oxxo
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Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
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Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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Good Cop Story
The following was posted in the Baja Western Onion today.
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Last week, as I was driving 100 K down the carretera, just outside of La Paz, on my way back to Pescadero, I was pulled over by the police. There was
no question that I was speeding, and since I was the only one around I couldn't even point to all the other speeders. I speak some Spanish and I
politely tried to explain a few lame excuses to the policeman. He was also polite to me and used our interaction to try to educate me about the
horrible accidents on the carretera due to high speeds. He wanted my driver's license explaing to me that I had 10 days to come to an office
somewhere? to pay a fine and retrieve my license. He also said he would give me a document to show any other policeman where my license was, so I
wouldn't get into trouble for not having a license. Just as I thought he was going to walk off and "write the ticket", he handed me back my license
and cautioned me to be careful and drive more slowly. This policeman was very professional, polite and respectful by anyone's standards. I too was
respectful and I did my best to communicate in Spanish. [At one point I called a traffic light a match --samafaro/fosforo (sp)] We both laughed at
that. Anyway, thought I'd send in a good story about the police since we all seem so anxious to complain about them.
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woody with a view
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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the odds say there are a few good cops out there!
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lingililingili
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Registered: 2-24-2008
Location: La Paz, Bahia Asuncion
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I sure like reading the good stuff! Thank you for your story.
[Edited on 6/8/08 by lingililingili]
•Life is just one damned thing after another
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DianaT
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by oxxo
The following was posted in the Baja Western Onion today.
************************
He was also polite to me and used our interaction to try to educate me about the horrible accidents on the carretera due to high speeds.
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It is always good to hear the good cop stories---Thank you
Speed---nothing will slow us down like seeing one of those horrible accidents and going back and forth as often as we do, we have seen many.
Last Sunday, just south of the turn-off to Bahia de Los Angeles we came upon another terrible one---car had no front end left and there were covered
bodies on the highway. It sured slowed us down.
It even hit closer to home when we found out that it probably was the same accident that took the lives of four people from La Bocana---ones with
family in Bahia Asuncion.
It is great to hear the good cop story---we have had more good experiences than negative with the police.
Keep the speed down----not easy to do all the time.
Diane
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boe4fun
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Registered: 1-22-2006
Location: Margaritaville
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Mood: Circling the drain........
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Once, while returning from La Paz, we were clocked with a radar gun doing 95K in an 80K zone north of Cd. Constitucion. The officer was very polite
and professional, asked for license and registration, asked if I lived down there, then handed my paperwork back and said "Don't drive so fast." I
took this to heart, and now always try to be mindful of the speed limit. I caught a lot of grief my last drive down to the La Paz clinic from my
friends riding with me about "Driving at the speed of slow."
Two dirt roads diverged in Baja and I, I took the one less graveled by......
Soy ignorante, apático y ambivalente. No lo sé y no me importa, ni modo.
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bajalou
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Posts: 4459
Registered: 3-11-2004
Location: South of the broder
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I was stopped a few years ago near El Major on Mex 5, heading north. Also stopped by the Federal Highway policeman were 2 Baja Calif. plated cars.
The patrolman stopped at both of these cars and got the drivers licenses and registration from them. He came to my car and pointing to my speedometer
said I was doing 55 and the speed limit around these curves is 35. Then told me to go slower, handed back my license and let me be on my way. Don't
know what he did with the drivers of the Baja Calif. plated vehicles.
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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BajaBruno
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I have been stopped a number of times by the Federal highway police and I have always found them professional, honest, and competent. I am sure there
are exceptions, but this has been my experience.
City traffic cops, by contrast, particularly on the mainland, have almost invariably been corrupt ********.
[Edited on 6-8-2008 by Hose A]
Christopher Bruno, Elk Grove, CA.
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Capt. George
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In five years I've been stopped four times by Federales. Each time they were courteous, helpful, intelligent and honest. Never a problem.
Been stopped twice by local cops, Tijuana and in Catavina, both times were less then pleasant.
\"The penalty good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men\" Plato
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Heather
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Posts: 370
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: National City, CA
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Yea, slow down, my step-son was in an accident about a week ago driving from Pescadero to Todos Santos.
