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CortezBlue
Super Nomad
Posts: 2213
Registered: 11-14-2006
Location: Fenix/San Phelipe
Member Is Offline
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San Felipe Army Check Point ID?
On our way home from San Felipe we stopped at the army check point. For the first time I was asked my name, how many people were on board and then
they took my lic plate number. My friend who lives in Mexico said they just started doing this. Has anyone else had this happen?
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bajatastic
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It's never happened to me. I went through a checkpoint just before the La Rumorosa grade last month, they just waved me through.
I haven't been down to San Felipe since last winter, so things might be different now.
I am assuming you were driving an RV if they asked, "How many on board?" I would suspect an RV would get more scrutiny than a car.
Maybe they were worried you were starting a bus route? 
I've had some funny checkpoint experiences on the mainland; but, I have always been on a bus. They never asked for my name; but, have checked my
ID/Passport/FMT/Bags/Body on multiple occasions.
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oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
Member Is Offline
Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CortezBlue
Has anyone else had this happen? |
Nope. Went through the San Felipe checkpoint on July 6. They took a quick look through the car and off we went.
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bajalou
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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That has happened to me a couple of times in the last 5-6 years. Seems like they do it for a few days and then drop it. Then a few months/years
later do it again for a few days.
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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meme
Senior Nomad
Posts: 756
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: San Felipe,BC
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We headed north on July 12 to ck point. They asked where we were going, asked? only 2 people cked the car, did not ask me(passenger side) to get out,
so I did not. Took down license number & we were on our way.
Not sure if this will be a regular thing or as Lou says maybe just a few days off & on?
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Bajajorge
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2604
Registered: 10-13-2005
Location: Topaz Lake, NV/San Felipe
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Again, only looking for the usual suspects.
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajajorge
Again, only looking for the usual suspects. |
Bring
Them In Danno
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baja829
Nomad
Posts: 167
Registered: 2-24-2006
Location: South Campos, San Felipe, BN
Member Is Offline
Mood: BAJA HAPPY
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We do a roundtrip about every 10 days, from SF to Mexicali. It's always different, and I (the passenger) never make an attempt to get out. I just
open the glove box and console box - say Buenos Dias and they wave us on our way.
If they take our plate numbers, we haven't noticed, but will check on Friday and ask them -- these young men are always extremely courteous and easy
to deal with.
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osoflojo
Nomad
Posts: 378
Registered: 10-29-2004
Location: c.s.l./b.c.s.
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Like Bajalou, over the last few years I have had it done several times. Never at San Felipe though only on Hwy 1.
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Price
Nomad
Posts: 168
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: Las Vegas/San Felipe
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We go thru about once a month - never saw anybody writing anything - anybody know about the new security tower - or why these kids are wearing pith
helmuts and flak jackets ?????????????
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Price
We go thru about once a month - never saw anybody writing anything - anybody know about the new security tower - or why these kids are wearing pith
helmuts and flak jackets ????????????? |
Did you see the jack boots?
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neilmac
Nomad
Posts: 127
Registered: 1-3-2005
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mango
They never asked for my name; but, have checked my ID/Passport/FMT/Bags/Body on multiple occasions. |
They frisk you if you're on a bus? Never saw that. Baja or Mainland?
Neil
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MrBillM
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21656
Registered: 8-20-2003
Location: Out and About
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Mood: It's a Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Day
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Checking Us Out
Northbound 03 July, we arrived at the checkpoint and were 4th in line. The "Gatekeeper" trooper who directs you into whichever lane had a clipboard
and was recording the license plate ID and asking the driver for ID. Although he did it for the three in front of us, he waved us through. As Lou
said, I've seen this a few times over a long number of years. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to their effort.
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DanO
Super Nomad
Posts: 1923
Registered: 8-26-2003
Location: Not far from the Pacific
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by CaboRon
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajajorge
Again, only looking for the usual suspects. |
Bring
Them In Danno |
Uh, that would be "book him." Steve McGarrett, R.I.P.
\"Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.\" -- Frank Zappa
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viabaja
Nomad
Posts: 277
Registered: 10-6-2003
Location: Georgia
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No rhyme or reason. Been asked where I'm going and where I'm coming from. Sometimes a quick glance and go. Other times they are tapping the door
panels, climbing in the bed,etc. Most usually not though. Again, these kids are just doing their jobs and are pretty cool about it. I'm always asked
if I speak Spanish and it seems to expidite the process. One early morning at 6AM, a group asked for some English lessons! I've even given a couple of
soldiers a ride into town for an evening off. Again, if you are not used to being stopped by armed military, it's kinda of unsettling.
