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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Checkpoint
Been stopped twice...As soon as I tell them I am a retired US Army Captain, I get a salute and passed through
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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today at the San Ignacio checkpoint, there was a big lineup cause the bus was there and they take a long time....half hour in the sweltering
heat...sucked! The thoroughness of the revision depends on the guy. The vehicle in front was checked everywhere including under the hood and our guy
just peeked in the doors of the cab...poked around in the glove box and that was it.
They ALWAYS ask Juan if he speaks Spanish...hahaha...and usually ask what the Sirius radio thingy is. Also they are suspicious of VHF radios...Juan
has a permit from Proteccion civil to have one in his vehicle for emergency purposes but they are a no no too.
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4baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1339
Registered: 9-4-2003
Location: morro bay ca
Member Is Offline
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had a dog, rarely checked. good times!!!
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Paulina
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3812
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: BCN
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
...and usually ask what the Sirius radio thingy is. Also they are suspicious of VHF radios...Juan has a permit from Proteccion civil to have one in
his vehicle for emergency purposes but they are a no no too. |
We've been questioned about the Sirius radio too. We also had our VHF radio pointed out. They said it was illegal and asked us to show them our
permit. We said it was a race radio and that it was broken and didn't work. That seemed to be enough info for them let us pass.
P<*)))>{
\"Well behaved women rarely make history.\" Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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I would imagine a scanner would get you executed on the spot.
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estebanis
Nomad
Posts: 279
Registered: 11-11-2002
Location: Stuck North of the Border. They won\'t pay me
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
Been stopped twice...As soon as I tell them I am a retired US Army Captain, I get a salute and passed through |
I am saluting you now!!!
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bajalorena
Nomad
Posts: 141
Registered: 3-31-2009
Location: BuenaVista, BCS
Member Is Offline
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We haven't driven in awhile ( our daughter works for United), but before that, we would go to the 2nd day bakery store and stock up before the trip
down. Those poor guys are away from home, and love to have a treat now and then. It was the first thing they saw when inspecting the cooler
(twinkies, hostess ho-hos, etc). And plenty of cold soft drinks and water.
We spoke spanish (limited) when we were stopped, the boys seemed to appreciate it. When asked if our dog bites, we would say not right now, she had
breakfast............
They were always polite, we were, too.
At the check station at Guerrero Negro, we would leave a couple of puzzles. They love them, there are times when there is nothing to do, then they
take them home to the kids.
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postholedigger
Nomad
Posts: 189
Registered: 1-6-2008
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | | This statement surprises me. A question for all Nomads, do any of you fear the military checkpoints or soldiers? |
Aside from some random private trying to make sure I knew who was in charge, I've had nothing but good encounters with the soldiers manning the check
points. Though one time, as I entered the checkpoint area, I began to roll my window down and maybe the guy was new or something but the movement must
have startled him as he twitched and leveled his weapon at me. The twitch freaked me out a little as twitches by someone with an assault rifle aimed
at you and your family tend to do.
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noproblemo2
Super Nomad
Posts: 1088
Registered: 4-14-2006
Member Is Offline
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inspections
We always flash our FM3's, 95% of the time they wave us through.
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
Member Is Offline
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I drive a camper truck. Many times they'll carefully inspect the cooler but never open a cabinet. Weird.
Don't carry contraband on ice. 
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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About giving the soldiers treats....while it is a lovely gesture...there are always like a dozen of em milling around...yesterday they were checking 3
cars at a time so had lots of guys there...it's kinda unfair to give goodies to just a couple of them when they all miss treats so have enough for the
platoon.
The thing about VHF radios is that they see them as a threat...for example you can call a car with contraband behind you to tell them they are
checking vehicles so they can avoid the checkpoint...also they are marine band and require a license which most dont have...thus illegal in your car I
believe....we have 2 meter radios for emergencies.
BTW...the feds who check car papers havent been around lately. At this checkpoint they check everyone...flashing your FM3 wont cut it nor will your
uniform....sir.
If you have any shellfish or things other than fin fish make sure you have the "Guia" from where you purchased them legally...which is why they often
check the cooler.