He was hit head on, by a car driving towards Cabo, who was going too fast and passing a car. I guess he didn't get back to his lane in time and hit
my step-son's car.
Luckily, for us, my son is in the hospital with a broken-leg/pelvis, and will be laid up for about a month. The guys in the other car (15 and 17
year old brothers) are alive, but much worse. One is in a coma and the other worse off than that (probably brain-dead). My step-son is very worried
about the other boys.
We are very happy to be talking to my son daily. I am also overwhelmed by the support that he is getting from my husband's family in La Paz. His
grandparents and a few tios and tias were visiting yesterday, and a couple of them have been taking turns sleeping over in the hospital with him. It
really makes me feel good for him to have the support of my in-laws, since we can't be there with him! Heather
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DianaT
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Heather
Yea, slow down, my step-son was in an accident about a week ago driving from Pescadero to Todos Santos.
He was hit head on, by a car driving towards Cabo, who was going too fast and passing a car. I guess he didn't get back to his lane in time and hit
my step-son's car.
Luckily, for us, my son is in the hospital with a broken-leg/pelvis, and will be laid up for about a month. The guys in the other car (15 and 17
year old brothers) are alive, but much worse. One is in a coma and the other worse off than that (probably brain-dead). My step-son is very worried
about the other boys.
We are very happy to be talking to my son daily. I am also overwhelmed by the support that he is getting from my husband's family in La Paz. His
grandparents and a few tios and tias were visiting yesterday, and a couple of them have been taking turns sleeping over in the hospital with him. It
really makes me feel good for him to have the support of my in-laws, since we can't be there with him! Heather |
Really sorry to hear about the accident, but glad your step-son will recover. It is good he has family with him. Will keep positive thoughts for
quick healing.
My heart goes out to the families of the other young men.
Diane
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Gadget
Senior Nomad
Posts: 851
Registered: 9-10-2006
Location: Point Loma CA
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Mood: Blessed with another day
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I to had a stop by a Federal Hiway officer out east of Ensenada.
Had me dead to rights on 2 violations, only wrote me up for one.
He also was professional, polite, friendly and even a little funny.
Everything was as he said to retrieve my license in TJ the next Monday.
I even got a 50% discount on the fine for taking care of it within 15 days of the violation date.
They thanked me at the Federal Police staion up by the airport for doing so and not having it be an issue in the future by just abondoning my license
for a replacement state side.
"Mankind will not be judged by their faults, but by the direction of their lives." Leo Giovinetti
See you in Baja
http://www.LocosMocos.com
Gadget |
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bajarickster
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Registered: 8-29-2007
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Good cops
I spend winters in La Paz and have been stopped 3 times in town for very minor infractions. Just like everyone else, I was polite, tried to use my
limited spanish and sign language and always got my licence given back to me with just a warning. There is one cop, Ricardo, who is on foot downtown
and he stopped my for not having a front licence plate. ( I have a winch on the front of my jeep). I showed him the plate that I had in the car and
he explained that I'd have to wire it to the front. Now whenever I see him, I point to the front of the Jeep, and he laughs and waves. Nice people
if you keep your cool
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Freebird
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Registered: 6-7-2008
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Cops in Baja are much more professionals than in the rest of Mexico. Maybe Rosarito and Tijuana cops are worst than any other, but almost half of them
were fired a couple of months ago...
Federal Police (old policia de Caminos) are among the most professional cops in Baja, altough I never got a ticket from them. Lucky
Just follow posted speed and will be no problem...
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wiltonh
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Posts: 306
Registered: 2-2-2007
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Some years ago we had taken down a bunch of used kids clothes and wanted to give them to a family that could really use them. We were eating in a
cafe when one of the Federal Officers came in to eat.
We asked him if he knew of a family that could use the clothes. He told us that they had just had a fire in town and one family had lost everything
they owned. If memory serves me correctly they had about 6 kids of all ages.
He offered to take us to their house so we followed him in his patrol car. He did not stop at the house but motioned to us which one it was and then
went on. The house had no roof and all that was left was concrete block walls.
We stopped in front and a man came over and we offered him the clothes. He called the kids and we got to watch as they went through the stuff and
found things that fit.
It has always been interesting to me that the Officer was willing to help us get the clothes to the family but did not want to stop and take any sort
of credit for helping them out.
Wilton
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