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ehall
Super Nomad
Posts: 1906
Registered: 3-29-2014
Location: Buckeye, Az
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's 5 o'clock somewhere
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Military checkpoints
What kind of info is asked for at these checkpoints?
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Sandlefoot
Nomad
Posts: 220
Registered: 10-31-2011
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
Mood: Home
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Where are you going? Where are you coming from? Do you live in mexico full time or are ou on vacation? They mostly just look. Sometimes they look
hard and other times they don't look at all!!! They are not there to intimidate, they have a job and they do it largely with respect!
Happy Trails
" Don't find fault, find a remedy; anyone can complain." Henry Ford
If you are not living on the edge...you are taking up to much space!
Just because it may not be a good idea does not mean it will not be fun!!!
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
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I've personally have never had a problem, but in the past there have
been reports of petty theft, $, small items, I would not
want to be driving by myself with one soldier looking
in the back of the truck and one looking in the cab,
not saying theft is the rule/normal but is HAS happened. It is helpful to know a bit of Spanish. On a very rare occasion
they look at passports, they used to ask about drugs/guns,
haven't had that lately, they are of no concern
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Alm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2745
Registered: 5-10-2011
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ehall
What kind of info is asked for at these checkpoints? |
What info you are afraid that they may ask?
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5912
Registered: 7-18-2011
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Sometimes they ask what model year your vehicle is. They've also inquired with my Mexican wife as to why she married a gringo.
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apple
Nomad
Posts: 284
Registered: 11-4-2013
Location: SD
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"¿De dónde vienes?" = Where are you coming from?
"¿A dónde vas?" = Where are you going?
In that order and that will be about it.
They may ask you to exit the vehicle, especially while headed north, so they can poke around. I was once asked for ID so they could write my name down
in their little book, also northbound.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65134
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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ehall, they are there to prevent the transport of illegal drugs and guns/ ammo. Nothing more. So, don't have any illegal drugs (including pot), guns
or bullets in your vehicle. Keep original prescription bottles for any meds you take.
The most typical questions if they even ask any (often you will be waved through if you look like a tourist, specially southbound) are where are you
coming from (in Spanish usually)... and sometimes where are you going.
Drive up to the checkpoint with your windows rolled down and take your sunglasses off (same story for when you come to the U.S. border officer).
If they want to inspect your car, keep your wallet on you (some say to take any loose things like a phone, camera or GPS as well). Then watch them
make the inspection... they might open glove box, compartments, ice chests, etc. You can watch them to make sure nothing gets taken. I personally have
never had an issue at any checkpoint. They are always nice and just doing their job.
Sometime they write down your vehicle description and may ask for an ID, to spell your name correctly. A passport is the easiest for them to read, but
they are not immigration and neither a passport or FMM is what they are looking for.
In addition to military checkpoints, sometimes there will be federal highway patrol run checkpoints or narco drug enforcement checks. There may even
be an INM checkpoint and that is where you need to show the FMM. It has been at Guerrero Negro, just past the Eagle Monument, but for a while one was
between Maneadero and Santo Tomas (according to Nomad posts).
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
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can I have a cigarette?
if your going to the tienda, can you bring us back coca cola?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65134
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by apple
"¿De dónde vienes?" = Where are you coming from?
"¿A dónde vas?" = Where are you going?
In that order and that will be about it.
They may ask you to exit the vehicle, especially while headed north, so they can poke around. I was once asked for ID so they could write my name down
in their little book, also northbound. |
THIS! Thanks apple... 
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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The only place they have ever asked my name & car information and written it in their book has been at the military stop just north of Guerrero
Negro.
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by apple
"¿De dónde vienes?" = Where are you coming from?
"¿A dónde vas?" = Where are you going?
In that order and that will be about it.
They may ask you to exit the vehicle, especially while headed north, so they can poke around. I was once asked for ID so they could write my name down
in their little book, also northbound. |
THIS! Thanks apple... |
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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BajaUtah
Nomad
Posts: 190
Registered: 10-4-2013
Location: Salt Lake City/La Ribera
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As others have said Southbound checks are a different animal from Northbound stops.
On our drive south to La Ribera last May it was "Donede vas?, La Ribera, Adios" at every stop. Never got out of the truck.
Northbound at Loreto, San Ignacio and Jesus Maria we had to get out of the truck, asked to put down passport numbers and sign a form and 4 or 5 guys
pretty throughly crawled in and out of my old crew cab. They flipped forward the back seat and went through my bed mounted tool box. All the spares I
carry were looked at and involved a lot of pointing and grunting. The spare AC compressor seemed to be of particular interest. They really seemed to
be nervous around our 100lb Golden Retreiver who just wanted to play with everyone. My wife kept him on a pretty short leash and out of the way.
