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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
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Mood: Retired and Loving it
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Two for Four in Ciudad Constitution
We recently had the "opportunity" of driving through Constitution on our way to La Paz in the past couple of weeks. Of the four "passes" through town
we were pulled over by the local police twice. Both times we were set up for the bribe in the usual manner. The first time we gave in and paid the
guy on site as we needed to get on our way and not spend another hour or two at the police station. However it then happend a second time returning
from La Paz. This time I was being as careful as possible when passing through - I think I was the only person actually doing 40 kph through town.
However we got pulled over again on a totally trumped up charge (there were three women in the cross walk while we went through he intersection)
There was no one anywhere near the intersection. This time we resisted and denied the accusation and demanded to go to the police station. They said
"OK, follow me" We followed them around the corner and down a residential block where they stopped and came back to our car and told us the police
station was closed and we would have to come back tomorrow, they would keep our license to be sure we came back. It was about 4:00pm. Both my wife
and I threw a fit and demanded to go to the station immediately. We caused such a comotion that the guy wound up telling us to," just go away, go
back to Loreto". They then drove off in a cloud of dust. Constitution has got to have the most corupt police force in Baja Sur. No gringos live
there and they know that a US license plate is an easy mark. I wish there was a way around that town. Does anyone know how to get through on back
roads?
[Edited on 5-26-2010 by ncampion]
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k-rico
Super Nomad
Posts: 2079
Registered: 7-10-2008
Location: Playas de Tijuana
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How big of a bite was the first time? Someone posted today about a $400 payoff in Cabo for expired plates. Shocking.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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K-rico- It's Cabo. Cops down there expect just about everyone to be a rich gringo. Not to mention that they set up a trap on the road to the airport
figuring that people don't want to miss their planes. Criminal genius. As for Constitucion, While we personally have never been hassled there, it does
appear that especially since the hurricane, the damage, and the failure of the traffic lights, things have gotten much worse for gringos passing
through. I think that basically, ncampion nailed it. Anyone not having BCS plates is fair game for the crooked cops.
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monoloco
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6667
Registered: 7-13-2009
Location: Pescadero BCS
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I hear a lot of bad press about Cabo but I've never been hassled there in 25 years, I have had the cops in Constitution try and extort me though. Just
remember, if you are obstinate you can usually get off for very little or nothing. As you found out the second time, last thing they want to deal with
is a gringo that is going to be a pain in the keester, they are looking for easy marks.
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Frank
Senior Nomad
Posts: 861
Registered: 6-5-2005
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Is it time to leave yet?
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Anyone know where in Constitution the Police station is ?
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
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Mood: Retired and Loving it
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| Quote: | Originally posted by k-rico
How big of a bite was the first time? Someone posted today about a $400 payoff in Cabo for expired plates. Shocking. |
It was dirt cheap. We were told the fine would be $180 pesos at the police station but it was only $100 on the spot, but we would not get a receipt
--- duh............
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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four people from my small community of El Juncalito/Pto Escondido have been stopped on six occasions in the past two weeks (yes, two twice). the
mordida police are back in force. I don't know how to avoid being stopped, but the key to avoiding the bribe is to refuse, as above. pitch a fit,
whatever. one person asked for a ticket and said they would return the next day. they were allowed to go on their way without a bribe. ask for a
ticket...some police are bluffing by 'writing' them on a quarter sheet of blank paper. IF you can get a name, badge number, vehicle number time/date,
etc you can try reporting it to Sr Villalejos, Sub-director de Policia, at 613-100-1910.
the police station is located on the street parallel to the highway on the east side. it's south of the main town but three or four blocks north of
Ley's (you can't get there from Ley's, the road doesn't do that far south). it might be a good bluff to say you know where it is and head that
direction. it IS open every day except Sunday I hear. .
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
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Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
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that is a great idea to know where the cop shop is and say you'll go there...even if it is closed. Also it would be great when confronted to pull out
your cell phone and tell him you just want to check with el jefe Sr.Villalejos.
Here we have the cell phone of our favorite policia in case we need him and the shop is closed for siesta.
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capt. mike
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8085
Registered: 11-26-2002
Location: Bat Cave
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Mood: Sling time!
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mexcio is a 3rd world CORRUPT country, get to know it - deal with it and enjoy it for what it has otherwise or don't come.
and the authorities really could care less or they would come down harder on it.
it is an outrage to me that so many [left leaning] here want to point fingers at USA cops ENFORCING valid laws against illegal immigration claiming
they are all manner of racists you name it...like Joe Arpaio et al, but few will exclaim major disdain for crooked mexican cops who practice basic
extortion - bunch of low life thugs if you ask me, no better than cartel hoodlums.
when it happens to me i tell them i want to see the judge immediately, usually shuts them up.
formerly Ordained in Rev. Ewing\'s Church by Mail - busted on tax fraud.......
