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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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my turn with the Constitucion police...
well, I'd gotten back in the habit of driving straight though town, thinking things had improved. I do take extra precautions with speed, traffic
stops, cross traffic and pedestrians.
made it almost to Ley's southbound when the red and blue lights go on two cars behind me. guess who they want? the gringa with the AZ plates, of
course.
young guy gets out of the passenger side of the police truck and comes to my passenger's window, asking for my license, saying it is an 'inspection.'
against my better judgement I give him my license (a throw away one I've had for years for this very possibility). I asked why he stopped me, saying
that I'd stopped at every corner and watched for every pedestrian. he would only say that I had an 'infraction' and that I could pay today or come
back tomorrow for the fine and to get license. I told him he couldn't keep my license and that I needed it to drive on to La Paz. he said he could
take it unless I paid him today. I told him to keep it and I would be back on Monday or Tuesday (fat chance). I also added a few words about how I'd
done nothing wrong, that this kind of stop was not good for the city of Constitucion, and that I would not pay mordida. he tried some more but
seemed flustered by my standing up to him and ended up handing me the license back and waving me on...
wrong gringa to try this on! quidada, they're back at it!
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13237
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
Member Is Offline
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good for you for being prepared with llicense and argument...sad to hear that it has returned to the same ole story 
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Marc
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2802
Registered: 5-15-2010
Location: San Francisco & Palm Springs
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting
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Back to business as usual. I drove through last month and did not see a cop anywhere. Good for you for standing up to the swine!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65278
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Good for you!!
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captkw
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3850
Registered: 10-19-2010
Location: el charro b.c.s.
Member Is Offline
Mood: new dog/missing the old 1
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con. police
HOLA,myslif,,I leave la paz early and get thru before 7:20 am and never see a cop and very little traffic!! you do have to get up early...
K&T...
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
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well, I do have to go back to Loreto on Tuesday and travel to/from La Paz once a month. someone will probably remember the car, I hope that's
remember and leave alone. but, I think I will do the back streets bypass this time. before 7:20 doesn't work for me, way way too early!
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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gallesram
Nomad
Posts: 384
Registered: 7-6-2010
Location: Laguna Beach
Member Is Offline
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Great job RH; I have used the same technique throughout Mexico (standing my ground, being firm, and making sure I hadn't actually done anything wrong)
and haven't paid a mordida for several years now. In CC, I always take the road 4 blocks east that parallels the highway; never see any cops over
there.
I do laugh, however, at all of the locals blowing through the stop signs on that side road; I think I'm the only one that actually stops. Once I
almost got rear-ended by a local who seemed surprised that the car in front of him was stopping for a stop sign.
Your bigger issue will be them remembering your car, especially since CC is a small town (I have had the transit cops in Acapulco remember my car and
hassle me daily during an entire 1-week vacation). So I'd definitely take the side road and reduce your chances of being spotted.
Frustrating but if you have a good strategy in place (which you do) and you are actually complying with the traffic laws, then you should be OK.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
Member Is Offline
Mood: Everchangin'
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why doesn't someone set the cops up? have a vehicle follow you and video the entire stretch thru town. all the stops and "infractions" and just let
natural selection run its course. when the cop pulls you over have your friend pull up behind the cop and get out, camera rolling, and ask the cop for
their badge number. tell them you are going straight to the JEFE and press. watch the little worm shrivel before you.
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gallesram
Nomad
Posts: 384
Registered: 7-6-2010
Location: Laguna Beach
Member Is Offline
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Woody, I'd love to do something like that; but I'd be afraid that if I got too aggressive, I'd probably never escape getting through that town without
being hassled, no matter where I drove. At the end of the day, they are cops and we are foreigners and they do hold the cards. The message I want to
convey is (1) I haven't done anything wrong and (2) I know how this works and I'm not going to pay you anything. Once they sense that, you're on your
way since they probably assume they can find someone else who will pay.
I think one of the reasons I was pulled over daily in Acapulco earlier this year was because I got really aggressive with them (stemming partly from
anger and partly from fear). When I was there in March, I took a more matter-of-fact approach and I only got pulled over once.
I know that there have been things written here about that Sindicatura sticker which makes a reference to fighting police corruption. I do have that
sticker on my car because I think it conveys the message of "I know this game and I'm not going to pay a mordida" in advance. I haven't been pulled
over in CC ever since I did that (but I think it's more to taking the side route than the sticker alone).
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rts551
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6700
Registered: 9-5-2003
Member Is Offline
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If the remember you, and you never came back to pay your fine and pick up your license, is that an additional infraction?
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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It'll never stop. Just hope you hit it during a lull in the activity.
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LaPazGringo
Nomad
Posts: 237
Registered: 2-28-2012
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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You're my hero for the day, man! Good for you for doing the right thing.
