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bryanmckenzie
Senior Nomad
Posts: 561
Registered: 9-23-2009
Location: 400 Km from Mexico Beach, Florida
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot & humid --- not hot & dry.
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Constitucion Shake Downs? Still going on??
What's the latest?
Stay on Mex 1?
Take a parallel neighborhood street?
My last time was in 2010 and in each direction I got abused.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”
-Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910)
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Cardon Man
Super Nomad
Posts: 1319
Registered: 8-28-2003
Location: Thetis Bank
Member Is Offline
Mood: !Al Chingaso!
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No problems in the last few years. Motorcycle pig tried to extract cash from me about 3 years ago. But since then they have been well behaved.
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Mula
Super Nomad
Posts: 1656
Registered: 8-16-2011
Location: San Nicolas y Lopez Mateos
Member Is Offline
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No cop snags so far this year.
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
Member Is Offline
Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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I have not heard of any problems within the last year.
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3568
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
Member Is Offline
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Any guesses on the percentage of people scammed who report it?
Bet the number is low.
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bryanmckenzie
Senior Nomad
Posts: 561
Registered: 9-23-2009
Location: 400 Km from Mexico Beach, Florida
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot & humid --- not hot & dry.
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Thanks guys. My last visit in 2010, I was stopped going southbound in May (supposedly missed a stop sign) and paid a $10 bribe so that I could stay on
schedule. I hate I did that.
On the return in July, I was sopped northbound (supposedly stopped, then drove while there was a 'pedestrian' entering the crosswalk of the FAR side
of the street), and argued with the cop, and hence the above photo.
NOTE: The moto-cop didn't stop me until after 5 blocks! Hence it's hard to argue whether or not there was a pedestrian or not a full minute & 1/2
mile away. Even with some Spanish mixed in with my anger. I demanded to be taken to the magistrate (a shirt-sleeved man in a small office; nothing
more). I did pay a "traffic ticket" but at least felt better about myself --- looking back through my Little Red Journal (PDF), I see that I paid $P200 pesos --- less than the bribe I paid in Cabo San Lucas when caught going the wrong
way on a one-way street (stupido gringo!)
The story continues (for almost one hour) but is off-topic from my original question.
Just found THIS THREAD from 2011, but that's too dated for me.
[Edited on 2013-10-24 by bryanmckenzie]
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”
-Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910)
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bryanmckenzie
Senior Nomad
Posts: 561
Registered: 9-23-2009
Location: 400 Km from Mexico Beach, Florida
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot & humid --- not hot & dry.
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I just found this in WideAngleWanderer's trip report:
"If I do get pulled over, assuming I've done nothing wrong, I have a multi-step plan for avoiding the gringo shakedown.
Speak and understand no Spanish. Since many folks down here know some English, I'll use the only German I know to keep the officer confused. No, no,
apple strudel with ice cream. Two beers please. Airport. And no eggs! Once I run out of German I'll use the only Thai phrase I know: I'm an
American. I like big boobs. If desperate, I have one Cantonese phrase: my kung-fu is better than yours.
If that fails, I'll pull out my Gua Roja and ask for directions to random places in the area. "Do you know how to find the road to the place with the
hot springs and the good tacos?"
Next I'll start taking notes and perhaps pull out my camera and take pictures while smiling like an idiot. No cop wants to be photographed asking for
a bribe.
If the officer won't have it, I'll hand over my old spare driver's license. As long as he doesn't have my real license there's no leverage.
If he still insists on extracting a bribe, I'll call his bluff and offer to follow him to the police station to sort it all out."
That was also my plan, if caught, but only German, no Cantonese. And you see how well that worked out for me.
[Edited on 2013-10-24 by bryanmckenzie]
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”
-Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910)
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Lobsterman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1752
Registered: 10-7-2008
Member Is Offline
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Went back and forth through Constitucion 5 times in the past week during the day as we traveled between Lopez Mateos and San Carlos. Drove the speed
limit, stopped at all stop signs. We were trailering a boat. Had a cop behind us a couple of times but no problems.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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In about the most recent three years, similar to what Cardon Man posted, there has not been a visible presence of police along the main drag. In days
of yore, you could spot them every few blocks awaiting their dirty work. I'm guessing that just maybe all the effort that were made by Nomads and
others, put an end to that tyranny.
Although I continue to remain ultra-vigilant, and drive through town like a little old lady, it does appear that the problem no longer exists.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65100
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Twice in 2012, midday, not one cop seen.
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Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
Member Is Offline
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Constitution: Just stop at each intersection, whether theres a stopsign or stoplight-- just stop and look for any car, bicycle or pedestrian in the
roadway. Do this whether you stay in the middle thru-lane or get off onto the business lanes or cut over to a side street. Go slow, even when out of
town as theres a Federale HQ just north of Constitution.
At the Loreto-Insurgentes turnoff: Stop and buy a sack of oranges being sold out on the highway-- there are no better anywhere. Decent coffee and
junky snacks can be found at the big service station.