Now joined L. Ron Hoover\'s church of Appliantology
\"Remember there is a big difference between kneeling down and bending over....\"
www.facebook.com/michael.l.goering |
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by capt. mike
it is an outrage to me that so many [left leaning] here want to point fingers at USA cops ENFORCING valid laws .... |
...to get the turist dollars for the city? In Colorado Springs I waited for the green arrow to make my left turn in front of 2 motorcycle cops that
were parked there. Half way into the intersection a box van in front of me stopped and the arrow turned red. After I cleared the intersection the cop
stopped me and wrote ticket for illegal left turn. I went back to the same intersection about 10 minutes later and parked about 25 yards behind the
same cops and watched, and took pictures, for a half-hour while the same box van "stalled" in intersection time after time and another driver was
cited.
I went to court with pictures in hand to plead not guilty by reason ofd entrapment but the judge refused to look at pictures and told me I would have
to either plead guilty and pay a$75 fine or post a $500 deposit and come back in 30 days to hear my not guilty plea. Obviously I changed plea to
guilty since I dsidn't want to drive 1100 miles or fly back to Colorado Springs just to make my point
Bob Durrell
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
| Quote: | Originally posted by capt. mike
it is an outrage to me that so many [left leaning] here want to point fingers at USA cops ENFORCING valid laws .... |
...to get the turist dollars for the city? In Colorado Springs I waited for the green arrow to make my left turn in front of 2 motorcycle cops that
were parked there. Half way into the intersection a box van in front of me stopped and the arrow turned red. After I cleared the intersection the cop
stopped me and wrote ticket for illegal left turn. I went back to the same intersection about 10 minutes later and parked about 25 yards behind the
same cops and watched, and took pictures, for a half-hour while the same box van "stalled" in intersection time after time and another driver was
cited.
I went to court with pictures in hand to plead not guilty by reason ofd entrapment but the judge refused to look at pictures and told me I would have
to either plead guilty and pay a$75 fine or post a $500 deposit and come back in 30 days to hear my not guilty plea. Obviously I changed plea to
guilty since I dsidn't want to drive 1100 miles or fly back to Colorado Springs just to make my point |
Bob something like that should be turned over to the local news media, paper, radio, TV etc. Also send it to the military bases there.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65285
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Okay, so how can people avoid going through the un-constitutional city of Ciudad Constitucion?
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Pretty tough, David, Huh?
Perhaps following a googlemaps route a few blocks to the east or west.
The AAA map doesn't show diddly
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65285
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Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Right Udo... unless you want to take the route towards Mision San Luis Gonzaga from north of Constitucion, then back to Hwy. 1. I am sure on Google
Earth you can see shorter routes around Un-constitucional!
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LaTijereta
Super Nomad
Posts: 1192
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Loreto
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Friday, May 21st
I drove through there twice on Friday from Loreto to La Paz..and back..
Stayed in the center lanes through town..
No issues, towing a trailer both ways..
Stopped at signals/ intersections as marked, and saw city PD trucks on frontage streets alongside me.
I think everything seemed fine
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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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Re: Cabo
| Quote: | Originally posted by monoloco
I hear a lot of bad press about Cabo but I've never been hassled there in 25 years, I have had the cops in Constitution try and extort me though. Just
remember, if you are obstinate you can usually get off for very little or nothing. As you found out the second time, last thing they want to deal with
is a gringo that is going to be a pain in the keester, they are looking for easy marks. |
I share your good fortune in Cabo. Been driving around there since the late '80s. Just seems that anecdotal evidence would support a relatively recent
change in climate.
And as for Constitucion, I've always stayed in the center lanes (since they were developed) and have not been hassled.
[Edited on 5-23-2010 by Bajahowodd] (once for feeble spelling)
[Edited on 5-23-2010 by Bajahowodd]
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
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Mood: TEQUILA!
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Ciudad Constitucion sounds like (their) version of the Arizona mess... discrimination and racial profiling... but this time agains against Americans.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
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Mood: Retired and Loving it
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| Quote: | Originally posted by LaTijereta
I drove through there twice on Friday from Loreto to La Paz..and back..
Stayed in the center lanes through town..
No issues, towing a trailer both ways..
Stopped at signals/ intersections as marked, and saw city PD trucks on frontage streets alongside me.
I think everything seemed fine |
I also was in the center lanes, under the speed limit, watching carefully for pedestrains and stopping at all lights/stop signs. Like I said - four
trips, two bogus tickets. In Loreto, the cops are friendly and helpful. They never shakedown locals or gringos. What ever they are doing here, it
works. Constitution just sucks, too bad they have a great Ley market and lots of good building supply stores.
[Edited on 5-24-2010 by ncampion]
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Skeet/Loreto
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nccmpion:
When you approach Constitution from the north, at the first stop Light, trun left and go 2 blocks to the West, go through town on that steet, then
when you reach the dead end go right back to the Hwy and go South to La paz. Should have no trouble.
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vandenberg
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5118
Registered: 6-21-2005
Location: Nopolo
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Skeet/Loreto
nccmpion:
When you approach Constitution from the north, at the first stop Light, trun left and go 2 blocks to the West, |
Must have a different compass.
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