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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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OUR IDEAS ON DEALING WITH BAJA COPS...
My wife Jana and I have discussed at length the Baja cops issues while traveling from Tecate to Ciudad Constitución to Todos Santos and Cabo, and
places between.
I know that DK has also traveled Baja as long as I have...at least since the 1960's.
We both cross the border just as often.
I spend as much time driving the entire peninsula as well as just to Ensenada.
Neither one of us has ever been confronted by Baja cops
Here is what MY PERSONAL TAKE IS IN DEALING WITH BAJA COPS:
I have seen many dozens of Baja city and Federal cops in different cities as well as municipalities.
Have never been pulled over, and I don't think DK has either.
If a cop sees my rig going down the road ( built-up FJ Cruiser and large kayak on top), it could not be a better gringo target.
The below suggestions are my personal ones:
1- When you see a cop by the side of the road in his vehicle, wave and smile at them, and slowly drive by them until they wave back.
2- Do not ignore their looks...it gives them a challenge...regardless.
3- Do not give them a sheepish eye-contact look, makes you look like an easy target.
4- Do not give them the "challenging look" Most of us know what that is.
5- If you know Español, use it! The English only discussions kind of seems to make things worse.
6- When looking at the cops sitting by the side of the road, don't give them an excuse to pull you over by looking guilty.
7- If you do get pulled over, respect goes a longer way than an open challenge.
8- If you Nomads have additional suggestions to share, please do so...this is an open forum and I am sure your suggestions will be very welcomed by
all members.
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Excellent post Udo
I have been going to Baja/Mexico since the early 80's. Never been pulled over
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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thebajarunner
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3732
Registered: 9-8-2003
Location: Arizona....."Free at last from crumbling Cali
Member Is Offline
Mood: muy amable
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Wish I could say the same,
been stopped in Rosarito Beach by a sneak who was laying in wait,
while driving a Porsche in TJ
but it is all just part of the game, I guess.
I assume you read this thread- my kid was not so lucky with the TJ cops last week.
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=64893
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aguachico
Senior Nomad
Posts: 602
Registered: 3-23-2007
Location: tijuana
Member Is Offline
Mood: logic cannot get thru to the illogical
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Why use Spanish? Put the challenge on the rata to speak english or french.
I have gotten out of radar gun speeding tickets by not even attempting to speak Spanish because my Spanish sucks.
I have been stopped in east TJ, bad place, waiting for the officer that can translate the infraction. They, like most children, lose interest
quickly. Then sent on may way with a warning.
1. Ask immediately why you are being stopped.
2. be more patient then the rata.
suerte
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65107
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Oh, but I have been pulled over... Tijuana, Ensenada, Tecate... more than once... It has just been a long time ago, and mostly in the 1980's. They are
great, fun stories to tell... I enjoyed them all! Let me know if you want the details... I am sure they have been posted before since Nomad started in
2002, I think?
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5912
Registered: 7-18-2011
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Totally agree with #3.
Look every officer whether federal or municipal in the eye and don't give off that "I'm scared please take advantage of me" look. Always look (even
when you're lost) like you know where the hell you're going and why.
It's been a long time (11 years) since I've been pulled over in Mexico. Last time my Mexican wife took care of the dude with no payments. Before
that I was a crazy teenager making mistakes and paying for what I did. Just obey the law and most of the time you'll be OK. Don't make yourself an
easy target.
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
Member Is Offline
Mood: Current
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I have also been driving myself starting in the mid. 70's. The last time I paid street side was in the 90's. 3:00 am doing 70+ just pass the Playas
turn off south of TJ. Paid the guy, the goal was to have lunch and open the Bay of L. A.house about 12:00. Seemed easier then playing the game any
longer. I was guilty. There were 3 other trucks in the caravan ahead of me.
Often when I go with the Dodge fully loaded, with Kayak, boards and rods on top. Get pulled over often but wait it out or play the Sindicatura card.
The info. is taped on the back of the old and current D L. I have seen cops parked on the other side of the road run back to their cars and flip the U
turn to hunt me down.
On the last truck with over sized tires and a winch, pulling a trailer full of bikes. We could not go 5 miles with out a stop in TJ. The record was 8
pullovers from the top of the hill, to the cross over. We did use the old "backdoor" on the right that trip. Didn't pay a single one but after the
third, we said that all the other cops had taken all our money.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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Ken Cooke
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8955
Registered: 2-9-2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Pole Line Road postponed due to injury
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Baja Grande got KICKED OUT of Tecate!
In Tijuana - I had a Policeman stop me with Leidys in the Jeep...sniffing around for money. I told him we didn't have any extra money to give him.
Even after he rubbed his fingers together.
In Tecate - 15 Jeeps were rolling through town, and one of the Jeeps was stopped for holding up traffic at the traffic circle. We returned to help
out our fellow Jeeper and the Policia became embarrassed, but told us, "Get all of your Jeeps and LEAVE TECATE IMMEDIATELY"
In Mexicali - I got a totalled Toyota out of Mexico in less than 2 hrs. (w/a little help from a full-size truck)
In San Quintin - I was asked to get out of my Jeep. But, when the Policia noticed that eight other vehicles were waiting and WATCHING, he became
nervous and told me that I could leave the roadblock. Hmmm....
