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BonzoBaja
Newbie
Posts: 12
Registered: 4-11-2012
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Border Wait Nightmare!
Hey guys, sorry I don't post too often. I usually only post if I have a specific question or I have just returned from a trip. Today I have both!
This past week my son and I did a quick surf trip to Punta Cabras. Had a great time, cold water, fun surf, uncrowded, typical baja, no complaints
here! The problem was the borderline. I left Cabras around noon, not wanting to cross too late in the day. We take the toll road from Popotla to
the Otay crossing, and find the border no problem! I couldn't believe my luck, the line was maybe a 1/4 mile long! I high-fived my son about our
luck, and obviously, this as a mistake! Turns out the line was barely moving! There were three/four lanes on my left, seperated by a cement wall,
that were way longer, the "express lanes" that were moving pretty fast(at least compared to my side of the crossing). The four lanes I was part of,
however, were not moving much at all! When I finally get to the front after close to FOUR HOURS of inching along, I can't help but notice that the
guard is interrogating each car for like five minutes! When we get to him, I ask him if this has anything to do with the federal government's
sequestration cuts, he says "no, but wait until another month or so, it will be twice as long, at least!". Of course he then asks me what I do for a
living, I tell him I teach high school gov/econ plus Psychology. He then starts asking me trivia questions about Gov"Name me a modern-day political
Theocracy", and "What famous Psychologists came up with the concept of the Archtype?". I answered his questions correctly, only to be then sent to
secondary! Of course secondary is a cluster*&^% and it takes me over an hour to just get out of there(which is a seperate story in itself).
So my first question is: Is he right about the border in the future? Is it about to get "four times as bad" as the border dude told me, or is he
just trying to mess with me? I seriously, will not go back to Mexico, if I know that I will have a 16-hour wait.
Second question: Was something unusual happening last Wednesday that would cause me to have to wait so long, even though the line wasn't that long,
distance-wise?
I really get sick of reading about people who crossed at the same time in like 20 minutes, and I know as soon as this gets posted, someone is going to
post on how it took them FIVE minutes to cross.
Third Question: What is the average wait time? I'm guessing two hours, and I don't think it matters where you cross, nowadays. Any opinions?
Last question: If it was this bad in Otay, what was it like in San Ysidro Wed. afternoon? Was it worse?
Thanks for putting up with my negative attitude, I really love Baja, but the last several crossings have made me severely re-think going in the futue,
and it seems like it just keeps getting worse!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65244
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Nobody knows, but last year, we had a 5 hour wait at Tecate, so it can happen anywhere... and the border agent said we should 'complain'... to who,
for what good? It was a Sunday afternoon, and while not the best day to cross... never been that long... Almost as if an intentional slow down?
Typically, Tecate is a better deal... so next time when you leave Ensenada, get on Hwy. 3 instead of going to Popotla on I-D. Did I understand this
part correctly:
Took the "Toll Road from Popotla to Otay"?
The Corredor 2000 is (was) a free highway. There may have been an exit toll so you paid for the section of 1-D you used...? Unless there has been a
major change in the Corredor 2000?
You can also exit for Tecate off the Corredor 2000... use the FREE road, not the toll road to Tecate, IMO. Both are 4 lanes wide... one has a few
signals, and the other has a $9 toll, and is longer!
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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I can't recall anything out of the ordinary about last Wednesday. I think you just ran into one of the "Poster Boy Border A-holes."
As far as the upcoming wait times....we just have to see what happens, but if it has anything to do with Mr. A-Hole getting his raise on time, I
imagine he and his cronies will make life miserable for us.
Another thing we may see is long wait times will hurt Mexico in many ways and when Mexico hurts, Mexico cries like a baby, and when Mexico cries, the
US listens.
I guess you learned a good lesson. Don't even talk to them unless asked a pertinant question. I don't know how I would have reacted to his impromptu
interrogation, but I'm sure it would have tested my patience.
San Ysidro is generally worse than Otay.
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DavidE
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3814
Registered: 12-1-2003
Location: Baja California México
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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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Sleep on the couch, take it out on the wogs the next day.
"I'll go over there and sit and let you do your job" usually works for me.
A Lot To See And A Lot To Do
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Dave
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6005
Registered: 11-5-2002
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Archtype O
| Quote: | Originally posted by BonzoBaja
He then starts asking me trivia questions about Gov"Name me a modern-day political Theocracy", and "What famous Psychologists came up with the concept
of the Archtype?". |
Are the border guards are getting smarter?
The high school gov/econ plus Psychology teachers?
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65244
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Hi Dave, missed you here!
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durrelllrobert
Elite Nomad
Posts: 7393
Registered: 11-22-2007
Location: Punta Banda BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: thriving in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DavidE
Sleep on the couch, take it out on the wogs the next day.
"I'll go over there and sit and let you do your job" usually works for me. |
Last time Mr Ahole asked me where was I going?
I answered to Secondary and I was right.
Bob Durrell
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msawin
Nomad
Posts: 373
Registered: 8-29-2003
Location: Grass Valley,Ca / Tripui
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Crossing North
We came back North Friday Pm. We decided [me] to go thru San Ysidro because it was getting Late, 7:30 ish instead of the normal Tecate route..
2 Hours in line.
If you see me inline DO NOT get behind me because I always get the slowest lane...
So you get up there with the A-hole and he asks the Question " OK WHAT YOU GOT BACK there?"..
