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Maderita
Senior Nomad
Posts: 688
Registered: 12-14-2008
Location: San Diego
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PSA: Possession of a knife on your person is illegal
This topic came up on another thread, "Police rip off in Tecate?" I was surprised that several Nomads are either unaware or misinformed about the laws
regarding possession of knives/weapons in Mexico. It's very serious business. No doubt the enforcement on knives is selective, yet the penalty is
harsh.
"Selective enforcement" = police could let it slide or make a very serious issue out of it at their discretion or whim.
So, below is my re-post from the other thread:
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I have heard, over a period of several years, that carrying a knife is illegal and must not be inside the vehicle. I didn't know just how serious it
was until I looked it up!
A warning from the US Consulate:
http://tijuana.usconsulate.gov/tijuana/warning.html
"If you carry a knife on your person in Mexico, even a pocketknife . . .
•You may be arrested and charged with possession of a deadly weapon;
•You may spend weeks in jail waiting for trial, and tens of thousands of dollars in attorney’s fees, court costs, and fines;
•If convicted, you may be sentenced to up to five years in a Mexican prison.
Claiming not to know about the law will not get you leniency from a police officer or the judicial system. Leave your firearms, ammunition, and knives
at home. Don’t bring them into Mexico."
My understanding is that there is no bail for a felony. That means that one could be in jail for a year or more awaiting trial.
Some advise that if arrested, it is better to buy your way out of trouble before going to jail. Once in jail, it may be too late.
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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Thanks for the info...
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Maderita
"If you carry a knife on your person in Mexico, even a pocketknife . . .
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According to a knowledgable Mexican friend, it depends on the size of the knife although what he says is allowable is a miniscule tool....like a two
inch blade on a folding knife.
Machetes don't seem to have this restriction.
Does anyone have any idea as to what is what in Mexico? I really tire of the confusion.
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5917
Registered: 7-18-2011
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Guess I'll stop putting my knife under the front seat like I have for the last 20 years. Maybe I'll switch it out for a baseball bat.
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choyero
Nomad
Posts: 152
Registered: 4-21-2011
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by Maderita
"If you carry a knife on your person in Mexico, even a pocketknife . . .
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According to a knowledgable Mexican friend, it depends on the size of the knife although what he says is allowable is a miniscule tool....like a two
inch blade on a folding knife.
Machetes don't seem to have this restriction.
Does anyone have any idea as to what is what in Mexico? I really tire of the confusion. |
I was told the same thing, the blade size is supposed to be less then about 3" I believe, but don't bank on it. Everyone I know in baja carries a
knife for crying out loud!
How about a baseball bat, large wrench or some other dangerous duel use item.
I dont have anger management issues, I have idiot management issues.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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If you carry a baseball bat, also carry a ball...........
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larryC
Super Nomad
Posts: 1499
Registered: 8-11-2008
Location: BoLA
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Maderita
Have you seen the actual Mexican weapons laws? I have not but would like to. The word "weapon" is very ambiguous. A knife could certainly be
considered a weapon, but a screwdriver is a tool, until it is held over your head and pointed at another person. I just wonder how the law is written
and how they define a weapon.
Larry
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
If you carry a baseball bat, also carry a ball........... |
Is that the law enforcement "rule of thumb" in the states?
I've heard that NOB a piece of steel pipe turns into a weapon if it has a taped handle.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by larryC
Maderita
Have you seen the actual Mexican weapons laws? I have not but would like to. The word "weapon" is very ambiguous. A knife could certainly be
considered a weapon, but a screwdriver is a tool, until it is held over your head and pointed at another person. I just wonder how the law is written
and how they define a weapon.
Larry |
It seems, once again, that we have been exmining this issue without seperating it from our US mindset....looking for logic, and order when we all know
only too well that laws in Mexico are interpreted at the moment with pistoleros as arbitrators.
It rarely matters what the law truely says, or even implies. When they have you over the barrel, you pay.
Right?? Gringo??
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
If you carry a baseball bat, also carry a ball........... |
Is that the law enforcement "rule of thumb" in the states?
I've heard that NOB a piece of steel pipe turns into a weapon if it has a taped handle. |
My dog loves to chase a ball hit by a bat...................
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sanquintinsince73
Super Nomad
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Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Just get yourself a tire checker. There are many different types and they can be a formidable weapon if needed. I personally prefer the wooden one
with a strip of steel wrapped around the tip.
