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Dodginski
Newbie
Posts: 9
Registered: 11-28-2007
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Stopped by police in Tecate
A friend of ours was stopped in Tecate yesterday for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign. The 2 policemen thoroughly searched his pickup
finding 2 pocket knives. He was told they were illegal weapons if kept within reach while driving. He had a choice of paying a 4000 peso fine, or
going in front of a judge with a possibility of 2 weeks in jail.
He is new to traveling Mexico and was by himself. Needless to say he was a bit scared, so he paid the fine to the policemen. They did not issue a
ticket of any kind, let him keep his knives, and escorted him to the end of line at the border crossing.
So thought we'd give the "heads up" to those traveling through Tecate ...
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Another nail in the coffin of tourism. That person will never return.
Tecate is becoming the New Cd. Constitucion.
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BajaBlanca
Select Nomad
Posts: 13197
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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we have a Canadian guest who arrived yesterday and he also was harrassed by police in Tecate 2 days ago. He went too far on a street, missing his
turnoff and was backing up a couple yards. They stopped him and also "fined" him $40.
In this case, he was guilty, and paid up, but he said it was a really ridiculous scene and he felt harassed and does not want to go thru Tecate any
more.
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Taco de Baja
Super Nomad
Posts: 1913
Registered: 4-14-2004
Location: Behind the Orange Curtain, CA
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Mood: Dreamin' of Baja
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The last two times (Dec and March) we have passed through Tecate heading east on Benito Juarez (Mex-2), the cops have been as thick as fleas on a Baja
dog.
We poked along at or below the speed limit and fully stopped at the stop signs, with no issues. Lots of people passing us, but who cares.
We did get a laugh at the motorcycle cop in December who came up on us fast (above the speed limit) hoping for a ticket. He followed for a while but
saw we were doing nothing wrong. The laugh comes from his failed attempt to make a u-turn in his heavy motorcycle and dumping it in the middle of the
street.  
I should add that we did see both American and Mexican plated vehicles pulled over in several places along Benito Juarez, so it may just be easy
pickings for the cops as the speed limit is rather low at 25KPH (~15MPH) and not just tourists are taking the hit.
Truth generally lies in the coordination of antagonistic opinions
-Herbert Spencer
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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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traffic fines
I'll take tecate..where I live in calif. we have a saying here in santa cruz county.. " come here on vacation and leave on probation"
sherriff,ranger,local police,CHP,fish & game are damn near outnumbering the resadents and you wont see a $40 fine..more like $400 and a point on
your driving record so an increase in your insurance and ALOT of grief if you even attempt to fight a ticket...$40 bucks isnt the end of the world
!! and from my veiw, I know sooo many folks in this area that dont have a license any more because they were late,missed or forgot to mail a payment
in the great "LAND OF THE FEE" the other side of the coin !! K & T 
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Taco de Baja
The laugh comes from his failed attempt to make a u-turn in his heavy motorcycle and dumping it in the middle of the street.
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A "YouTube Moment" lost. Too bad. Maybe next time.
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5901
Registered: 7-18-2011
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$4000 pesos is more cash than I usually carry......I'd have to go than ATM to pay that bribe.
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Dodginski
Newbie
Posts: 9
Registered: 11-28-2007
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He pretty much had to empty out his wallet of both his US funds and leftover pesos to get up to the 4000 pesos "requested" ... the whole event pretty
much left him rattled. Then he ended up in line for 2 1/2 hours only to be pulled over into secondary, too ... no issues there, just the hassle!
Horrible day for him ...
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64854
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Too sad he allowed them to harass him like that... NEVER pay the cops any large bribe (they legally cannot collect money for traffic fines). Traffic
fines are low in Mexico compared to the U.S., and they obviously lied to him about the fine and 2 weeks in jail.
First off, don't break any laws and always come to a full stop at stop signs (and count to 3)... even if locals don't! Then face the cop with a good
attitude and smile if you can... play nice.. it IS a game! IF you didn't do anything wrong then say so, don't pay, follow the cop to the judge (and
before you get there he will stop and return your drivers license, not having scared you to hand over the dinero). If you did break the law, follow
procedures and face the judge, fines in Mexico are low.
[Edited on 6-4-2012 by David K]
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geomike
Junior Nomad
Posts: 64
Registered: 10-3-2009
Location: Very near to the middle of nowhere.