" Really. "
I got the same chituff I crossed last week headed south with. The same chituff stuff [our cloths and a ice chest] the very polite Mexican
Immigration Officer took a look at in Tecate, and WISHED me a great trip south..... WISHED me.....yes polite.
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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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Just towed the Grady back yesterday thru San Ysidro. The problem is NOT the US construction as there were 8-10 lanes open. The problem, as always,
is the Mexican construction that has narrowed 4 lanes to three.
As you come off the bridge you have four lanes going from left to right lanes 1-4. Lane #3 merges into #4. This is to allow parking for the stupid
ass vendors and the vendors have used this to their advantage by forcing lane #3 into #4.
Of course everyone waiting is courteous enough to allow for merging
As long as the Mexican infrastructure is left in it's current, bottle necked, configuration - it will allows be very slow.
I had fun moving the vendor carts around with the boat trailer, even got out and moved one myself. Caught up on some reading, chatted up some chicas.
Three hour wait. 10 minutes in secondary.
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline
Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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It IS Spring Break, after all. All I can say is, don't EVER think you will get a break at the border, especially without a Sentri pass..the best time
to reach the border is 1:30 in the morning.
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Bruce R Leech
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6796
Registered: 9-20-2004
Location: Ensenada formerly Mulege
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Mood: A lot cooler than Mulege
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as long as they allow people to pay for faster passage it will force the non payers to move slower, just like the ex car pool lanes that are now pay
to go faster lanes.
It is the American way of rewarding the rich and punishing the poor.
Bruce R Leech
Ensenada
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Desertbull
Senior Nomad
Posts: 558
Registered: 8-27-2003
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The Otay Mesa right side of the K-rail has been 4 hours for the past couple years...get a Ready Pass for $30 and do the left side of the K-rail as we
get thru in an hour...just sayin'
DREAM IT! PLAN IT! LIVE IT!
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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 Bruce R Leech
as long as they allow people to pay for faster passage it will force the non payers to move slower, just like the ex car pool lanes that are now pay
to go faster lanes.
It is the American way of rewarding the rich and punishing the poor. |
SENTRI does not reward the rich people, it rewards the SMARTER people
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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| Quote: | Originally posted by BonzoBaja
Thanks for putting up with my negative attitude, I really love Baja, but the last several crossings have made me severely re-think going in the futue,
and it seems like it just keeps getting worse! |
http://apps.cbp.gov/bwt/
Spring break......I have a place in San Felipe.....went there once upon a time during Easter. The traffic was insane going home. Insane. MAYBE this
was your problem.
The crossings......it's Russian roulette. I have crossed in 22 minutes.....and I have crossed in 3.5 hours :-( Reading the BN here offered me
information about the new Mexicali crossing. Rarely does it take me more than 45 minutes to cross.
So.....just where is your hometown....maybe someone here will put up up a better route/time factors for you.
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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jeans
Super Nomad
Posts: 1059
Registered: 9-16-2002
Member Is Offline
Mood: Encantada
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| Quote: | Originally posted by durrelllrobert
Last time Mr Ahole asked me where was I going?
I answered to Secondary and I was right. |
Mom once asked, "Do you get paid more for being an #55-hole?" 
That earned her a trip into secondary.
Mom always told me to be different - Now she says...Not THAT different
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nbacc
Senior Nomad
Posts: 770
Registered: 12-27-2008
Location: Northern California
Member Is Offline
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Never Never go during spring Break..............if you do expect to wait returning to the USA. I realize some go for the fun or it is the only time
they can go but if you do you can expect the worst coming back. Especially on a Sunday. Nancy
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wilderone
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3871
Registered: 2-9-2004
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I read today that the Border Patrol may be excluded from furlough and overtime restrictions planned because of "Sequestration". I'm wondering if
there is a purposeful slow-down in order to portray false repercussions due to less personnel and fewer hours. I crossed yesterday and sat behind one
bus for an hour (we were next). There were three patrol officers standing at the Camiones door where passengers offload a the front of the bus - it
had US plates - a tour bus. Once in a while one of them would walk to the back of the bus and shine a flashlight in the engine compartment. Once
inside, there were few pedestrian lanes open, yet about a dozen officers at the desks in front. Clearly, there could be better management and
supervision of staff so that the level of "service" could remain about the same as before staff changes. I believe they are purposely creating long
back-ups to ostensibly be able to point to negative impact of sequestration staff changes. That's what I observed.
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J.P.
Super Nomad
Posts: 1673
Registered: 7-8-2010
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline
Mood: Easy Does It
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| Quote: | Originally posted by bajaguy
| Quote: | Originally posted by Bruce R Leech
as long as they allow people to pay for faster passage it will force the non payers to move slower, just like the ex car pool lanes that are now pay
to go faster lanes.
It is the American way of rewarding the rich and punishing the poor. |
SENTRI does not reward the rich people, it rewards the SMARTER people
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Maybee so. I think it would be smarter on thier Part to design a truly more Efficient system to serve everyone rather than set up a Class System
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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 J.P.
Maybee so. I think it would be smarter on thier Part to design a truly more Efficient system to serve everyone rather than set up a Class System
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If everyone had Sentri, it would be meaningless.
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Steve&Debby
Nomad
Posts: 335
Registered: 12-18-2007
Location: Colusa,California/ Percebu
Member Is Offline
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Crossed Monday in Mexicali, took 2.5 hours
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