Marla Daily
Nomad
Posts: 418
Registered: 9-2-2003
Location: Loreto, BCS
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PULLED OVER BY TECATE COPS AGAIN~FOR DOGS
Just when we thought we had made it through Tecate without getting pulled over, on the last hill to the border crossing, about 500 feet from the
border gate, a motorcycle cop standing by his parked bike, wagged his finger at us to pull over, as he walked up to the camper. We were told to follow
him to the police station where he would write us a ticket for having dogs in the truck cab. (The F250 truck cab is extended with a back seat where
the dogs ride.)
He was in uniform but without a name tag or ID number. We asked for his name, and he refused to give it. Thus we simply refused to follow him unless
he identified himself. I said that according to Sindacatura rules, all officers had to identify themselves ~ that otherwise we had no way to verify he
was an official. He said "it wasn't done that way in Tecate." He had a gun; he said that we would get his ID at the station. He said that dogs had to
be in crates and not loose. It was a polite standoff, but we refused to follow him. At no time did he ask for money, and at no time did we offer any.
I asked if he could please just give us a warning. He ultimately agreed.
When we got to the agriculture check on the US side, we reported the incident to the Supervisor on duty (Lopez). What a nice guy! He called the Tecate
Chief of Police and asked about the guy on the motorcycle and the law about dogs in the car. We learned the guy was one of 3 motorcycle cops on duty
at the time; that yes officers needed to identify themselves, but that they didn't like to do so and he was still having "issues" over this. Also that
the law says that dogs cannot be in the driver's lap (which ours weren't).
Information is always a good thing.
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Feathers
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Registered: 9-14-2009
Location: La Bocana
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Good to know!
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BornFisher
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Thanks for following up like you did. Jezzzzez, it seems like there are more laws to protect dogs in the cab of a truck, than children in the bed of a
truck.
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dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
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The Tecate police are a word I'm not allowed to say here, but which sounds a lot like "pen day goes". They're the reason I seldom recommend the Tecate
crossing to casual or new visitors to Baja.
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Whale-ista
Super Nomad
Posts: 2009
Registered: 2-18-2013
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Sunny with chance of whales
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Thank you for standing up for your rights.
I'd heard dogs must be in crates or otherwise protected inside the vehicle while traveling in Baja, so I bought a harness that attaches to the
seatbelt for my 20 pound dog. I've only used it a few times out of an abundance of caution.
It's true, it actually is safer for the dogs to be harnessed in some way inside of moving vehicles, but I've also heard the police abuse enforcement
of this law, as in your case.
It's kind of like seatbelt laws for people-selectively enforced.
\"Probably the airplanes will bring week-enders from Los Angeles before long, and the beautiful poor bedraggled old town will bloom with a
Floridian ugliness.\" (John Steinbeck, 1940, discussing the future of La Paz, BCS, Mexico)
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Contact info
Did you get the name and phone number for the Chief in Tecate??
Would be good to have........just in case
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elgatoloco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4332
Registered: 11-19-2002
Location: Yes
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Glad you stood ground. We have had a few run ins with Tecate cops. People who drive with dogs on lap should be jailed. IMEO.
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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bajalearner
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 8-24-2010
Location: Tijuana
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Quote: | Originally posted by elgatoloco
People who drive with dogs on lap should be jailed. IMEO. |
Because it interferes with driving or the safety of the dog?
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bajalearner
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 8-24-2010
Location: Tijuana
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Quote: | Originally posted by dasubergeek
The Tecate police are a word I'm not allowed to say here, but which sounds a lot like "pen day goes". They're the reason I seldom recommend the Tecate
crossing to casual or new visitors to Baja. |
I believe good or bad in any organization is cultured at the top. In a supervisors class, I was taught, "if you allow it, you promote it" I believe
it wholeheartedly.
Case in point. San Diego CA PD
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elgatoloco
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Location: Yes
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Both. But mostly driving. I don't want someone I know to be the guy who gets hit head on because fido made a move. It's just common sense and
respecting others. Something frankly lacking in many dog owners these days. You know the ones, bring dog to dinner, bring dog to supermarket, bring
dog to department store, bring dog to shopping mall, bring dog in hotel room. I should note that it's highly unlikely that is case with any Nomaders
and their dogs.
Don't drive and pet!
MAGA
Making Attorneys Get Attorneys
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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They drive with their kids and babies in their laps, like human air-bags.
Sometimes the inconsistencies down here cease to be quaint, and become bothersome.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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Feathers
Nomad
Posts: 447
Registered: 9-14-2009
Location: La Bocana
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Loathing Tijuana, we always cross at Tecate, (now) religiously following the Sindacatura advice given several months back.
I think we can all agree that "enforcement" isn't about "safety".
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peterb
Newbie
Posts: 6
Registered: 5-30-2014
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Almost always go in through Tecate and back to the US through Tecate as well and in 20 years and more than 18 trips including a few extended stays in
the city, I've have never had any dealings, unpleasant or otherwise, with Tecate police. It is always interesting to me how different the experience
of different people is in Mexico. It's like a Rorschach country in a lot of ways.
peterb
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
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Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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It really is amazing that kidsa re allowed in the front on laps but dogs have become the sticking point.
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Quote: | Originally posted by Marla Daily
Just when we thought we had made it through Tecate without getting pulled over, on the last hill to the border crossing, about 500 feet from the
border gate, a motorcycle cop standing by his parked bike, wagged his finger at us to pull over, as he walked up to the camper. We were told to follow
him to the police station where he would write us a ticket for having dogs in the truck cab. (The F250 truck cab is extended with a back seat where
the dogs ride.)
He was in uniform but without a name tag or ID number. We asked for his name, and he refused to give it. Thus we simply refused to follow him unless
he identified himself. I said that according to Sindacatura rules, all officers had to identify themselves ~ that otherwise we had no way to verify he
was an official. He said "it wasn't done that way in Tecate." He had a gun; he said that we would get his ID at the station. He said that dogs had to
be in crates and not loose. It was a polite standoff, but we refused to follow him. At no time did he ask for money, and at no time did we offer any.
I asked if he could please just give us a warning. He ultimately agreed.
When we got to the agriculture check on the US side, we reported the incident to the Supervisor on duty (Lopez). What a nice guy! He called the Tecate
Chief of Police and asked about the guy on the motorcycle and the law about dogs in the car. We learned the guy was one of 3 motorcycle cops on duty
at the time; that yes officers needed to identify themselves, but that they didn't like to do so and he was still having "issues" over this. Also that
the law says that dogs cannot be in the driver's lap (which ours weren't).
Information is always a good thing. | That same MC cop was writing tickets to people not wearing their seat
belts while in the line up. Worse part was they got pulled out of line while he wrote ticket and had a hard time getting back in.
Bob Durrell
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
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Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
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Works for me
Quote: | Originally posted by Feathers
Loathing Tijuana, we always cross at Tecate, (now) religiously following the Sindacatura advice given several months back.
I think we can all agree that "enforcement" isn't about "safety".
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Bob Durrell
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