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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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San Ysidro crossing?
In your honorable Nomad's opinions, would it usually be faster to cross northbound from Tijuana on an average Friday at 2PM OR Saturday at 2PM???
Only the 2 choices. 
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bajajudy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6886
Registered: 10-4-2004
Location: San Jose del Cabo,BCS
Member Is Offline
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Sorry I cant help you with your question. I havent made that trip in over 5 years.
You guys headed home?
Stop by the next time you are down this way....next season?
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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it's horrible both days
it's a little better to cross at 9-10PM
at 2pm the police may redirect you if the traffic fills up the circle
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja&Back
Only the 2 choices. |
Friday at 2PM would be better 
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64858
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Just do it and remember the border wait is part of the Baja trip! Plan on 1-2 hours and be pleased if it is just 45 minutes! No bathrooms while in
line, so plan ahead!
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Bajafun777
Super Nomad
Posts: 1103
Registered: 9-13-2006
Location: Rosarito & California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Enjoying Life with Wife In Mexico, Easy on The Easy
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This is why I got a Sentri card and its good for 5 years. I make the line coming out of Mexicali in about 12 to 15 minutes. My wife counted over 300
cars in the 3 lanes leading to the border and we just passed them by in the Sentri line . I actually go more often than I use to just because I can get back quicker and in the summer it definately makes a difference
down here with the heat reaching 120 at times during August . The Otay
seems to be the Sentri best choice for the San Diego area. It takes less time to get your Sentri if you do it online and then just one visit to
complete at Customs at U.S. Port. I met some people from San Diego that choice to get their Sentri cards here by Calexico (the new port does the
Sentri cards) as they said it was faster than in San Diego. I do not know but I only spent about 2 hours doing everything even getting the truck
checked and sticker put on. Otherwise with out one of these Sentri cards David K is right plan on 2 hour line and kick back with stop and go traffic.
bajafun777
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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no a 45min to 2 hour wait is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!
as citizens of the USA we should be ENTITILED to respect...
the government NEEDS to recognize some citizens need to cross daily and weekly
there is absolutely no need to wait in line for 1- hours ever at ANY government run department
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
no a 45min to 2 hour wait is NOT ACCEPTABLE!!!
as citizens of the USA we should be ENTITILED to respect...
the government NEEDS to recognize some citizens need to cross daily and weekly
there is absolutely no need to wait in line for 1- hours ever at ANY government run department |
Now there's a smart idea. 
Given that the line is in Mexican territory, how do you propose this be accomplished? I have thought many times that they should have "citizen-only"
lanes. But, do you think the Mexicans in line would respect them? And the Mexican police enforce them? Frankly, I doubt it.
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Roberto
I have thought many times that they should have "citizen-only" lanes. But, do you think the Mexicans in line would respect them? And the Mexican
police enforce them? Frankly, I doubt it. |
They would if there were a $500 fine. 
I propose pay lanes with graduated payments depending on how crowded or how quick you needed to cross. What's your time worth?
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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If I cold have my way
I would have pay lanes that would have some sort of rail system that when you got to the border (special lane or lanes) someone(read a mexican) would
hook up your vehicle with a chain and you could turn off your vehicle (saving gas and not polluting) and it would be pulled mechanicaly, go thru a car wash and depending on the wait time you could even get a wax job . Now to
make it even more relaxed this lane would have an adjacent mooving walkway, were
you could stretch your legs after a long trip or be free to make calls, check internet, have a drink(soft), read the paper or a magazine, trade in
pesos, sell your empty pacifico bottles or even get a shoe shine . The chain
would be disengaged shortly before you reach the border inspector and you would be set to cross back with a smile on your face
The way I see it if you go for a car wash you are looking at an hour at least, specialy on a Sunday.
How about 10 dollars a crossing? Of course Nomads would get a 50% discount,
frequent crosser discounts would be available as well.
Any investors?
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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Patent pending, all rights reserved
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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| Quote: |
No bathrooms while in line, so plan ahead
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at san ysidro there is a toilet near the u.s. end of the curio stands. $.50 or so but it is clean. just ask. where do you think all the vendors go?
at otay, before you get to the caliente place in the line, there are baseball fields in the industrial area on your right. either pull in and park or
if it's 2pm on a saturday get out and walk towards the center of the fields and ask. there are a lot of people around. and bring your own wipe-um....
