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dantmurphy
Newbie
Posts: 10
Registered: 5-7-2007
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To Declare or Not?
I have been traveling to Baja for the past 7 years, and have yet to "need" to declare anything. This trip I'm planning on bringing a small plaster
pump, along with the usual visitor items....boat, fishing gear, and camping gear.
My question is.... Do I go to the declare line, and if so, will I need to itemize everything including the boating gear?
Also, is the a "best" place to cross?
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DENNIS
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How small is the plaster pump and how used is it?
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dantmurphy
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It's small...will easily fit in the back of the pickup truck. It runs off an onboard gas engine.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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If it fits in a gear bag, my policy is to not declare it. Besides, have always brought tools back and forth. As far as the boat and it's gear, no need
to declare. Only show registration, if you show Pink (ownership title) they think your going to sell it in Mexico.
Now, a fridge, or lumber, or cement mixer, or couch, or windows, etc....
Yes, must declare.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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DENNIS
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Yeah, what BW said. If it's large enough to be seen by the guy in the high-chair at San Ysidro, and you can't say it's a kitchen appliance, you
could be turned back.
It sounds like it has size.
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dantmurphy
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Ok..so the boat is under 14', and I dont need registration here. the pump is small but not small enough for a gear bag...it's about 3' x 5' and 2'
tall mounted on a "cart"
It seems like I need to go thru the declare line?
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DENNIS
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Does that thing look close to new or is it covered with plaster?
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dantmurphy
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It can be covered in plaster/cement....It will be a "used" item
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
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Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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Go through the declare line if you can't conceal it. I usually start with the "forbidden item" buried amongst many items even if they aren't going to
be used for that trip.
Example of items smuggled in past: Water heater, 14 batteries, 36" tv, wall unit, table saw, it goes on and on, I'm a pro.
Price the pump at a fair used price on a ledgibly written peice of paper with a total at bottom. No need to declare the boat and gear. Make the pump
easy to locate in your load so they know what your talking about, oh and, keep some 20's in your right pocket, look for the nod or wink.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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DENNIS
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Yeah .... I don't know Dan. It sounds as though you have a machine which couldn't be used for anything but a commercial venture. I would say you
will have to import it through Otay Mesa. You can fool these guys some of the time but, I don't think you'll be able to pull it off. Good luck if
you try. All they'll do is turn you around so, who knows.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
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Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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I liked Otay when I was building my home in La Bocan de Santo Tomas, this was about 8 years ago but it was all civilians, no search ever happened,
strictly business. Easy to drop into Rosarito Beach from there.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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BajaWarrior has some good suggestions but, since the machine is thirty cubic feet, you'll have trouble.
I wouldn't go through the Declare lane. I would take the red light and deal with the inspectors on the outside. They know the drill and, have that
money ready.
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bajalou
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If you go in the "Declare" lane and can't work a deal, you can return to US. From the "Nothing to Declare" lane, that isn't allowed.
No Bad Days
\"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell the difference\"
\"The trouble with doing nothing is - how do I know when I\'m done?\"
Nomad Baja Interactive map
And in the San Felipe area - check out Valle Chico area |
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dantmurphy
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Registered: 5-7-2007
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Ok...so let's say I go thru the nothing to declare line as Dennis suggests....what if I get the red light then?
I know these guys arent going to know what this thing is, so how are they going to value it?
as a side note...I've been thru 8 times, and I've always gone thru the nothing to declare line. I've never even been slowed down by anyone...nothing
more than a friendly wave. I've always gone thru around 6am.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Thats the chance you take. Early in the morning, I don't think the spotter is in the chair. The chair is high and between the entrance lanes. He
looks down into the bed of your truck. When he isn't there, your chances are better.
If they're confused about value, their options are wide open but, you probably won't benefit by it.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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It's a gamble then. If your that worried then just declare it for personal use, only declare the tool, not the boat and gear. You wouldn't declare a
surfboard either.
Duty should be about 17%. Nod's and wink's are 10%.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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By the way ---- I'm refering to San Ysidro.
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dantmurphy
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The only reason I'd be worried, is because of lack of knowlege. That's why I posted....to get all of your advise, and personal experience.
I've been leaning toward just going through with a canopy on the truck. I just dont know if I got a red light what the problem may be. It seems like
someone must have gone through the "nothing to declare" line and got the red light, then had to deal with the consequenses of not declaring something.
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BajaWarrior
Super Nomad
Posts: 2307
Registered: 9-27-2006
Location: Mission Bay, San Diego. Playa Hermosa, San Felipe.
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Mood: Anxious to get south
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a gringo with a canopy is an automatic secondario
make the receipt, make it nice, smile, pay, done.
Haven't had a bad trip yet....
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DENNIS
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I don't know anybody who hasn't been through it but, it's usually for over-shopping the allowance which to this day I'm not sure of.
If you cover the bed of your truck with a canopy, you may as well mount a large sign on the side of your truck saying, "Please search me."
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