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Mengano
Banned
Posts: 1238
Registered: 9-26-2011
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Lencho already posted what the law is in Spanish on the other post about the guy who got ripped off in Tecate. I'll translate the operative wording in
the federal law, the states usually just mirror the federal laws:
It is illegal to possess "instruments that can only be used to attack and have no application in work or recreation."
Pocket knives are legal to possess, even in your car, even in your pocket. Fishing knives are legal to possess, filet knives in your tackle box are
legal to possess, kitchen knives are legal to possess. They all have legitimate application to work or recreation.
What you have here, is typical of Mexico. Laws are not used to punish the guilty. They are used to extort the innocent. Every law in Mexico is a
profit center for some cop, some judge or some bureaucrat. Do you really think the $400 that guy paid in Tecate went into the government coffers? Did
he get a receipt?
The fines for illegal activities are also specified in the laws. In Mexico they use a multiple of the daily minimum wage to determine fines. The daily
minimun wage is around $5, it varies by geographic region. The fine of $500 they told that poor sucker for having a pocket knife is 100 minimum wages.
Does anybody think that an ordinary Mexican would be fined 100-days wages for having a pocket knife...which is not illegal anyway?
Listen to Lobsterman. Mexico is just a big crapshoot. You roll the dice every time you cross the border.
[Edited on 1-31-2012 by Mengano]
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Islandbuilder
Senior Nomad
Posts: 555
Registered: 11-9-2011
Location: nob
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Mood: bewildered
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A related question; How about flare pistols? I assume that because they have the word "pistol" in their descriptrion that they're out. Yeah?
A good safety tool if you're broken down on your own off-road, but a formidable deterent as well.
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Woooosh
Banned
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emergency flare guns are legal. They can also be easily modified to fire shotgun rounds.
\"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing\"
1961- JFK to Canadian parliament (Edmund Burke)
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
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Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by larryC
Maderita
Have you seen the actual Mexican weapons laws? I have not but would like to. The word "weapon" is very ambiguous. A knife could certainly be
considered a weapon, but a screwdriver is a tool, until it is held over your head and pointed at another person. I just wonder how the law is written
and how they define a weapon.
Larry |
It seems, once again, that we have been exmining this issue without seperating it from our US mindset....looking for logic, and order when we all know
only too well that laws in Mexico are interpreted at the moment with pistoleros as arbitrators.
It rarely matters what the law truely says, or even implies. When they have you over the barrel, you pay.
Right?? Gringo?? |
Ya heard of the "Golden Rule"... well, this one is about "Guns" and "Power" over your life ... one which I have always taken seriously both NOB and
SOB ... or just about any place I've gone in my life ... where someone has a gun and authority, I listen very attentively and try and not upset them
... even if it's wrong ... just been lucky most of the time.. was only shot at by the German Police .. just once .. I learned to "Halt" when they said
"Halt"... was 18
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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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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
emergency flare guns are legal. They can also be easily modified to fire shotgun rounds. |
Just once............the pressure generated by a shotgun round is way more than a flare
Try this instead:
http://www.gear-up.com/cart_showproduct.php?pid=10256
[Edited on 1-31-2012 by bajaguy]
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Woooosh
emergency flare guns are legal. They can also be easily modified to fire shotgun rounds. |
That said, and assuming it's correct, I'll bet you could find a hundred thousand cops in Mexico that will tell you they are illegal if they found
one in your possession.
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
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Sure hope this is true and correct
| Quote: | Originally posted by Mengano
Fishing knives are legal to possess, filet knives in your tackle box are legal to possess, kitchen knives are legal to possess.
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If the above is not true and if possessing a filet knife in a tackle box in the cab of a truck, or on my boat in the water is actually a Mexican
felony, I am out of here.
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
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Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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knife's
THis Is getting ,,past,,being ____________
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wessongroup
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 21152
Registered: 8-9-2009
Location: Mission Viejo
Member Is Offline
Mood: Suicide Hot line ... please hold
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The wife carries a machete, pepper spray and a stun gun when walking the dogs .. NOB or South .... we also carried "stun guns" along with the machete
in the car and got inspected a numerous times.. with no problems... even got laughs out of the military when showing them how I would use it to defend
myself... they let me and the wife go every time... individually or when together ... used to carry a buck knife.. .but don't anymore... couldn't use
it if I wanted to .. in a fight
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