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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
Registered: 12-15-2008
Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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Tecate Crossing
Last Friday, we approached the Tecate gates around 3pm. Net result was a wait of one hour from start to finish. Yet, our time at the gate was probably
90 seconds.
I have always felt that going through Tecate was worth the extra driving. In fact, the last two times we went through there, our wait was zero and ten
minutes.
Since we need to access I-5 North, the Tecate gate only makes sense if the wait is very short.
Just wondering what others have experienced lately at both Tecate and Otay.
That said, driving North on I-5, they had the thingy going at San Onofre that found us in over a mile back up, wasting like 20 minutes.
I wonder just what the hit ratio is at this checkpoint.
Personally, I find it offensive to be harassed almost 100 miles North of the border. Freedom?????
[Edited on 3-14-2012 by Bajahowodd]
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Cisco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4196
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
Last Friday, we approached the Tecate gates around 3pm. Net result was a wait of one hour from start to finish. Yet, our time at the gate was probably
90 seconds.
I have always felt that going through Tecate was worth the extra driving. In fact, the last two times we went through there, our wait was zero and ten
minutes.
Since we need to access I-5 North, the Tecate gate only makes sense if the wait is very short.
Just wondering what others have experienced lately at both Tecate and Otay.
That said, driving North on I-5, they had the thingy going at San Onofre that found us in over a mile back up, wasting like 20 minutes.
I wonder just what the hit ratio is at this checkpoint.
Personally, I find it offensive to be harassed almost 100 miles North of the border. Freedom?????
[Edited on 3-14-2012 by Bajahowodd] |
No, it's not freedom. It is another loss of your civil liberties.
The San Onofre checkpoint is well within their 100 mile from ANY border assigned boundaries. In this case the Pacific is the border.
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oxxo
Banned
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Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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We usually pass through Tecate going north about 3 to 4pm. Wait is usually anywhere from 20 minutes to no more than one hour. We passed through Otay
for the first time about a year ago. Three hour wait in line. Never, never, never again. We'll take the one hour wait at Tecate.
Personally, I don't find it offensive or a loss of freedom to pass through an immigration checkpoint, but yes, inconvenient. Some people want a
crackdown on those pesky illegal immigrants and this is the price we all pay.
[Edited on 3-14-2012 by oxxo]
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David K
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Location: San Diego County
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Because not everyone uses the legal border to enter the U.S., we have secondary checks 50-100 miles from the border. You might feel differently if you
saw the amount of drugs found at those checkpoints... It is on our local San Diego news stations.
While in Mexico, how do feel about stopping 1-3 or more times a day for the military inspection... looking over the same places as the one you passed
a couple hours earlier? It is all part of the trip... and a Baja trip is worth a few delays (on either side of the border).
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woody with a view
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this last monday at 5am the Pendleton border station was open. the previous 4 monday mornings nothing. who cares? WASTED 20 minutes of your life?
heheheh..... 
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Udo
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Last Sunday's (03/11/2012) crossing in Tecate was 2 hours and 10 minutes.
There was a double line as always, but the start of the line was at the top of the hill (I.E. we could see the end of the line).
It's a crap shoot which line is faster.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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TMW
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I went to the Tecate border last Sunday night. Got there at 8:30pm two lines. Got over the hill and near the bottom and they closed the gates at 11p.
and turned us away. Went to Santa Veronica for a hotel room no one there to help. Drove down to the desert and camped over night. Next day got in line
at Mexicali west gate at 8:30am and crossed at 10am.
Normally after a race I leave Ensenada and get to Tecate at about 8 am on a Sunday and wait about 10 to 20 minutes.
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Bajahowodd
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9274
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Location: Disneyland Adjacent and anywhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Because not everyone uses the legal border to enter the U.S., we have secondary checks 50-100 miles from the border. You might feel differently if you
saw the amount of drugs found at those checkpoints... It is on our local San Diego news stations.
While in Mexico, how do feel about stopping 1-3 or more times a day for the military inspection... looking over the same places as the one you passed
a couple hours earlier? It is all part of the trip... and a Baja trip is worth a few delays (on either side of the border). |
Actually, I really think you are talking apples and oranges.
The only reason they have military checkpoints in Mexico is the so-called "War On Drugs".
I have no direct authority on this, but have a conviction that Mexico's checkpoints are more about pressure from the US War On Drugs than anything
else.
Checkpoints inside the US borders present an erosion of personal liberties to US citizens.
And, fundamentally, there is a huge distinction between huge cartels trafficking drugs internationally, versus trying to grab a few poor souls who
crossed North for either work to feed their families, or to re-join their current families.
According to reports, Osama Bin Laden is dead. So, I ask anyone on this forum to show me where international terrorists breached our Southern border.
Anyone have any idea how much taxpayer money gets spent trying to prevent poor Mexicans to either find (hard) work or re-join their families?
The whole thing is ludicrous. And we pay for it, big time.
