It's a tragic story. Heartbreaking.
Whenever I cross north I wish I didn't have to see those poor little kids being dragged around by their parents in traffic like that. It's almost as
though they are props to help generate simpathy and get money from the people trying to cross the border.
Sometimes some very small kids are out there alone or in little groups of kids.
I can understand the adults out there trying to make a living. But it's difficult even for someone as hard hearted as me to see the little ones out
there.
I don't know who "they" are but I request that "they" prevent those little kids from being out there in traffic.
So if anyone knows who "they" are please pass along my request.
"A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for." J. A. Shedd.
A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it. – Albert Einstein
A few years ago we were having some body work done on our car at the Taller near the top of the hill. We were returning from the parts store with our
mechanic and he directed us to go around the tianguis, not through, because, as he said "The mothers throw their children under the cars to make
money."
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow mindedness.”
—Mark Twain
\"La vida es dura, el corazon es puro, y cantamos hasta la madrugada.” (Life is hard, the heart is pure and we sing until dawn.)
—Kirsty MacColl, Mambo de la Luna
Face it. The US tightened border security, such that it is, has created traffic havoc in TJ. The TJ police have full time officers assigned to help
ease the approaching traffic on several streets. But once traffic has made it to the point where there is one destination, it's hands-off by the TJ
police. Kind of a passive-aggressive thing.
On Wednesday my wife and I in our motorhome arrived at the linea with delight at the lack of cars. The line was one of the shortest I've seen in
years. We actually ended up under the bridge with maybe 30? Vehicles in our lane. My first comment to my wife was "can you believe all the vendors
over the line on the US side. They were within feet of the metal poles. There were NO border patrol checking cars, no dogs in sight and no Mexican
police chasing the vendors back. The vendors were close because that’s were the potential customers were.
As always with our motohome we get sent for the AG check etc. It was while we were waiting we noticed the large number of cars being escorted thru
x-ray. Obviously an alert had been issued. Hence the lack of personnel pre-screening and making the vendors gets back over the US line. As we were
talking with an agent the call came across her radio and she bolted as did several agents one with a small stretcher into the waiting cars, one agent
said a dog had been hit. Sadly it was a child.
Originally posted by bajabound2005
OK, I don't get why she was taken to a US hospital since it happened on the Mexican side.
Many work on the US side
Quote:
Originally posted by BajaGringo
Why was she taken to a hospital in the US? My guess is that it happened in US territory. Lots of those kids "work" on the north side of that dotted
line that runs diagonally across a ways back before you reach the gates.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
"A 4-year-old Tijuana girl died at a Chula Vista hospital after being struck and dragged by a sport utility vehicle in a vendor area on the Mexican
side of the international border, authorities said yesterday.
'In a vendor area' sounds like there is an actual specific area where vendors are allowed. If so, then there should be signs indicating that and
warning drivers to take extra care. If all of the above is true, then the driver should be cited. If not then the mother should be cited.
It also states that the accident happened "on the Mexican side". So the decision to transport her to a hospital in the US was probably the fastest
way.
Just my take on this. I have to admit there are a lot of things that don't make sense in this story.
You are only a vendor if you are selling something. Holding your 4-year olds hand while tapping a starbuck cup on car windows for change with the
other hand is not vending.
I think the vendors stay safe because of their carts. They are big and tall enough to be seen and wide enough to hide behind. Only once have I seen
someone hit a vendor cart.
Many people just don't pay attention in line. Many are reading books or the newspaper and putting on their make-up while driving it. I got rear ended
by a lady with her book up on the steering wheel once. And too have seen people rear end the car in front by accident to keep someone from cutting
in. You have to be oblivious to pull right up behind a broken down car with his hood up though- look ahead and plan. There are lanes that are
faster, they are not all the same.
IMHO- When Mexicans are driving it is the only time they have privacy, power and total control in their life. Some handle that well, others take it
out on everyone else around them.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
Originally posted by Woooosh
You have to be oblivious to pull right up behind a broken down car with his hood up though- look ahead and plan.
About the only plan one could make at that point is to change lanes. Whatever the reason for the lane change, it will be met with cold-hearted
resistance. You, at once, will be the enemy.
People arn't going to change. The structure has to change. Lanes have to be made so changeing isn't an option without help from someone in authority
on the ground.
People arn't going to change. The structure has to change. Lanes have to be made so changeing isn't an option without help from someone in authority
on the ground.
As suggested in my earlier post. A no brainer, done with minimum funds and little work. Likely could be done on our territory without Mexican
help.
Originally posted by vandenberg
Likely could be done on our territory without Mexican help.
Actually, at San Ysidro, it is done with partitions defineing the lanes for about 100 feet before the gate. It doesn't do much for the chaos
occuring behind the barriers but, it's a peaceful 100 feet.
It has to be implemented way before that point. Seperate lanes from the top of the bridge.
