOT to pay anything to this cop -- and $100 is just excessive.
Attempting to negotiate all avenues from ''going to the station,'' to ''reducing'' the ''fine'' is the goal. Pointing out the ''corruption'' of
the situation to a cop is likely to produce ''indignation'' from the cop. Good cop bad cop, you must always respect a cops authority -- the gun and
badge -- whether or not you agree with the morality of the situation.
(This post is not meant to be judgmental of Nomads who choose NOT to pay MORDIDA -- just those who think paying MORDIDA is WRONG for everyone. I
do not have a vested interest in whether people pay or don't pay MORDIDA.)
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3825
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
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"On the left turn signals, if a big truck signals you to pass it is safe-- they can see farther than you can, and are generally safe and considerate
drivers. Be careful using your left signal on the hiway."
And sometimes it means they left their blinker on and don't know it. Or maybe they think you can go faster on the pass than you're able. Be
ABSOLUTELY sure it is safe to pass, even if you're stuck for 20 minutes driving behind a truck at 15 mph crawling up a hill. I once tried to pass a
truck over and over when he had his blinker on. Every time I'd try to pass, he'd wander in front of me preventing me from passing. What the?? And
each time, a car would then come along in the other lane which would have made passing unsafe to say the least. I don't know why he didn't just turn
his blinker off.
And sometimes someone will flash their lights at you from the oncoming lane - that usually means "slow down, danger ahead". Could be an accident in
the middle of the lane, or debris in the road, but proceed with caution if you get that signal.
And this was the case a couple months ago -- the winter rains made every green and growing, so everyone left their goats and cows out for free-range
grazing - there were many instances where goats and cows were right next to the highway, and sometimes baby cows wandering in the traffic lane.
And I didn't see this mentioned anywhere - be sure you know what the road signs mean. There are no insignificant signs. Curva Peligrosa means just
that - so slow down. 65 km, does not mean 65 miles per hour.
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Cypress
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7641
Registered: 3-12-2006
Location: on the bayou
Member Is Offline
Mood: undecided
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Once you get clear of the border, the rest is a piece of cake. And a sweet piece
of cake at that.
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fishbuck
Banned
Posts: 5318
Registered: 8-31-2006
Member Is Offline
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If you come to a corner and there is yellow and black warning arrows it's a sharp corner. If there are two arrows on each poll it's a really sharp
corner... like 10-20 mph.
If you come to a corner and there are two arrows on each pull and a couple of makeshift shrines with crosses... self- explanatory.
The farther down the road the less warning signs are used. But by then you will understand. You will be more tired and very hot so it get's harder to
stay alert.
If there is a breakdown it will most likely be in the traffic lanes because there is no place to pull over in most areas.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
"Life's a Beach... and then you Fly!" Fishbuck
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
Member Is Offline
Mood: mellow
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fishbuck
If you come to a corner and there is yellow and black warning arrows it's a sharp corner. If there are two arrows on each poll it's a really sharp
corner... like 10-20 mph.
If you come to a corner and there are two arrows on each pull and a couple of makeshift shrines with crosses... self- explanatory.
The farther down the road the less warning signs are used. But by then you will understand. You will be more tired and very hot so it get's harder to
stay alert.
If there is a breakdown it will most likely be in the traffic lanes because there is no place to pull over in most areas. |
Hey fishbuck,
You better stick to flying. 
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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
Member Is Offline
Mood: Encantada
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Lee
Can't find where the dreaded issue of MORDIDA has been broached so here goes.
Hey Girls, when driving in Baja, especially if you have US plates, are ''white,'' or have blonde hair, you are subject to being pulled over by the
police, sometimes for a legitimate traffic violation, and sometimes for a simple ''shakedown.''
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Last January I started this thread about women & mordita...lots of us Gringas with many Baja miles under our 4x4 wheels...and no stops.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=29194#pid290474
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3509
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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Way to go...
GREAT thread! Thanks for the link. I think women do have an edge in the mordida department. Nice posts.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3825
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
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"especially if you have US plates, are ''white,'' or have blonde hair, you are subject to being pulled over by the police"
I agree that that IS NOT THE CASE. I too have traveled alone and with my children when they were small and was only stopped once - when I drove out
of a driveway the wrong way on a one way street in TJ. Paid $40 fine on the spot. Otherwise, I've received only courtesy and favors. Of course, I
don't have SCORE, Bardahl, Red Bull stickers all over my car; I'm not towing motorcycles, look like I must have a stash or look Canadian (!).
You're bringing a cooler to put ice in, right? It'll be HOT, and you can buy ice in most towns.
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