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Cisco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4196
Registered: 12-30-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Bajahowodd
| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
Because not everyone uses the legal border to enter the U.S., we have secondary checks 50-100 miles from the border. You might feel differently if you
saw the amount of drugs found at those checkpoints... It is on our local San Diego news stations.
While in Mexico, how do feel about stopping 1-3 or more times a day for the military inspection... looking over the same places as the one you passed
a couple hours earlier? It is all part of the trip... and a Baja trip is worth a few delays (on either side of the border). |
Actually, I really think you are talking apples and oranges.
The only reason they have military checkpoints in Mexico is the so-called "War On Drugs".
I have no direct authority on this, but have a conviction that Mexico's checkpoints are more about pressure from the US War On Drugs than anything
else.
Checkpoints inside the US borders present an erosion of personal liberties to US citizens.
And, fundamentally, there is a huge distinction between huge cartels trafficking drugs internationally, versus trying to grab a few poor souls who
crossed North for either work to feed their families, or to re-join their current families.
According to reports, Osama Bin Laden is dead. So, I ask anyone on this forum to show me where international terrorists breached our Southern border.
Anyone have any idea how much taxpayer money gets spent trying to prevent poor Mexicans to either find (hard) work or re-join their families?
The whole thing is ludicrous. And we pay for it, big time. |
Very well stated. Thank you.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
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Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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welcome to democracy. i don't agree with how they spend my tax dollars, either, but only in other areas. there are too many opposing interests to ever
make sense. the genie is out of the bottle.
cut out lobbyists and we might have a chance.
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watizname
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The stop in Pendleton has been there a looooooong time. Long before 9-11. I remember it taking my kids south for the Gringo Enduro in Rosarito during
the 70's. It was about 3 mins two weeks ago and got waved thru, just like days of yesteryear. No problemo. I think it serves as a break for the
people with tunnel vision doing 75 and 80 mph on the highway. RELAX,------ BREATH. 
I yam what I yam and that\'s all what I yam.
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LisaR.
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Registered: 6-3-2009
Location: Chapala, Jalisco
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| Quote: | Originally posted by woody with a view
there are too many opposing interests to ever make sense. the genie is out of the bottle.
cut out lobbyists and we might have a chance. |
I see a lot of political bickering on this forum, and I certainly don't wish to start any of that--but liberal or conservative, I think THIS is
something we can ALL agree on!
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BajaRat
Super Nomad
Posts: 1303
Registered: 3-2-2010
Location: SW Four Corners / Bahia Asuncion BCS
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Mood: Ready for some salt water with my Tecate
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Sixty percent of the time, it works every time.
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
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Registered: 2-9-2004
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At 2:00 pm on March 12th, Tecate wait was 25 minutes. 10 minutes of that was spent with one vehicle two cars ahead of me. I try not to cross on a
Saturday or Sunday.
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tripledigitken
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Registered: 9-27-2006
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We always cross NB at Tecate. Over the last two years and some 6+ crossing only on weekdays, we have never have waited over 40 minutes. The usual
wait is less than 15 minutes.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
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Registered: 12-17-2004
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Once when we had to wait a long time at Tecate----line was on the main street about a block or so beyond the turn, the agent told us to try and not
cross on Mondays, Fridays, holidays and the day before and after holidays.
Thus we try to cross about mid-day in the middle of the week. Friday at 3 pm --- not a good time.
However, even when we had to wait in the very long line, we still found it far more comfortable than San Ysidro------just a more relaxed atmosphere.
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DENNIS
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If only the inspectors at the border could be as cordial and polite as the Border Patrol at the Imm stops, things would be so much better. The border
crossings going north have me terrorized twenty miles before I get there and I catch myself rehearsing my demeanor at the gate as I drive.
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Lee
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
The border crossings going north have me terrorized twenty miles before I get there and I catch myself rehearsing my demeanor at the gate as I drive.
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Terrorized? With that kind of feeling, you must look guilty when you pull up. Try acting natural, or less guilty.
Is your name in their computer for some reason?
I've never heard of anyone being terrorized. My experiences have been mostly enjoyable. Strange.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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DianaT
Select Nomad
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
If only the inspectors at the border could be as cordial and polite as the Border Patrol at the Imm stops, things would be so much better. The border
crossings going north have me terrorized twenty miles before I get there and I catch myself rehearsing my demeanor at the gate as I drive.
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At Tecate, we just wait until we have to make that fatal decision of right or left lane---we can't see the agents and some we really like and others,
well we just keep repeating, say as little as possible, bite your tongue before responding, and just keep smiling.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
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Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Lee
My experiences have been mostly enjoyable. Strange. |
I'll have to agree with you, Lee. That is strange. I think you're the first person I've ever heard say the border experience was enjoyable.....except
after the fact.
Nah....I don't have a history with them or anything like that. It just takes the occasional imperious a-hole inspector to give me bad memories of the
place. Authority issues are consistant with at least one of my diagnoses.
Life goes on.
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