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David K
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Posts: 64865
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Quote: Originally posted by matthew_mangus  | | Quote: Originally posted by geoffff | As a counterpoint, every time I cross the border going down into Mexico, my anxiety is through the roof. It takes me a full 24 hours to chill the f***
out and get back into my Mexico groove.
With all that adrenaline in my blood, it's easy to forget little things like my seatbelt when navigating the border crossing. And at least for
Mexicali, they certainly don't make it easy to get into the immigration parking area.
Geoff
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Isn't the INM office parking area just on the L before crossing through? I haven't crossed at Mexicali yet and was researching where to pick up the
FMM forms and it seemed straightforward enough. Is that not the case? I hear you on the anxiety though. |
Mexicali West (aka #1) downtown, the parking area is on the LEFT, BEFORE the electric gates. However, my last trip through there (2019) we all pulled
over after the gates, along the right and walked across the entrance lanes to the building for INM.
[Edited on 2-1-2021 by David K]
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defrag4
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what a bunch of jokers
I randomly saw these guys earlier today in Loreto, pegged them as marks the second i saw them and then found this thread tonight... lol
I dont feel bad seeing instagram vanlife yuppies getting fleeced by every cop down here, especially with that dramatic ass youtube thumbnail... you
guys got taken for some cash for being dumb asses, not kidnapped by the cartel
broooo we cant bring drugs into mexico brooo? what the hell bro!  
at least hide your chit like a normal human being...
[Edited on 2-2-2021 by defrag4]
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Mulege Canuck
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Registered: 11-27-2016
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| Quote: Originally posted by geoffff | As a counterpoint, every time I cross the border going down into Mexico, my anxiety is through the roof. It takes me a full 24 hours to chill the f***
out and get back into my Mexico groove.
With all that adrenaline in my blood, it's easy to forget little things like my seatbelt when navigating the border crossing. And at least for
Mexicali, they certainly don't make it easy to get into the immigration parking area. (Yeah, I know they were in Tijuana.)
And, about arguing the CBD -- what if you somehow misunderstood the law? The looming possibility of a drug bust (Mexican jail etc.) is pretty scary.
I would not have attempted bringing CBD over the border, or would at least have put it out of sight.
Geoff
[Edited on 2-1-2021 by geoffff] |
I was sheeting my pants first time I drove over the border. I still get nervous as Geoff noted until I down my first fish taco.
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Skipjack Joe
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Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Classic case of Mexican extortion. And it's not over for them. Their van will be targeted by the police all up and down highway 1. The belief here is
that all Americans are rich. They're just spreading the wealth. It's almost like being taxed, in their minds. Disgraceful!!!
And yes, the seat belt is total bullchit. I know of no Mexican that ever wears a seatbelt nor of any record of any getting cited for it. What record?
These 'transactions' are never documented.
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Howard
Super Nomad
Posts: 2353
Registered: 11-13-2007
Location: Loreto/Manhattan Beach/Kona
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Mood: I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done.
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Now that's funny!
| Quote: Originally posted by defrag4 |
broooo we cant bring drugs into mexico brooo? what the hell bro!
at least hide your chit like a normal human being...
[Edited on 2-2-2021 by defrag4] |
We don't stop playing because we grow old;
we grow old because we stop playing
George Bernard Shaw
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Borregoman
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Location: Mission Viejo, CA
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Not a cell of common sense between the two of them.
Look in the mirror folks, you look like druggies and you are bringing down CBD, what did you expect.
No sympathy what so ever.
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RocketJSquirrel
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Sometimes I doubt the veracity of these stories and even wonder if they might have been staged. There are numerous issues with this video, some
mentioned above. These kinds of stories were popular with online forums and YouTube videos when I lived in Thailand and I heard constant and sometimes
spectacular "shakedown" stories. But after living there for 12 years (Not VISITING, but living). I never once had a cop ask for or indicate a bribe
was needed/wanted. Where I lived, as well as going in and out of the country regularly, as well as annually renewing my visa and doing the required
90-day check-ins. No problems.
I've lived in BC now for 7.5 years and while I am sure there are some issues, again... I've never had an inappropriate interaction with an official.
Of, couse, I am sure they DO happen, but I suspect the frequency of which we are informed, is way out of proportion with reality.
What better way to help your blog take off than a sensational shake down story! And people will paste links to your video!! Who wants to read a story
about going to Mexico (or anywhere) and everything was fine. Drama sells, or gets you clicks, or keeps eyeballs on the page longer.
We have to get real about media manipulation of our understanding of the real world out there. And how the media "influencers" do not have our best
interests at heart, as they so lovingly tell us.
Are there really big and nasty problems out there? Of course! Have I been super lucky? You bet! Have we seen/read far more BS than is really going
on? More than likely.
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verichip
Banned
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Registered: 3-15-2019
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[b]visible display of wealth[/b]
do not walk into a casa de cambio and change $900 each
The fat lady behind the counter most likely called her primo at the border and reported the visible display of wealth
no no no
Read at 2:39
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kETAmbSB_PM
cbd? what is that?
Never seen a dog or pero detector headed south.
[Edited on 2-4-2021 by verichip]
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AKgringo
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Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Quote "Never seen a dog or pero detector headed south."
I have! Headed south at the San Ignacio check point, a handler with a dog was headed over to my vehicle, but was waved off by the officer in charge
when my ninety pound bully breed went on alert.
