rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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fleece navidad
so, it's the day of the year when the traffic cops are out with their cans collecting money for their annual fiesta. a set on every corner, at every
intersection and yes, on Hwy 1, at least here in Loreto.
feeling full of the Christmas spirit, and, well, having nothing smaller, I try to stuff a nice size bill into the slot in the coffee can lid. big
grin from the guy when he sees the donation. and, quick as can be, he palms the offering. not quick enough, I catch the movement and say, oh, no,
seņor...motioning to the can. he grins, produces the bill and pushes it halfway into the slot. I push it the rest of the way and as I drive out of
sight, know full well that the lid comes off and the cash will go into the pocket. perhaps is shared with the other guys on his corner. or not.
but, I do wonder how much of the donations end up in the general
party fund and how much in the individual officers' holiday stash.
ah, the holidays in Baja...
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
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Location: Punta Banda
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 ..They
even rip off each other.
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vandenberg
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That's why we keep the ashtray full of 5 peso coins. Less tempting. 
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Bob H
Elite Nomad
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fleece navidad!
But sad... 
The SAME boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It's about what you are made of NOT the circumstance.
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docsmom
Nomad
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Registered: 6-21-2007
Location: Tucson, AZ
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:fire amn. Just when I'm trying to feel the love..........
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Loretana
Senior Nomad
Posts: 825
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Location: Oregon/Loreto
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A brief comment, as a side note.......the municipal employees in Loreto (police, trash collectors, bomberos, etc.) were NOT PAID for at least three
months.
This is not to excuse anyone's behavior........just sayin' 
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."
-Nikola Tesla
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BajaBlanca
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Location: La Bocana, BCS
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and that is just more fleecing ... the moola to pay them is surely there.
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bill erhardt
Super Nomad
Posts: 1376
Registered: 4-2-2005
Location: Loreto, BCS
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Just like the United Way.......
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9011
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
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You'll love this one.
Over here, the police actually go door to door, selling high quality decals/stickers that one puts on their vehicle. The cost is 200 pesos. This year
they are actually telling people that if you have one of these on your car, you needn't worry about driving drunk, as you will not be arrested. Lesser
infractions are likely to be dismissed, too. Like a Monopoly, get-out-of-jail-free card.
Yeah, I got one.
I live in a fairly flat, rural area and from my palapa deck, I watched them go around the neighborhood; stopping only at residences with gringo
plates, of course.
I expect sales are down this year. Two policemen were discovered running an operation where they were breaking into homes in San Carlos. They did go
to jail. People are still trying to recover all their stolen goods found in the cops houses, six months later.................but that's another
story.
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda BC
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It happens in the US too.
When I lived in denver in 1961 they busted two cops with a stolen safe in the trunk of their patrol car. In total they busted more than 50 officers
for various thefts.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14405448
Bob Durrell
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
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| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
When I lived in denver in 1961 they busted two cops with a stolen safe in the trunk of their patrol car. In total they busted more than 50 officers
for various thefts.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_14405448 |
Nice to put things in perspective. Corruption is not unique to Mexico. Just look at the politicians in the US.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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and, on annual collection day, our traffic cop census escalates to as many blue uniforms as are available in town. amazing how many corners and
intersections that thin blue line can cover.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Loretana
A brief comment, as a side note.......the municipal employees in Loreto (police, trash collectors, bomberos, etc.) were NOT PAID for at least three
months. |
So they are not getting paid right now? Is this something unique to Loreto?
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KurtG
Super Nomad
Posts: 1211
Registered: 1-27-2004
Location: California Central Coast
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Mood: Press On Regardless!!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
You'll love this one.
Over here, the police actually go door to door, selling high quality decals/stickers that one puts on their vehicle. The cost is 200 pesos. This year
they are actually telling people that if you have one of these on your car, you needn't worry about driving drunk, as you will not be arrested. Lesser
infractions are likely to be dismissed, too. Like a Monopoly, get-out-of-jail-free card.
Yeah, I got one.
I live in a fairly flat, rural area and from my palapa deck, I watched them go around the neighborhood; stopping only at residences with gringo
plates, of course.
I expect sales are down this year. Two policemen were discovered running an operation where they were breaking into homes in San Carlos. They did go
to jail. People are still trying to recover all their stolen goods found in the cops houses, six months later.................but that's another
story. |
I'd buy one (or more) of those stickers in a heartbeat. When I'm in Mexico around the holidays I just carry lots of small peso change and bills and
hand them out freely with a smile. Just part of the whole Mexico travel deal IMHO. Some friends tell me I am too much of a soft touch but so be it,
while I don't have a lot materially I have more than most of the locals and am grateful for how well I have always been treated in Mexico. And while
I am not religious I do think the holidays are a time for a bit of unconditional sharing.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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^^^well said, Kurt^^^
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Hook
Elite Nomad
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That's really cool, Kurt. Merry Christmas to you.
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Hook
That's really cool, Kurt. Merry Christmas to you. |
Ditto
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Sweetwater
Senior Nomad
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Mood: chilly today hot tomale
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Better with pics?
Everbody\'s preachin\' at me that we all wanna git to heaven, trouble is, nobody wants to die to git there.-BB King
Reality is what does not go away when you stop believing in it. -Philip K Dick
Nothing is worse than active ignorance. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe(1749-1832, German writer, artist and politician)
When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I\'ve never tried before. - Mae West
Experience is what keeps a man who makes the same mistake twice from admitting it the third time around.
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Sweetwater
Senior Nomad
Posts: 915
Registered: 11-26-2010
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Mood: chilly today hot tomale
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Now I'm in the spirit.............
Everbody\'s preachin\' at me that we all wanna git to heaven, trouble is, nobody wants to die to git there.-BB King
Reality is what does not go away when you stop believing in it. -Philip K Dick
Nothing is worse than active ignorance. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe(1749-1832, German writer, artist and politician)
When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I\'ve never tried before. - Mae West
Experience is what keeps a man who makes the same mistake twice from admitting it the third time around.
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