Santiago
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3531
Registered: 8-27-2003
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Aduanas experience at last SY crossing
Last trip down we were packed to the gills; Crew cab with short bed w/shell that has windows on the sides and rear - easy to see in. Thule carrier on
top rack.
We had a used 5 CF freezer that would only fit at the very back of the bed and was obvious from the rear, had a very cool used chair that folds out
into a single bed, a small used window and some other misc stuff. I decided not to run the border and stop in SY to declare these items.
(I am an FM3 holder). Showed all to Aduanas and was charged $300nmp, about $23 'merican.
SWMBO, who does not have an FM3, skipped the FMM process this time so we came out even money wise. However, this meant that for at least a portion of
the 9 days, she was an ILLEGAL ALIEN. 
Something I find very strange: our roof-top Thule carrier is the big one - 86" long. In this trip the bottom was full of used pine boards and oak
handrail, fishing rods and some duffel bags full of bedding and linens (minimum 200 thread count for Baja). I have never had any inspector, either at
the border or at a military inspection point ever look inside. Only a few times have they even acknowledged it. This time, Aduanas asked what was in
it but then said "clothes?". I nodded and that was it. I think because you would need a ladder they just blow it off. Anyone else have this
experience with roof top carriers?
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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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Roof top
Never checked...............yet
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
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If you're cool, they're cool
I think the border inspectors are "reading" us, our body language and how we handle ourselves, as much as visually looking at our stuff.
For example: I was signaled to pull over for inspection at Tecate as I drove through the border, apparently because my little pickup exceeded the
size/weight ratio. The guy wanted to know what I was carrying (I was loaded to the gills, packed up tight and lashed down like Marquis de
Sade himself was driving my rig).
I explained I was carrying a dismantled solid wood table and benches and an antique clawfoot bathtub. "Huh???" said Inspector who then made various
attempts to climb up and look under the lashed down tarps.
I continued to smile and explain why everything was so heavy and follow him around the truck and help him attempt to climb up and not hurt himself as
he repeatedly slid off the side of my pickup.
He finally just asked me, "You're not carrying guns are you?".
I laughed out loud!
He let me go with a smile.
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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LaTijereta
Super Nomad
Posts: 1192
Registered: 8-27-2003
Location: Loreto
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Have been crossing at Tecate the last three times (6 months).. Loadrunner enclosed trailer/ 34' fifth-wheel/ Toyota Landcrusier..all loaded with
"everything"..Never been stopped ..gate is up and /or light is on green when crossing..
Why even deal with SY crossing...
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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pointdog
Junior Nomad
Posts: 48
Registered: 3-23-2008
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Might be a dumb question, but what is "Aduanas"? Thanks.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
I laughed out loud!
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Reminds me of my last crossing at Tecate....going North. The inspector was looking around inside the empty bed of my pickup and asked me some really
stupid question which amused me, so I laughed....just a little. He came to my window with this really serious look on his stupid face and asked my
why I was laughing at his stupid question....like he thought that was the key to uncovering something really criminal.
With that, I started to laugh hard as hell, caught my breath, and asked him if we were on Candid Camera or something equally as embarrasing.
He was scowling too hard to speak so he just motioned with his hand that I should go....which I did....laughing.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by pointdog
Might be a dumb question, but what is "Aduanas"? Thanks. |
ADUANA = Customs
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Kalypso
Nomad
Posts: 147
Registered: 5-17-2011
Location: San Diego
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| Quote: | Originally posted by pointdog
Might be a dumb question, but what is "Aduanas"? Thanks. |
Aduana = Customs (as in clearing customs)
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ElCap
Nomad
Posts: 281
Registered: 1-22-2010
Location: Montara CA, or San Ignacio BCS
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We have never ever had our rooftop carrier checked - going south by Aduana, at any military checkpoint, or coming north by our own wonderful &
respectful (not) Border agents. We always joke about what we could sneak in/out up there. No one has even ever acknowledged that it is even there.
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Do you have any guns, drugs, or explosives sir? Claro que no!
Never, in dozens of inspections has anyone ever lifted a single one of these 30 latches! Air tight. one inch mil-spec gasket.
(loaded at 3500 ft. and unclasped at sea level, it is impossible to open the boxes due to the vacuum. There is a tiny screw under one of the handles
that gives a mighty hiss and is the final key!)
Oh, they survived, bone dry, countless hours underwater during the flooding of San Nicolas by TS Julio.