Now that we've solved that problem......Who's going to pay for it?
Originally posted by SiReNiTa
lol...first of all i second baja bounds opinion i will not stand up for the mexican goverment or police because i know they are doing a horrible job
on keeping what could and would be with good people in charge of it an amazing country with lots and lots to offer to the world but unfortunantly our
political "leaders" are scum that only think of themselves...but...i cant help defending my people...lol...lets face it bad drivers are every where,
as are drugs, violence, death, etc...unfortunantly i guess mexico is a center of attention...because of our bad political system...(i hope thats why)
and this accident could have happend to any one...even me god forbid...apart from pointing figners at who was responsable for the accident i think it
was also a being in the wrong place at the wrong time...i mean...who can tell right...there are many things that do not sound right in this story but
who am i to say who's fault it was if i was not there...so i am going to end my posting on this topic by saying thank all of you that don't blame it
ALL on one person and that the people who thin is such dumb ways as to say that mexicans have our head up who knows where...you have another thing
coming buddy...my heart and prayers go out to the girls family as it does to the person driving the vehicle...good night everyone...
You are no doubt appreciative of Mexico and your patriotism shines. Isn't it a shame you can't stand up for the politicos like you do for the great
citizens. Perhaps one day.... Actually, how many people in the US trust politicians? They just use the letter of the law to milk the system. It's how
you say, "PC", "politically correct". Is there such a thang in Mexico. Like maybe "CP", Correto Politico"
It just gives me a warm fuzzy feeling thinking about it .
A child was killed because her mother brought her to a dangerous work site. Anyone who has been thru there can visualize what happened. It absolutely
no place for children and I worry about them and all the others every time I pass through.
BTW Serenita, please put a period in your post somewhere. The grammer police are watching and they can't stand 500 word sentences!
DON\'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Originally posted by Sharksbaja
BTW Serenita, please put a period in your post somewhere. The grammer police are watching and they can't stand 500 word sentences!
She uses those "Stuttering Periods." ....... I'm guilty a lot of that too...........................
The beggars and their handlers are out of control and this sad incident will not change anything. If you do not give them anything,that would help as
they might go away but I think thats not going to happen. The Mexican police could stop this in a TJ minute but there is no money to be made so here
we sit and ponder. Very sad indeed.
Originally posted by Woooosh
You have to be oblivious to pull right up behind a broken down car with his hood up though- look ahead and plan.
About the only plan one could make at that point is to change lanes. Whatever the reason for the lane change, it will be met with cold-hearted
resistance. You, at once, will be the enemy.
People arn't going to change. The structure has to change. Lanes have to be made so changeing isn't an option without help from someone in authority
on the ground.
I agree Dennis. It's a social thing with Tijuanero drivers. The concept of alternating turns to merge into one lane simply doesn't exist to many of
them. One more car they can get ahead of is one more pathetic victory. I too enjoy passing them again when their plan doesn't yield a benefit. And
why bring that much stress into your day?
American drivers accept lane alternation as the simple, fair, decent and culturally acceptable standard. Easy as that. You go, I go, you go, I go-
it never really occurs to us that we can do anything other than that- because that's how we watched our mothers and fathers drive when we we children-
so that's how we drive ouselves. Same as passing on hunting safety to your kids by example.
(woooosh-note: How many nomads have seen Mexican mothers jump out of their cars once they reach the poled lanes, get out, run around putting all
their kids in their car seats, jump back in- and drive up to the inspection booth. Didn't they care about their childs safety on the TJ side at all?)
An ICE agent once told me overall Mexicans crossing at the Texas POE's are different and much nicer than the Tijuaneros. Those guys should know. I
don't think Tijuaneros like the way the act, drive or have become- they just haven't found a way to change without admitting or showing any weakness.
Please dont take this as an anti-Mexican, it's just anti-Tijuanero driver. They are a breed below to be sure. Al ye doubters- Remember I said that
next time one whizzes past you in the breadown lane to get ahead of you and everyone else. Only in TJ (or on their way back down to TJ).
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
On the other hand, can you imagine your twelve year old son sitting in a car seat? In a couple more years, he could be fathering his own kids.
---------------------------------------------
"The law requires all children travelling in cars to use the correct child restraint until they are either 135 cm in height or the age of 12 (which
ever they reach first) . After this they must use an adult seat belt. There are very few exceptions, and the main ones are set out below."
Originally posted by Woooosh
American drivers accept lane alternation as the simple, fair, decent and culturally acceptable standard. Easy as that. You go, I go, you go, I go-
it never really occurs to us that we can do anything other than that- because that's how we watched our mothers and fathers drive when we we children-
so that's how we drive ouselves.
swooshie,
your anti-mexican rant is nonsense. have you ever crossed at TJ? gringo drivers are as bad as mexican drivers. most all people lose civility at
border crossing. gringos are not better people, they just think they are
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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