[Edited on 4-15-2007 by woody in ob]
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fdt
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4059
Registered: 9-7-2003
Location: Tijuana, Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Yeah, what if it all goes right
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Mine would have toilets, forgot that.
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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DianaT
Select Nomad
Posts: 10020
Registered: 12-17-2004
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by fdt
I would have pay lanes that would have some sort of rail system that when you got to the border (special lane or lanes) someone(read a mexican) would
hook up your vehicle with a chain and you could turn off your vehicle (saving gas and not polluting) and it would be pulled mechanicaly, go thru a car wash and depending on the wait time you could even get a wax job. Now to
make it even more relaxed this lane would have an adjacent mooving walkway, were
you could stretch your legs after a long trip or be free to make calls, check internet, have a drink(soft), read the paper or a magazine, trade in
pesos, sell your empty pacifico bottles or even get a shoe shine. The chain
would be disengaged shortly before you reach the border inspector and you would be set to cross back with a smile on your face
The way I see it if you go for a car wash you are looking at an hour at least, specialy on a Sunday.
How about 10 dollars a crossing? Of course Nomads would get a 50% discount,
frequent crosser discounts would be available as well.
Any investors? |
But my lungs would miss all of the fumes.
Such a great idea---just add some mariachi bands for entertainment.
Diane
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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roberto
the line does not back up because of the mexicans...duh...
it the usa border guys making a statement...
no USA citizen should stand taking abuse from this or ANY governmental agency and...
those who just say "well that's the way it is" ..."enjoy it" are not making AMERICA better!!!
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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bob-
any ideas on how to improve the flow? maybe a terse, "could ya hurry it up, bub?" when the inspector asks what you have to declare! 
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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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Interesting
"no USA citizen should stand taking abuse from this or ANY governmental agency"
In all of my times crossing the border back into the United States, I have never been subjected to any type of abuse by the personnel manning the
checkpoints. I believe that if everyone followed the rules on entering, had their documents ready and answered the questions asked in a civil manner,
the process would speed up.
Additionally, if people of a criminal bent would not attempt to smuggle drugs, people, contraband or the like across the border, I'm sure that the
inspection process would be less time consuming.
I personally don't mind the inspection process. There are things that you can do to make the inspectors jobs easier, and I do them. I even
occassionally get a laugh from the inspectors when I cross.
My suggestion to speed things up.........have dedicated lanes for US citizens returning to the US, and dedicated lanes for foreign nationals wishing
to enter.
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Bob and Susan
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8813
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Mulege BCS on the BAY
Member Is Offline
Mood: Full Time Residents
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sorry i don't have this "one" answer
but waiting in line for 2 hours is abuse...and disrespectful
there are plenty of counter-terrorism devices in place to move the line along quickly
foriengers are not the ones making the lines long
it the employees working at the booths...period
if you think waiting in line at tj is making your country safer...
maybe we should have a 2 hour line for you guys
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by soulpatch
Easy. Close the Onofre and Temecula checkpoints and move the personel to the border. You could have all gates open 42/7. |
That simple? They should hire you, then you could solve all their problems, right compa?
I doubt it that would make much of a difference, except on off-hours. Most of the time, when I cross, ALL the lanes are open. The truth is, the volume
is just overwhelming the current infrastructure. Adding personell would only help if the infrastructure were expanded. Again, I think half the lanes
should be restricted to citizens, but I don't think that's enforceable given the anarchy south of that border.
I guess Bob thinks they should just speed people through. Why not just eliminate the border entirely - that would speed things up.
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Roberto
Banned
Posts: 2162
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bob and Susan
sorry i don't have this "one" answer
but waiting in line for 2 hours is abuse...and disrespectful
there are plenty of counter-terrorism devices in place to move the line along quickly
foriengers are not the ones making the lines long
it the employees working at the booths...period
if you think waiting in line at tj is making your country safer...
maybe we should have a 2 hour line for you guys |
Sounds like you have ALL the answers.
Just curious, once you get to the booth, how long does it typically take you to get across? Two minutes? And do you think that's unreasonable?
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