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Mood: feeling an irresistable pull towards Baja...
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Hey, I think I met the same cop about the 9th of May!
Was looking for the northbound border crossing dragging a 36ft fifth wheel.
Lights and sirens are going off from the cop I just past.
Good old "Polyanna" me figures this nice cop is coming up to the window to show me which way to go. And he did, lots of arm waving because my Spanish
sucks and his English, tho better than my Spanish is not great.
Cop gets me all straightened out and I'm about to pull away he says "Senior, the ticket" I says, "what ticket?"
He says, "you didn"t stop at the sign" (well now I'm pretty sure the bugger waved me through, certainly I did see him at the corner).
He says we have to go to the station I said where am I going to park this thing at your station?
He looks up and down the rig and waves me on.
I guess I seemed like too much trouble.
It seems like they have been honing their scam. I got lucky for sure and being half stupid helps ... on occasion.
Sorry to hear others are getting grief in Tecate.
I'll be back. If the Mexican people will still have me.
Mike
You are entitled to your own opinions...not your own facts.
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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never pay on the spot. ALWAYS INSIST on going to the station.
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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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fines
learn to say " yo vivas aqui,,muy pobre" ..... I aint good at spelling !! not a big thing on my list in life...lol...K & T
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
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| Quote: | Originally posted by captkw
learn to say " yo vivas aqui,,muy pobre" ..... I aint good at spelling !! not a big thing on my list in life...lol...K & T |
how's that fly in santa cruz?
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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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como?
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paranewbi
Senior Nomad
Posts: 913
Registered: 4-15-2011
Location: San diego
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Am I way behind or...wasn't there at one time the issuance of an actual ticket required by the police on the frontier zone? I thought that was to keep
this kind of situation at bay and was instituted by the politico of the border cities.
I also carry printed copies of my Driver ID and hand that to the cop through a three inch opening of my window. I never relinguish my drivers license
(although I do keep an expired on and have turned that over).
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woody with a view
PITA Nomad
Posts: 15939
Registered: 11-8-2004
Location: Looking at the Coronado Islands
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Mood: Everchangin'
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well, i keep my 30" machete right between my seat and the console. the soldiers ask what is it for and i reply "Ratons". that gets a laugh. i guess
the local cops, with their firearms consider a pocket knife (and a machete?) too much for close quarters combat?
that explains a
lot why their country is in the mess it is with the cartel
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willardguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6451
Registered: 9-19-2009
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and his other choices were?
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Lee
2 pocket knives found? Broke the law again.
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Only your assumption since no one mentioned blade length and you don't know the other laws either.
Gawwwdammmm..Lee....you really defend this type of law enforcement?? That's hard to believe. What degree of Facism do you consider sufficient to
have everyone pressed benieth your steel-toed boot?
You, of all people, should be condemning the abuses of power that are demonstrated here. Instead, you support it because the effing badge is always
right.
Your authoritarian criteria for law enforcement participation as a part of society, rather than the keepers of such is truely disgusting, and it's
because of cops like you that a whole generation of young folks in America called you guys "Pigs."
I would truely fight off having any bad thoughts while in your jurisdiction. I'm sure you'd have a way to detect them, constrain and reeducate me.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3508
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Dennis -- less emotion, please. I don't support cops wanting mordida. I didn't make the game or rules. If you're a cherry, don't travel
alone. If MX cops intimidate you, stay home -- or pay them off. If you don't know how to negotiate, expect to pay for your inexperience. Baja
is a gauntlet. Expect the worse in urban areas, hope for the best. DON't have knives that can be found.
STOP at stop signs. Don't speed. Expect to be stopped anyway. If you're guilty, man up!
Hey it's a game, folks. Let's have some fun!
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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Cisco
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4196
Registered: 12-30-2010
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| Quote: | Originally posted by paranewbi
Am I way behind or...wasn't there at one time the issuance of an actual ticket required by the police on the frontier zone? I thought that was to keep
this kind of situation at bay and was instituted by the politico of the border cities.
I also carry printed copies of my Driver ID and hand that to the cop through a three inch opening of my window. I never relinguish my drivers license
(although I do keep an expired on and have turned that over). |
Early 90's I was written a ticket that I deserved by a Tijuana motorcycle policeman.
Cut a check for the fine ($18 as I recall) and mailed it to a P.O. Box in San Ysidro. No problem.
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