The only other dog experience was north bound when they first set up an inspection station near Gonzaga bay a few years back. I wish I had a picture
of the soldier with a rifle on his shoulder and an alert dog on a leash, but it was my previous dog that a soldier volunteered to hold the leash while
i was opening containers for the inspection!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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motoged
Elite Nomad
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Location: Kamloops, BC
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Dog at Tecate going south two years ago....
As others have said, sometimes crossing borders is nerve-wracking.
I had my moto in box of truck and regular clothes, gear, kitchen camping stuff.....the guy was keen on trying to find serial # of bike, etc.....I saw
the dog and puckered up a bit....and focussed on being polite and getting in for FFM....
It all worked out with no problem.....seemed the G shepherd type mutt has muy tranquillo about his job.... or had a sinus blockage that day...
Frozen blocks of ice work better than cubes for managing your cooler 
Don't believe everything you think....
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geoffff
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They dog-searched the interior of my van heading south at Mexicali East a year ago.
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motoged
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Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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 X2
Don't believe everything you think....
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bajagregg
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I was towing a boat at the Tijuana crossing several years ago and got a red light. While chatting with the agent and showing him all of the car,
boat, and trailer documentation, another agent walks by with a dog that was sniffing around. I was intrigued and asked the guy why they were looking
for drugs headed south. He told me the dog was trained to alert on money, not drugs. Makes sense.
Traveling Baja for 50 years.
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bkbend
Senior Nomad
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Registered: 11-27-2003
Location: central OR or central baja
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I've seen a dog with handler at Mexicali East in the past. They weren't checking incoming traffic, just wandering the parking lot when I went from
INM to the bank.
I also had a dog walk around my truck at a military checkpoint. My son was with me and after we left the checkpoint I commented that I'd never seen a
dog before. He said they must not be checking for herbal material because he had some in his pocket. After screaming at him we decided they were
probably just trying to get someone to react to the threat of detection... somewhat like the folks in the video.
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pacificobob
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I've been told by Mexican border personnel that cash and guns are their primary southbound focus. of course if you look like a "trustafarian" with
tats, a bun and an expensive rig it's open season.
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geoffff
Senior Nomad
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| Quote: Originally posted by bajagregg | | I was intrigued and asked the guy why they were looking for drugs headed south. He told me the dog was trained to alert on money, not drugs. Makes
sense. |
That's very interesting, and would explain ... some things.
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motoged
Elite Nomad
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Location: Kamloops, BC
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Mood: Gettin' Better
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It's a roll of the dice.... some risks are best approached with caution.
Several years ago, when crossing north, was stopped at Military checkpoint south of Mexicali. A soldier had a metal coat hanger that was straightened
out. He was poking it into the stake holes in truck bed and , when he pulled it out of each hole, he smelled it like he was sampling a fine wine or
brandy....and each sniff was accompanied by a sly smile with fake appreciation for a good terpine moment....while waiting for my reaction.
And the US customs in Mexicali had me in secondary for 45 minutes with no one or dog coming up to my truck with me still inside for that duration....
I eventually got out of truck and asked agents what was up.
With a look of total disinterest, they told me I could leave.
Snake eyes.
[Edited on 2-5-2021 by motoged]
[Edited on 2-5-2021 by motoged]
Don't believe everything you think....
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Mulege Canuck
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Registered: 11-27-2016
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| Quote: Originally posted by motoged | It's a roll of the dice.... some risks are best approached with caution.
Several years ago, when crossing north, was stopped at Military checkpoint south of Mexicali. A soldier had a metal coat hanger that was straightened
out. He was poking it into the stake holes in truck bed and , when he pulled it out of each hole, he smelled it like he was sampling a fine wine or
brandy....and each sniff was accompanied by a sly smile with fake appreciation for a good terpine moment....while waiting for my reaction.
And the US customs in Mexicali had me in secondary for 45 minutes with no one or dog coming up to my truck with me still inside for that duration....
I eventually got out of truck and asked agents what was up.
With a look of total disinterest, they told me I could leave.
Snake eyes.
[Edited on 2-5-2021 by motoged]
[Edited on 2-5-2021 by motoged] |
That exactly what happened to us. We sat in the truck for about an hour. No one came up to us to look in the truck. Like you did I walked up and
asked the nearest border agent. He said sure you can go.
I was a little peeed until I talked with the border guard 60 m ahead at the final booth. He was so funny. So folks do you have any weapons of mass
destruction, machine guns or drugs ? We laughed and he welcomed us to the USA.
Great guy.
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advrider
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I think the squirrel nailed it, they need people to see their video to make money.... The money may have been payment for some bad acting, look at how
they posed for the video, really, bags on your head!
Same as most here, I've never had a problem or been shaken down. A couple of years ago there we eight of us on motos riding in pairs with a gap
between each group. We were running over the speed limit going down South out of Ensenada when a police car pulled up to us with light and sirens in
the lane next to us. We finally figured out that they wanted us ridding in single file, not staggered as we were? No ticket, didn't even tell us to
slow down...Maybe I've been lucky to, all of my interaction have been good.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6035
Registered: 9-20-2014
Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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Mood: Retireded
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I got stung on the west side of La Paz near Walmart in spring of 2013. The charge was failing to stop for a yellow light, although he did not pull
over the two cars that followed me through. He used the "Hostage driver's license" and threat of a trip to court, or pay the fine right there with no
record hook.
On the next trip in the fall of 2014, I got stopped again on the same stretch, but did not pay the fine. I told him "No mordida" and to give me a
ticket or let me go. He let me go!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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