Dirty, rotten liars and thieves...
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3879
Registered: 2-9-2004
Member Is Offline
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A curious thing - maybe someone can explain. When I was traveling in Baja last month, on 3 occasions, policia came up behind me with lights flashing.
TWICE - it was the hill in Tecate heading to the Ensenada Hwy 3 (leaving Tecate and returning). On both of those occasions, they were just feet from
my bumper, but I had no place to pull over - so I just kept driving and at the same time looking for a place to safely park. The police eventually
passed me after a couple blocks. The other occasion was south of Guerrero Negro past the whale turnoff. I spotted what I thought was the policia way
behind me - about 1/2 mi - no lights. They came right up behind me, lights on - I slowed down for them to pass me (if in fact they didn't want ME),
but they didn't pass. I did nothing wrong - just driving along on the highway. They didn't pass, and I had no place to pull off the highway so I
kept driving - about 45 mph. After driving for 1/2 mi. or so, they finally passed me, and I could see they turned off their lights about a mile down
the highway. What gives? Do you think my Baja Nomad bumper sticker was a deterrent?! Ha!
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LaPazGringo
Nomad
Posts: 237
Registered: 2-28-2012
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by wilderone
A curious thing - maybe someone can explain. When I was traveling in Baja last month, on 3 occasions, policia came up behind me with lights flashing.
TWICE - it was the hill in Tecate heading to the Ensenada Hwy 3 (leaving Tecate and returning). On both of those occasions, they were just feet from
my bumper, but I had no place to pull over - so I just kept driving and at the same time looking for a place to safely park. The police eventually
passed me after a couple blocks. The other occasion was south of Guerrero Negro past the whale turnoff. I spotted what I thought was the policia way
behind me - about 1/2 mi - no lights. They came right up behind me, lights on - I slowed down for them to pass me (if in fact they didn't want ME),
but they didn't pass. I did nothing wrong - just driving along on the highway. They didn't pass, and I had no place to pull off the highway so I
kept driving - about 45 mph. After driving for 1/2 mi. or so, they finally passed me, and I could see they turned off their lights about a mile down
the highway. What gives? Do you think my Baja Nomad bumper sticker was a deterrent?! Ha! |
They really seem to enjoy those lights. Maybe they were just driving with them on as they so often do?
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acadist
Super Nomad
Posts: 1125
Registered: 3-31-2007
Location: Spanaway,WA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Waiting for the Sun
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I have always carried an expired licence just for this situation, when I cross the border it becomes the 'main' licence in my wallet until i am back
nob
Dave
I moved to CO and they made me buy a little rod to make it feel like a real fish
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LaPazGringo
Nomad
Posts: 237
Registered: 2-28-2012
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by acadist
I have always carried an expired licence just for this situation, when I cross the border it becomes the 'main' licence in my wallet until i am back
nob |
Me too and when I get a SD license, I'll have an expired and a current Calif. as throw-aways.  No mordida!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by LaPazGringo
| Quote: | Originally posted by acadist
I have always carried an expired licence just for this situation, when I cross the border it becomes the 'main' licence in my wallet until i am back
nob |
Me too and when I get a SD license, I'll have an expired and a current Calif. as throw-aways. No mordida! |
Got a slick, inexpensive laminator from Amazon and I'm making two right now.
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
Member Is Offline
Mood: 'At home we demand facts and get them. In Mexico one subsists on rumor and never demands anything.' Charles Flandrau,
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It is a crime in Mexico to photograph military, police, or judicial personnel, equipment or installations.
Grab your cell phone. Turn around, away from the cops and say...
"Bueno. Favor a hablo a la sindicatura".
BWAY-no fah-VOAR ah AB-low ah la seen-dee-cah-TOUR-ah
Turn back around and keep your eyes on the ground like you're waiting. After a few seconds say "Gracias". Let your eyes wander over to the license
plate on the patrol car.
Guar-an-freakin'-teed, those cops are going to come unglued. Ten to 1 says they'll turn around, jump in their car and haul ass.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
It is a crime in Mexico to photograph military, police, or judicial personnel, equipment or installations.
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That must be a really cumbersome law, given the amount of civic events going on in Mexico, such as parades etc..
I think it's just more of the unfounded fear that has caught on and spread....probably by police.
I can understand a locked 'n loaded military checkpoint having problems with it, but a cop on the street enforceing traffic regs? I doubt he has that
power.
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CP
Nomad
Posts: 434
Registered: 7-19-2006
Member Is Offline
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Got pulled over in Loreto and gave the cop an expired CA license. Took him all of a second to point out that I was driving on an expired license.
Dug out the current one to avoid THAT infraction.
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