juanroberts
Junior Nomad
Posts: 62
Registered: 9-27-2005
Location: Piedmont, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Baja Born
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Have bike paperwork at Tecate crossing
I am hearing that over the past three months the Tecate border crossing, which is usually very relaxed, has a new sheriff in town and is not allowing
bikes to get through unless they have proof of ownership.
By way of background, I had a Mexicali official say a title is not good enough (I could not help but laugh, then in fluent Spanish stated a title is
more likely to prove ownership and sell a vehicle than a registration), then after never even looking at the titles in his hand gave them back and let
me go through. More often than not, when they ask for the papers, they do not even know what a VIN is, and I have literally had one TJ guy compare
the "WR250F" numbers on my Yamaha's paperwork to its model stickers on the fender, he even read them out loud and then gave me the paperwork back. In
contrast, in Tecate they are doing a fine job.
So, I have had people initially refuse a genuine title, as well as a current registration, an expired registration, etc. But I have always gotten
through, even with a photocopy of an expired registration (the latter not being ideal though). Here is how it works. If the bikes are on the back of
a truck, you do not need a current registration, only proof that the vehicle is not stolen. You have to state this to them. An expired registration
proves ownership.
It is also important to state you are not driving the vehicle, and in the worst of cases that in Mexico it will be ridden on a private ranch and not
on roads (there is no offroad registration process I am aware of in Mexico).
In terms of getting away with presenting only a photocopy of a California motorcycle registration, I let the officer know that in that particular
state of origin, it is written on the back of registrations that a facsimile copy will suffice (also see the CA Vehicle code below). Originals are way
better than copies, but if need be, make sure you copy both the front, and the back of the CA registration as the back in essence states the same
thing as the text below.
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=veh&am...
"4454. (a) Every owner, upon receipt of a registration card, shall
maintain the same or a facsimile copy thereof with the vehicle for
which issued.
(b) This section does not apply when a registration card is
necessarily removed from the vehicle for the purpose of application
for renewal or transfer of registration, or when the vehicle is left
unattended.
(c) Any violation of this section shall be cited in accordance
with the provisions of Section 40610."
A similar thread to this one can be found at:
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=63209&pag...
[Edited on 11-5-2013 by juanroberts]
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TecateRay
Nomad
Posts: 346
Registered: 9-6-2006
Location: La Mesa, CA
Member Is Offline
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Things have definitely tightened up at the Tecate border heading south. Getting a "Green Light" seems to mean nothing for me with my Callen camper
shell on the back of the truck - they still pull me over to look in the back. If I have the bike I have to present appropriate paperwork (I use
current Ca. registration original).
A few months ago a "Green Light" truly meant a pass, not anymore. I have had friends turned around and escorted to the US entry gate if they didn't
have what was deemed the proper bike paperwork within the past few weeks.
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DaliDali
Super Nomad
Posts: 1132
Registered: 4-21-2010
Location: BCS
Member Is Offline
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Facsimile copies from a USA state, even if permitted in that state, might not be any good in Mexico....because MX is not that state or the USA.
I drive a SUV, with a utility trailer hooked up behind, that has a big black Harley in it.
I carry the original ownership cert and the original registration for all 3 with me when ever I cross....they are right there on the seat next to me,
at the ready.
Going into the USA, the custom officers always want to see the papers on the Harley.....not the SUV or the trailer.
Same southbound....the MX official is more curious about the big black machine than anything else.
That officer gets the ownership cert and the original registration shown to him.
They look the big black machine over and search for a VIN number. I point out the location to them and it's a done deal. On my way.
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