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bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2760
Registered: 10-15-2005
Location: Punta Banda, BCN
Member Is Offline
Mood: words cannot describe...
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We went through San Ignacio northbound yesterday and they were still doing the interview/photo/fingerprint on southbound....with a complete desk set
up for NORTH bound but no one at it...I mean 4 stations with all the computer cables run to each station.
On another note, we just drove from Loreto back to Ensenada (Punta Banda, really)...at each military checkpoint, both north and southbound traffic --
everyone out of the car for a vehicle inspection...pretty cursory in our case but still a PIA in the heat. The only exception was southbound at the
checkpoint between Maneadero and Santo Tomas...we got to the point of just leaving our 3 dogs in the car. "Do they bite?". No. The military guys
were cool with it, petting them and asking their names.
Some checkpoints were far more efficient than others, setting up several stations to move vehicles through. It adds time to the trip, but with the
peso:USD rate you can get some GREAT buys, so Visit Baja soon!
We'll get around to a full trip report...let's just say we're glad to be back in Punta Banda with our US bought toilet paper!
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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EnseNADAslim
Nomad
Posts: 138
Registered: 1-15-2009
Location: Baja CA
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Heya Bajabound,
Did you guys get stuck at that accident on the mountain road south of Santo Thomas?
We made the drive up from GN, so we missed all that San Ign. stuff, I felt as if all the other check points ran as normal, but to hear of the
southbound Check Points taking so long is kind of weird.
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Hook
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9009
Registered: 3-13-2004
Location: Sonora
Member Is Offline
Mood: Inquisitive
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabound2005
We went through San Ignacio northbound yesterday and they were still doing the interview/photo/fingerprint on southbound....with a complete desk set
up for NORTH bound but no one at it...I mean 4 stations with all the computer cables run to each station.
On another note, we just drove from Loreto back to Ensenada (Punta Banda, really)...at each military checkpoint, both north and southbound traffic --
everyone out of the car for a vehicle inspection...pretty cursory in our case but still a PIA in the heat. The only exception was southbound at the
checkpoint between Maneadero and Santo Tomas...we got to the point of just leaving our 3 dogs in the car. "Do they bite?". No. The military guys
were cool with it, petting them and asking their names.
Some checkpoints were far more efficient than others, setting up several stations to move vehicles through. It adds time to the trip, but with the
peso:USD rate you can get some GREAT buys, so Visit Baja soon!
We'll get around to a full trip report...let's just say we're glad to be back in Punta Banda with our US bought toilet paper! |
Bajabound, in Mexico, happiness is spelled C-O-T-T-O-N-E-L-L-E. We're finding it over here. 
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajabound2005
We went through San Ignacio northbound yesterday and they were still doing the interview/photo/fingerprint on southbound....with a complete desk set
up for NORTH bound but no one at it...I mean 4 stations with all the computer cables run to each station.
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We just crossed through that check point 3/2/09-- Monday headed south. They were all set up -- table, computer, etc., but it appeared that they are
doing more profiling and not inspectiing everyone.
There were two cars ahead of us and they were being inspected throughly. A man in a white shirt looked quickly at our license plate and the nice
army young man asked us the usual---where were we coming from and where were we going.
We told him we lived in Bahia Asuncion and were going to San Iganacio for a day or two. He asked to peek into the back of the truck---very quick
look, never asked for any documents and just smiled and waved us on.
The other two cars were stilled being inspected. On the way north, they did not even stop us to ask any questions.
So, it seems like that maybe they are being more selective and I guess we don't look like a threat---even after our little Maggie Mae growled at the
nice man. 
Diane
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Pescador
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3587
Registered: 10-17-2002
Location: Baja California Sur
Member Is Offline
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The southbound inspection is manned and operated by the Federal Police and the northbound is operated by the army. Two entirely different operations
that just happened to use a common area.
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bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2760
Registered: 10-15-2005
Location: Punta Banda, BCN
Member Is Offline
Mood: words cannot describe...
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Actually, southbound was Ministerial Police...are they Federal?
And for Ensenada Slim - No, we didnt get stuck by any car accidents, just held up at every checkpoint from Loreto to Ensenada -- out of the car, they
do their cursory look through; we even stopped taking the (3) dogs out of the car when we had to get out.
[Edited on 3-13-2009 by bajabound2005]
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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BCSTech
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-16-2006
Location: Todos Santos, BCS / Placerville, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Carpe Manana
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Are there any updates on this since March 2nd? We're heading through there on Tuesday March 17.
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Marla Daily
Nomad
Posts: 418
Registered: 9-2-2003
Location: Loreto, BCS
Member Is Offline
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We drove north from Loreto on March 11 + March 12. My husband had to get out at each checkpoint and open the back of the camper. I stayed put in the
truck cab with the dogs and was never asked to get out. We did get pulled into secondary (Ag inspection) at the Tecate crossing and were asked about
dog food. No problem. And there was not a single car at the Tecate crossing ahead of us at 6:00 PM Thursday evening!
We did meet one couple from Oregon in Cataviņa who told us they were not allowed to cross in to Mexico without registration for their quad they had on
board. The guy drove to the San Diego airport, flew back to Oregon to get the quad registration, flew back to San Diego and crossed into Tijuana the
following day. Quite an expensive mistake for him!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Pescador
The southbound inspection is manned and operated by the Federal Police and the northbound is operated by the army. Two entirely different operations
that just happened to use a common area. |
However, when we went through going south on March 4, the army was assisting the police. It was the army that questioned us briefly, peeked in the
back and waived us on---past the two cars being inspected.
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BCSTech
Senior Nomad
Posts: 584
Registered: 4-16-2006
Location: Todos Santos, BCS / Placerville, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Carpe Manana
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Just to confirm, are they checking for Mexican auto insurance?
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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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Good to see consistency.
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Baja&Back
Senior Nomad
Posts: 549
Registered: 9-10-2004
Location: Vancouver, Canada / todo de Baja
Member Is Offline
Mood: Rarin' to go South!
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Monday the 16th: closed up tighter than a drum. Tent was duct taped shut. Course, it's Benito Juarez Day today.
Army waved us thru.
Tomatal checkpoint, north of Guerrero Negro, was being run by a bozo who slowly inspected all 12 rigs in one long line, even tho there were 3 lines
available.
Most efficient & professional checkpoint so far has been north of La Paz. Kudos to them.
Will report on the last 2 checkpoints northbound tomorrow, if anybody wants.
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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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Moral to the story, don't travel on holidays?
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bajabound2005
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2760
Registered: 10-15-2005
Location: Punta Banda, BCN
Member Is Offline
Mood: words cannot describe...
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BCSTech
Just to confirm, are they checking for Mexican auto insurance? |
No.
Friends don't let friends drink white zinfandel.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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UPDATE
3/17/09
Went through the San Ignacio stop going south yesterday. Five minutes. Two cars in front of us. Talked with the nice army man and then a vey nice
lady---uniform, blue pants, white shirt, no weapons---checked our VIN number through the dirty windshield, looked at our registration, radioed the
number to the man at the computer, smiled and waved us on.
Never got out. But they were inspecting the car in front of us---so guess we just look so very innocent. , or just too old to cause trouble.
Diane
[Edited on 3-17-2009 by jdtrotter]
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