matthew_mangus
 
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Registered: 10-4-2019
 Location: Portland, OR
 
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Dog Crates 
 
 
I am aware that some policemen look to use the dog crate law as a reason to pull people over to extract mordida, but what is the reality of needing to
use dog crates in Baja? 
 
Do the military checkpoints insist that dogs be in crates inside the cab? 
 
Do dogs need to be in crates while crossing the border in either direction? 
 
I've got a friend who wants to bring his dog with us next week and I'd like to temper his reading of the law with some realtime experiences. 
 
 
 
 
I like to explore remote dirt tracks and beaches. 
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JZ
 
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Registered: 10-3-2003
 
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No one has ever said a word to us. 
 
 
 
 
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BornFisher
 
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Registered: 1-11-2005
 Location: K-38  Santa Martha/Encinitas
 
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Dogs must be in crates. Women and children are fine in the bed of a truck.
 
 
 
 
"When you catch a fish, you open the door of happiness."  
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John Harper
 
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Registered: 3-9-2017
 Location: SoCal
 
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The trunk works great if you don't have a pickup bed. 
 
John
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sancho
 
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Registered: 10-6-2004
 Location: OC  So Cal
 
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The Mex Army manning the checkpoints do not enforce 
city vehicle laws, as the Mexicali cops with the dog crate law. 
Obviously enforced only to the 'Driving While Gringo Crowd' 
to pick up some easy $. Chances of running to one of these 
guys is slim at best, but does happen. Maybe keep perro 
on the floor in town.  No restraints 
needed of dogs coming back to the US, that is while in the 
vehicle 
 
 
 
 
[Edited on 11-5-2021 by sancho]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
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gnukid
 
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Pretty sure the rule is "secured" which can be leash to region where dog won't jump up at you while you drive, if the dog is secure lower or out of
sight of the driver area when you cross, there is no problem.
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grace59
 
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Posts: 614
 
Registered: 9-14-2004
 Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
 
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I've heard of people getting hassled in Mexicali and Tecate for this law. I've always restrained my Lab in the back seat with a strap that goes around
the headrest and attaches to the back of her harness. I do this just in case I have an accident. I've read numerous cases of a dog freaking out during
an accident and running into traffic or running off into the desert.  
 
 
 
 
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow.  I think it may be time to head for Mexico.  Tengo que obedecer mi corazon! 
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TSThornton
 
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Registered: 8-25-2021
 
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Unsecured dogs was the reason I was pulled over two weeks ago. But I was swapping stories with a long-time Baja traveler from San Diego surfing at
East Cap last weekend who has been traveling down at least 2x/yr for decades, and he related it's gotten much worse the past couple of years.  He's
been stopped 4 times in Mexicali in the last several crossings for things like "You were probably on your phone" (he wasn't) and "Your truck is
probably over-weight with your camper" (it wasn't).  So it's best to minimize the reasons for potential interactions, but it seems the all that's
really needed is US plates, a decent looking rig, and more likely than not, being alone.  
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TSThornton
 
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The camper weight exceeding the truck's payload capacity. 
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sancho
 
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 Location: OC  So Cal
 
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The dog thing is fairly new, seems to be Mexicali, maybe 
Tecate. As I remember they started out with dog had to 
be searbelted in. The pocket knife ruse is also a tactic, like Swiss 
Army knife, which they call a concealed weapon. The 
payload  capacity of a truck is new to me. Looks like one 
should carry a print out from the manufacture stating the 
payload capacity, along with the sticker on the camper 
stating the weight of camper. Quite the imagination of 
Mex city cops. A real gauntlet one has to run 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
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