"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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windgrrl
Super Nomad
Posts: 1336
Registered: 9-2-2006
Member Is Offline
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Drove through 6 times in the past 3 years with no problems. Obeyed the signs, stop signage is improved. Police were travelling the road alongside us,
but not focused on us.
When the way comes to an end, then change. Having changed, you pass through.
~ I-Ching
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
Constitution: Just stop at each intersection, whether theres a stopsign or stoplight-- just stop and look for any car, bicycle or pedestrian in the
roadway. Do this whether you stay in the middle thru-lane or get off onto the business lanes or cut over to a side street. Go slow, even when out of
town as theres a Federale HQ just north of Constitution.
At the Loreto-Insurgentes turnoff: Stop and buy a sack of oranges being sold out on the highway-- there are no better anywhere. Decent coffee and
junky snacks can be found at the big service station. |
That reminds me. Apparently Insurgentes bans the sale of alcohol on Sunday. Although that service station mentioned by Mulegena carries a wide variety
of beer, wine and liquor, you cannot purchase it on Sundays. Heads up.
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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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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
Constitution: Just stop at each intersection, whether theres a stopsign or stoplight-- just stop and look for any car, bicycle or pedestrian in the
roadway. Do this whether you stay in the middle thru-lane or get off onto the business lanes or cut over to a side street. Go slow, even when out of
town as theres a Federale HQ just north of Constitution.
At the Loreto-Insurgentes turnoff: Stop and buy a sack of oranges being sold out on the highway-- there are no better anywhere. Decent coffee and
junky snacks can be found at the big service station. |
That reminds me. Apparently Insurgentes bans the sale of alcohol on Sunday. Although that service station mentioned by Mulegena carries a wide variety
of beer, wine and liquor, you cannot purchase it on Sundays. Heads up. |
Can't buy booze in Ensenada until 10AM on Sundays
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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I can remember when Maneadero was a dry town. On Friday nights I think it was, the city admin building at the "Y' would open a small window and sell
beer to the field hands. Other than that......nothing.. .nowhere.....never.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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bryanmckenzie
Senior Nomad
Posts: 561
Registered: 9-23-2009
Location: 400 Km from Mexico Beach, Florida
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot & humid --- not hot & dry.
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Thanks everyone. Just for fun, and to see the local sights, I'm thinking I'm going to go a few blocks either side of "main street" and tour the
neighborhoods. 
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.”
-Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30, 1835 – April 21, 1910)
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StuckSucks
Super Nomad
Posts: 2339
Registered: 10-17-2013
Member Is Offline
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I went thru there a year ago for the 1000, maybe 6-8 times in a week period, and we saw no policia. I'd heard about possible shake-downs, so I made a
deliberate point of stopping for stop signs, living a clean life.
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mulegemichael
Super Nomad
Posts: 2310
Registered: 12-24-2007
Location: sequim,wa. and mulege
Member Is Offline
Mood: up on step
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tecate now seems to be the mordita/mordida place...we've been stopped twice in the past couple of years and blew them off both times.....i remember
when i lived in la ribera alcohol was not to be sold on sundays but they did anyway..they just charged more for it...jorge, forgive my senior brain,
but what's the main grocery down by you folks?..anyway, that's the one.
dyslexia is never having to say you\'re yrros.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
Constitution: Just stop at each intersection, whether theres a stopsign or stoplight-- just stop and look for any car, bicycle or pedestrian in the
roadway. Do this whether you stay in the middle thru-lane or get off onto the business lanes or cut over to a side street. Go slow, even when out of
town as theres a Federale HQ just north of Constitution.
At the Loreto-Insurgentes turnoff: Stop and buy a sack of oranges being sold out on the highway-- there are no better anywhere. Decent coffee and
junky snacks can be found at the big service station. |
That reminds me. Apparently Insurgentes bans the sale of alcohol on Sunday. Although that service station mentioned by Mulegena carries a wide variety
of beer, wine and liquor, you cannot purchase it on Sundays. Heads up. |
Can't buy booze in Ensenada until 10AM on Sundays |
Waiting until 10am certainly beats not being able to buy it all day, wouldn't you say?
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mulegena
Constitution: Just stop at each intersection, whether theres a stopsign or stoplight-- just stop and look for any car, bicycle or pedestrian in the
roadway. Do this whether you stay in the middle thru-lane or get off onto the business lanes or cut over to a side street. Go slow, even when out of
town as theres a Federale HQ just north of Constitution.
At the Loreto-Insurgentes turnoff: Stop and buy a sack of oranges being sold out on the highway-- there are no better anywhere. Decent coffee and
junky snacks can be found at the big service station. |
That reminds me. Apparently Insurgentes bans the sale of alcohol on Sunday. Although that service station mentioned by Mulegena carries a wide variety
of beer, wine and liquor, you cannot purchase it on Sundays. Heads up. |
Can't buy booze in Ensenada until 10AM on Sundays |
does that only apply to markets? no alcohol in bars and
restaurants in the tourist zone either?
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