The time for the Northbound inspections was less than 10 minutes each but add that up for a line of 10 cars plus big rigs in line and I think it took
maybe an hour at each stop. No biggy, just part of the experiance
Andy
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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A Donde Va?
Gringolandia
After they stop laughing they wave me on...
[Edited on 4-3-2014 by DavidE]
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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Martyman
Super Nomad
Posts: 1904
Registered: 9-10-2004
Member Is Offline
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Last time I was going north I was stopped and search at the military stop by the Ensenada toll booth. The young soldiers tried to confiscate my
fillet knife. They said it was too big/long. Luckily a local was walking by with a big machete on his belt and I pointed that out. Es differente!
Then they tried to buy it for $10 (it is an $80 item). I held out until their supervisor started coming back from lunch. I was quickly dismissed.
Very atypical from all my previous stops by the military.
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ehall
Super Nomad
Posts: 1906
Registered: 3-29-2014
Location: Buckeye, Az
Member Is Offline
Mood: It's 5 o'clock somewhere
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Alm
| Quote: | Originally posted by ehall
What kind of info is asked for at these checkpoints? |
What info you are afraid that they may ask? |
just curious what paperwork I needed to keep handy
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Loretana
Senior Nomad
Posts: 825
Registered: 5-19-2006
Location: Oregon/Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: alegre
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Our friends had an Iphone stolen at the San Ignacio checkpoint recently.
Watch your stuff! They left it in the truck's open console, and noticed it gone 50 miles later. They were bummed they lost 300 photos taken during
their trip.
"If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration."
-Nikola Tesla
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65134
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ehall
| Quote: | Originally posted by Alm
| Quote: | Originally posted by ehall
What kind of info is asked for at these checkpoints? |
What info you are afraid that they may ask? |
just curious what paperwork I needed to keep handy |
None, but obviously your drivers license is in your wallet, and that should be in your pocket when you get out of your car. I recommend the passport
if they ask to see ID... easy for them to get your name spelled and they don't see your wallet.
They are checking for drugs, ammo, and guns... NOT PAPERS.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65134
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Udo
The only place they have ever asked my name & car information and written it in their book has been at the military stop just north of Guerrero
Negro.
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by apple
"¿De dónde vienes?" = Where are you coming from?
"¿A dónde vas?" = Where are you going?
In that order and that will be about it.
They may ask you to exit the vehicle, especially while headed north, so they can poke around. I was once asked for ID so they could write my name down
in their little book, also northbound. |
THIS! Thanks apple... |
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For me it has been the one at Gonzaga Bay... the lonely ones where they aren't busy.
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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But NO ONE stops do they? A flag down of a Green Angels truck. Ten minutes for a report. Nope. They flee northbound like a chicken with a coyote after
them.
Every item asked for and given, every item stolen and unreported throws gasoline on the problem. You are creating a Pavlov's nightmare scenario with
the ejercito and marinas thinking every time they see an extraneous license plate it's Dia de Los Reyes.
If I had seen a camera stolen FIFTY LOUSY MILES from where it was stolen I would have turned around. You may not get the camera back but an official
denuncia WILL ACT to tamp down thieves. Nah what am I thinking. Keep giving till it hurts.....
[Edited on 4-3-2014 by DavidE]
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65134
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
But NO ONE stops do they? A flag down of a Green Angels truck. Ten minutes for a report. Nope. They flee northbound like a chicken with a coyote after
them.
Every item asked for and given, every item stolen and unreported throws gasoline on the problem. You are creating a Pavlov's nightmare scenario with
the ejercito and marinas thinking every time they see an extraneous license plate it's Dia de Los Reyes.
If I had seen a camera stolen FIFTY LOUSY MILES from where it was stolen I would have turned around. You may not get the camera back but an official
denuncia WILL ACT to tamp down thieves. Nah what am I thinking. Keep giving till it hurts.....
[Edited on 4-3-2014 by DavidE] |
Okay, after reading this a few times (and a shot of tequila), I think Dah-veed is responding to the unasked question: "IF YOU DISCOVER SOMETHING
MISSING AFTER A CHECKPOINT INSPECTION..." Yes?
[Edited on 4-3-2014 by David K]
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dasubergeek
Senior Nomad
Posts: 694
Registered: 8-17-2013
Member Is Offline
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If you're a car full of obvious tourists with no Mexican-looking people inside, many times they will just look at you and wave you through.
One new kind of stop is when the federal police hold DUI checkpoints. Those were illegal (but not unheard of) in Baja for a while, but are now
commonplace.
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