[Edited on 6-3-2009 by shari]
[Edited on 6-3-2009 by shari]
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Bajajorge
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2604
Registered: 10-13-2005
Location: Topaz Lake, NV/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
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QUOTE: They always, always look inside the ice chest. I don't know why, but they do.
One of the biggest dope stashes they ever found was inside an ice chest, the dope was hidden under a batch of clams that were starting to rot.
Tip: My wife has a habit of hanging crucifixes here and there in my RV. Mexican Customs and Mexican Military have never touched any cabinet where
there is a crucifix. No, I'm not a smuggler.
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Bajajorge
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2604
Registered: 10-13-2005
Location: Topaz Lake, NV/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
Been stopped twice...As soon as I tell them I am a retired US Army Captain, I get a salute and passed through |
Still using the gold card scam , huh
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roundtuit
Senior Nomad
Posts: 607
Registered: 12-21-2004
Member Is Offline
Mood: Wife's Job
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M & M's
We always take medium sixe packages of them as they can be shared. Give them after inspection, also cold water. Have never had a problem with them.
Big dog bite? su possibly,mi nada
Never learned from a book-Only from mistakes, mine and yours
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajajorge
Tip: My wife has a habit of hanging crucifixes here and there in my RV. Mexican Customs and Mexican Military have never touched any cabinet where
there is a crucifix. |
Vampires would avoid them also.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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Gold card
Works every time, George!!!!!.....never leave home without it
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mooose29
Nomad
Posts: 201
Registered: 10-1-2008
Location: Encinitas/Punta Chivato, Rancho Partera
Member Is Offline
Mood: All Smiles
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Smile
I always go out of my way to try and speak Spanish to them. It think it shows respect for them and their culture and it seems to make things go
quicker. Also I ask my children to always try and reply to questions in spanish they are 9 and 11 and getting pretty good.
I am with another poster it is what it is Here is what I have noticed that happens the most frequently during my 4 or 5 trips a year down to Punta
Chivato. My cooler never gets looked in. They have asked to buy our portable DVD player a few times. They have never ask about our 2 way radio's we
use when driving with another car. When they see the dogs in the back of the surburban about 80% of the time they don't look back there and waive us
through. When they ask to have me take the dogs out I always put them on a leash. My wife keeps her purse with her and I keep my wallet with me with
all our money and paperwork although honestly I don't worry about theft at the checkpoints we do it more to be on the safe side and as a matter of
habit. I take my keys with me and always go with the person searching the car and my wife does the same on her side. All in all we are usually in
and out in a minimal amount of time. Althought one time north of Jesus Maria they were searching everything and so I asked the guy what was up, why
were they being so through and he said they had just found a car full of drugs the day before.
It used to make my kids a bit nervous but now my 9 year old son thinks the guns are cool. Last time down with friends of our from Michigan the 10
year old daughter who spoke spanish asked to take a picture with one of the soldiers and he said yes.
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LaTijereta
Super Nomad
Posts: 1192
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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First, I have all the respect for these guys working in some tough conditions..
For a quicker inspection, our dog is removed from the car with a leash when asked.
We try and speak only english, to avoid conversations so they can go ahead with their inspection.
If you travel with a Mag-Lite, try and store it in the back, as this is always a conversation to show everyone if kept up front.
As we approch a checkpoint, I turn down the music and turn-off the display on the GPS in the front dash.. In the past I have been asked many questions
how the GPS works, and they seem intrigued on showing others about the device and their location in Baja...
Our ice chest going north is duck taped to keep the fish cold, and they have never asked to cut-open the tape to look inside.. We have always
confirmed that we were carrying fish.
Democracy is like two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.
Ben Franklin (1759)
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Freebird
Junior Nomad
Posts: 29
Registered: 6-7-2008
Member Is Offline
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I´ve been stopped twice. One time they were soldiers, the last time they were Ministeriales near San ignacio. Had no problem. They´re very
professional.
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
Member Is Offline
Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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I have been searched by the military several times on the way back from Erendira. Never had a problem.....just had one of the soldiers offering to buy
my video camera that he found in the back with all my gear!
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