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Author: Subject: Police bribes
Iflyfish
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[*] posted on 1-24-2007 at 11:44 PM


Woody wrote
"BTW, my last experience ended with the cop handing my license back and burning rubber after reading the back of my license where the phone number to the Sindicatura was proudly displayed."

I have traveled in Mexico for over forty years. My travels have taken me to most of the stated in Mexico. I have experienced the Mordida on a number of occasions. I have learned to avoid eye contact with any police and try to stay "out of their radar".

There is no question that Mordida exists and there are many reasons for it. There are pros and cons as to it's current value as elaborated by others in this thread. Its practice of course fits into a larger judicial and economic system with deep hisorical roots. A fellow Nomad recommended the book There Is a Word for it in Mexico to me and I think that this book gets at the larger social/economic/judicial context for this proceedure.

I personally do not like being blackmailed regardless of the context. I however have been of the pay as you go school and bargain for the best rate class in that school.

I am very interested in Woody's post above. I have never been entirely satisfied with the advice I have been given as to how to handle this problem. The latest tourist guide books tell readers to not pay the bribe. I have heard horror stories from people who refused to pay and ended up in the clink making their arguments from there. I know that I have looked in the dead eyes of some very scary cops who I was glad to pay to just keep them from looking at me. I have been stopped and have gotten off with warnings, but those were situations where I may have committed some sort of offence.

Now tell me Woody or someone else, what is Sindicatura? Is the number on the back of a Mexican or USA drivers license.

I used to be a Deputy Sherrif in the USA and carried a card identifying me as such. I never had a ticket as long as I carried that card and displayed it prominantly as I fumbled for my driver's license. I considered it Diplomatic Immunity and it was.

I would be interested in any other strategies that people use to deal with the dreaded, by some, black hand. I am certain that the reporter too might be interested in hearing some of these strategies.

Iflyfishwhennotpayingtheman
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oxxo
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[*] posted on 1-25-2007 at 07:42 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by Sharksbaja
Look how she states that. "I'm afraid it's become" not "it's become" and "We" can mean her and and any number of people. Another case of IMHO perhaps.


I don't have any problem with reporters writing their opinions. It is just that opinions belong on the op-ed page, not as a news story.

It will be impossible for Anna to verify the veracity of the reports elicited on this Board. I think what Anna should do (as suggested by another post) is ride along with a 20 year old friend and drive through TJ with a surfboard on top for several trips. Everything on the car should be in perfect working order and they should follow all the posted signs. Let's see how often they are pulled over and see if they are asked for a bribe. I'm sure it happens, but how often?

In my opinion, that is a better way to research a story than asking for yarns from the Nomad Board.
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Crusoe
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[*] posted on 1-25-2007 at 09:31 AM


Anna........ From what I have expierenced and have heard the most interesting storys about over the years is La Paz is worse for this type of activity than T.J.. I try to keep clear and avoid T.J..
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abreojos
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[*] posted on 1-26-2007 at 05:36 AM


Looking like a really green Gringo down here will get you into trouble every now and then but it really doen't matter. I prefer driving with Baja plates most of the time, but have gotten the 3rd degree at the check points because of it.
I find cops in the states are a whole lot more scary, except maybe TJ cops. Knowing the law and your rights can keep you from getting into a jam if you know how to argue it in Spanish. My wife informed me they can't impound your vehicle like they can in the states, which I did not understand last time I got pulled over and a big reason why I paid on the spot. But pieces of helpful informaton are painfully revealed poco poco, even from my wife! Next time I'll make my case and give them a run for my money. I have been pulled over for nothing and talked my way out of it at the station.
I know all the cops in Abreojos and they are the only one's in this world that I have met who I do want to know. That is one of the great things we all love about Abreojos.

[Edited on 1-27-2007 by abreojos]
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