[Edited on 3-11-2012 by vgabndo]
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5917
Registered: 7-18-2011
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Surfboard bags on top of the roof never get searched either. I could have a few ak-47's up there and they'd never know.
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DavidT
Nomad
Posts: 494
Registered: 4-9-2005
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Didn't Fred Hoctor write a story about a Mother in Law on the roof rack?
David
Not one shred of evidence supports the notion that life is serious.
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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In the last two decades I could have moved literally a ton of coke. The US never looked in them either!
I WAS sent to secondary because I had a visible palm frond with an Oriole nest in it.
They must have profiled my stress reactions!!!!!
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Ateo...a bit off topic, but I saw on a link from a New Militia website I was studying that long barrel, folding stock, semi-auto AK47's are going in
any quantity for under $500.00. Thank you Tom Delay for letting the assault weapons ban lapse. All my liberal friends are buying machine guns as fast
as they can. 
I wonder what I can bring across the border if I have to have political asylum. I know there is a work permit and health care, but I don't know if
imports would be any different than say an FM3.
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
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Fred did write a story about a dead Mother in Law, on a roof top rack..Long story short, somebody stole her while they were having dinner...But then,
that was Freds story..I'm just sayin...
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aguachico
Senior Nomad
Posts: 602
Registered: 3-23-2007
Location: tijuana
Member Is Offline
Mood: logic cannot get thru to the illogical
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Anything that requires A LOT of work will never be searched on a passenger vehicle. I have had them climb into the truck only to open a few easy
access boxes. Yup gonna hide money, drugs and guns in them. then they look at the
15foot kayak. yup the 50cal and a few kilos are in there, but who hands to try and bring that b-tch down???
Good thing about the new adunas are the equal opportunity hiring
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidT
Didn't Fred Hoctor write a story about a Mother in Law on the roof rack? |
I think that story has become part of our "urban folklore".....kinda like the "Corvette for sale...Cheap" because someone died in it out in the
desert and the body wasn't discovered til long after it had decomposed leaving a telltale odor blahblahblahblah.
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BajaGringo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3922
Registered: 8-24-2006
Location: La Chorera
Member Is Offline
Mood: Let's have a BBQ!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
I laughed out loud!
|
Reminds me of my last crossing at Tecate....going North. The inspector was looking around inside the empty bed of my pickup and asked me some really
stupid question which amused me, so I laughed....just a little. He came to my window with this really serious look on his stupid face and asked my
why I was laughing at his stupid question....like he thought that was the key to uncovering something really criminal.
With that, I started to laugh hard as hell, caught my breath, and asked him if we were on Candid Camera or something equally as embarrasing.
He was scowling too hard to speak so he just motioned with his hand that I should go....which I did....laughing. |
A good friend spent nearly three hours in secondary over a similar incident. Ever since he shared that I just answer their odd questions with a
straight face and laugh AFTER I pull away from the booth...
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BajaGringo
| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
I laughed out loud!
|
Reminds me of my last crossing at Tecate....going North. The inspector was looking around inside the empty bed of my pickup and asked me some really
stupid question which amused me, so I laughed....just a little. He came to my window with this really serious look on his stupid face and asked my
why I was laughing at his stupid question....like he thought that was the key to uncovering something really criminal.
With that, I started to laugh hard as hell, caught my breath, and asked him if we were on Candid Camera or something equally as embarrasing.
He was scowling too hard to speak so he just motioned with his hand that I should go....which I did....laughing. |
A good friend spent nearly three hours in secondary over a similar incident. Ever since he shared that I just answer their odd questions with a
straight face and laugh AFTER I pull away from the booth... |
Coming INTO the US I'm always serious. The US
Customs boys and girls are toughies and seem to take the position that everyone crossing in from Mexico is a bad guy-- including me.
Crossing into Mexico, well, I'm not a bad guy, I'm not gun-running, and for whatever reason there is a lighter spirit and I find myself smiling-- a
lot!
"Raise your words, not your voice. It's rain that grows flowers, not thunder." ~Rumi
"It's the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." ~ Aristotle
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watizname
Senior Nomad
Posts: 792
Registered: 8-7-2009
Member Is Offline
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I always ask the Mexican Military "Que Busca" and when they say drugs and guns, I say No tengo, smiling, and keeping it light. Usually they only do a
cursory walk around. I'm always serious at the US border. One time I jokingly told the agent I probably had some Hotdogs in the fridge, and went
immediatly to secondary, where they searched the camper to find my Hebrew National's and then let me pass. 
I yam what I yam and that\'s all what I yam.
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