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mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19371
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
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| Quote: | Originally posted by mcfez
Excellent post Udo
I have been going to Baja/Mexico since the early 80's. Never been pulled over |
You wear Viking hat, cops think you are nuts or scary, not an easy mark. i too have never been stopped - I must be scary crazy 
Seriously, some people look like easy marks. Some don't.
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6364
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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I really think that the nail was hit by a hammer on this one!
| Quote: | Originally posted by mtgoat666
Seriously, some people look like easy marks. Some don't. |
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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mulegejim
Nomad
Posts: 470
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: San Clemente, CA/Mulege, BCS
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Only been stopped a few times over the years - no tickets issued and no money exchanged. One stop was just out of Colonet a few years back. I was
driving my PU and my wife was driving hers behind me at about 7:00 AM heading north. Passd a Federal cop pulled up a drive to a farm. Out he came
passed my wife and pulled in behind me with lights flashing. Pulled off the road with him behind - my Spanish wasn't good so asked him to wait for
Melinda. Turned out he wanted me to give his wife a ride to the airport in Tijuana - he wanted her to ride with me not Melinda, must have thought men
are better drivers. Long story short dropped Victoria off in Ensenada after a funny encounter at one of the military check points where she really
dressed down the poor guy who asked what she was doing riding with me.
Had another stop a year ago and was asked to give the cops friend a ride north but when I indicated I wasn't going as far as needed he apologized for
delaying me and off I went.
Luck of the Irish I guess.
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
Member Is Offline
Mood: Current
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I have never lived or thought myself as a mark. Quite the opposite. It has fallen off now that I don't ride anymore, no trailer. My friends would call
the rig a "Mexican cop lure"
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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LarryK
Junior Nomad
Posts: 99
Registered: 8-26-2003
Member Is Offline
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43 years driveing the Baja, pulled over twice, let go twice.
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Bajaboy
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4375
Registered: 10-9-2003
Location: Bahia Asuncion, BCS, Mexico
Member Is Offline
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Pulled over three times in roughly 29 years. First two times, cops were looking for mordida...I did not pay. Last time was near San Quintin by the
Driscoll plant. I made an illegal pass and was pulled over. Very professional gentleman reminded me of the law and let me go with a warning.
Pulled over three times in the US....got a ticket each time.
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: optimistic
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Drove in Baja for some 45+ years--------pulled over maybe 5 times???-----asked for mordida maybe once or twice-------never paid, and always released.
Never really had a bad experience with either local or Federal Cops in Baja for a "pull over".
It's Karma !?!?!?!?!?!
Barry
PS on edit---------Loved the first post on this thread, and agree with all of it.
[Edited on 1-8-2013 by Barry A.]
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
Member Is Offline
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In my 25 yrs. or so, I remember 3 times, all were my
fault, open beer for 1, I found Bajarunner's post about
his son having to pay $40 dlls for a TJ cop to his job
and write up an accident report a bit troubling, but I suppose it part of travelling in Mex, others have reported
pure fabrication for traffic stops. Back in the day surfing
San Miguel cops searched my van, one is certainly not
going to deny them, they went away empty handed.
I'm not sure a good % of Mex cops are above making
up a flimsy excuse if there is Mordida in it for them
I have a theory that the older I get the less I'm likely
to be pulled over for no reason
[Edited on 1-8-2013 by sancho]
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BajaGeoff
Super Nomad
Posts: 1727
Registered: 1-11-2006
Location: San Diego and Campo Lopez
Member Is Offline
Mood: Heading To Baja!!!
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In my 20 years of driving down there I have never been pulled over by a cop. On one occasion I was going down a narrow dirt road to check the surf and
came head to head with a couple municipal cops. They asked if they could search my truck and I obliged. I chatted with one cop in Spanish about my
time living with a family in San Miguel de Allende while studying down there and how much I loved being in Mexico. After a couple minutes it was
smiles and handshakes and we were on our way to go surf!
[Edited on 1-8-2013 by BajaGeoff]
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jadams
Junior Nomad
Posts: 63
Registered: 10-5-2010
Location: Campo Delicias / Ramona
Member Is Offline
Mood: wish I was at the campo
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stopped once in 40+yrs at TJ , motor cylce officer wanted me to pay him, told him no , that I would follow to police station, he point to road and
told me to go. I went.
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vgabndo
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3461
Registered: 12-8-2003
Location: Mt. Shasta, CA
Member Is Offline
Mood: Checking-off my bucket list.
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Several years ago an elderly motocop in TJ pulled us out of a line of Mexican vehicles on the hill top before Playas to charge us with speeding. This
guy was clearly "embedded", I had NO trust, and I paid. peeed!
The envelope he handed me, so no money would be visible passing through my window, was so worn-out it looked like tissue paper!
Can someone please post the Sindicatura logo, and anything else I might tape to my license?
Undoubtedly, there are people who cannot afford to give the anchor of sanity even the slightest tug. Sam Harris
"The situation is far too dire for pessimism."
Bill Kauth
Carl Sagan said, "We are a way for the cosmos to know itself."
PEACE, LOVE AND FISH TACOS
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65107
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vgabndo
Several years ago an elderly motocop in TJ pulled us out of a line of Mexican vehicles on the hill top before Playas to charge us with speeding. This
guy was clearly "embedded", I had NO trust, and I paid. peeed!
The envelope he handed me, so no money would be visible passing through my window, was so worn-out it looked like tissue paper!
Can someone please post the Sindicatura logo, and anything else I might tape to my license? |
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