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Edguero
Nomad
Posts: 112
Registered: 6-13-2006
Location: O\'side/Punta Final
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I have been checked several times driving in and out of Gonzaga Bay to Punta Final at the west end of Rancho Grande having to show my DL where I am
going how long I will be there, fill out the "paper work" and have even helped jump start the humvee they had and still got the 3rd degree, this was
about 2 years ago, now i never see anyone there.
Just laugh and think "Only in Baja"
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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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No Problem
Have only been stopped once and when the "Gatekeeper" trooper saw my military vehicle sticker, asked me about it and if I was still in the military.
Told him I was retired and a Captain....got saluted and told to "pase, mi Capitan"
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CaboRon
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3401
Registered: 3-24-2007
Location: The Valley of the Moon
Member Is Offline
Mood: Peacefull
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
Have only been stopped once and when the "Gatekeeper" trooper saw my military vehicle sticker, asked me about it and if I was still in the military.
Told him I was retired and a Captain....got saluted and told to "pase, mi Capitan" |
Gotta get me one of those military stickers !
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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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yup, mine only cost me 20 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Mango
Senior Nomad
Posts: 685
Registered: 4-11-2006
Location: Alta California &/or Mexicali
Member Is Offline
Mood: Bajatastic
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| Quote: | Originally posted by neilmac
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mango
They never asked for my name; but, have checked my ID/Passport/FMT/Bags/Body on multiple occasions. |
They frisk you if you're on a bus? Never saw that. Baja or Mainland?
Neil |
I've been frisked a few times while stopping at a checkpoint on the mainland. Never yet on Baja; but, I usually drive in Baja.
Get ready for a few funny stories...
The road to Batopillas in the Copper Canyon area, which has since been improved, is a very rough and narrow road. Its course winds down countless
switchbacks and has vertical drop offs of several thousand feet mere inches from the edge of the road.
I took a very old bus, with bald tires and luggage rack on top, to the bottom of this canyon. It took 10 hours to go 60km. Pretty slow and pretty
scary. I had begun riding on the roof with a Brit and 3 locals about 1/3 of the way into the journey since we preferred the prospect of free flight
vs becoming a sardine in a can going down a cliff. (Thats a whole other story!)
Funny enough, there was a guy riding on the inside our bus that had a bandanna across his face the entire time that he was on it. He looked just like
the bad guys in old western movies and even had the cowboy getup so common in the north.
The bus neared a fork in the road and came to a stop at a checkpoint maned by federales. They ordered the bus to stop, separated the men and women,
and seached only the men and the bags on the roof.
As the women huddled together with the children, the men formed an orderly line. They got to the guy with the bandanna and ordered him to take off
his boots. They found some marijuana and promptly marched him off to the little shed by the checkpoint.
The rest of the "search" was pretty uneventful; but, the fun was not yet over. I was asked to unlock my luggage at the top of the bus. A quick
search of my bag, yielded nothing. The federale got down of the roof as I began to pack my bag and relock it.
Suddenly the bus driver got into the bus without waiting for any passengers to get on, started the engine, and took off in a hurry at high speed down
a very rough side road. At first I paniced; but, was comforted by the fact I was still with my bag.
I hung on for dear life as we bounded down the road at 40MPH. We pulled into a small village and the bus came to a halt outside a small house. The
bus driver leaped from the bus, gave the woman in the house a kiss, and sat down to eat. After about 15 minutes we drove back to the checkpoint and
picked everyone up and were on our way again.
-=-=-=-
Stopped once going from Taxco to DF. The federales did not get on the bus at first. They opened the luggage compartment and removed only three bags.
They came on the bus and without questions asked me and the two Italians sitting in front of me (The only 3 non-mexicans on the bus) to identify our
bags. They had already unloaded them, just 3 bags. No frisk there.. but
funny.
-=-=-=-
Going to the Pyramids at Teotihuacan north of DF two plain clothed policeman got on the bus and frisked everyone for weapons. One stayed.  (Many robberies on this mostly urban tourist route.)
-=-=-=-
Otherwise; I've been frisked coming north from Mazatlan to Hermosillo. Another time on the same route; we had a guy get on with a power drill, they
ordered everybody off, and started undoing interior body panels while looking for drugs, etc.
I've traveled well over 20,000 miles on the mainland by bus over the years. Some places and routes have many inspections, others have none. I
usually find them an interesting break to the trip; but, was on one overnight bus from Oaxaca to DF that was stopped 6 times at 6 different
checkpoints. I guess we got lucky.  I got NO sleep.
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