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El Comadante Loco
Nomad
Posts: 274
Registered: 6-12-2004
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POLICIA FEDERAL
Went fishing in both Loreto and San Quintin, fishing was off in SQ. On our return on 7/29 about 3k before the standing policia federal check point
before the Manadero I was stopped by the dreaded policia federal. I admit I was speeding, passed a slow moving truck over on the shoulder and I did
cross slightly over the solid yellow line. I got caught.
The officer explained why I was stopped and asked for my drivers license and registration. I asked if I could exit the truck to dig out my license
and registration he said no problem. Once out of the truck he pointed out to me where I had passed the truck and asked how fishing was. He asked if
had ever had received an infraction I told him no. He informed me that he was going to write me an infraction, bolleto de infracion which he did.
After he was done he handed me back my documents including my insurance card which he had asked for.
I was impressed by his professionalism, he was courteous, informative, respectful and above board. I responded to him likewise. Not once did he hit me
up for a mordida or even open the door to it.
When he finished with the bolleto de infracion he told me that he did not write me speeding or passing the truck on the shoulder only for crossing the
solid line.
He explained the process to clear the bolleto. I had to take the boleto to any office of the policia federal and pick up another document kind of like
an invoice to take to Bancomer to pay the fine. He also told me if I did this within 15 days I would receive a hefty discount. Given that
information I went to the policia federal office in Mexicali today and picked up my invoice and again the attending officer told me there was no rush
I had until the 8/19 to pay the fine and receive a 50% discount. I went immediately to Bancomer and paid. The cost of my bolleto $394 pesos about
$25 US
Lesson learned: The policy of the policia federal is to issue a boleto de infracion and your responsibility is to pay it. No modida needed so if your
are stopped insist on a boleto
BTW you do not have to take the boleto to the office yourself anyone can do it for you and pay the fine..
Enjoy your driving in Baja
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Udo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6343
Registered: 4-26-2008
Location: Black Hills, SD/Ensenada/San Felipe
Member Is Offline
Mood: TEQUILA!
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Thanks for the great positive story!
Udo
Youth is wasted on the young!
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BAJA.DESERT.RAT
Senior Nomad
Posts: 980
Registered: 11-5-2009
Location: BAJA SUR
Member Is Offline
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Hola,
i have been stopped by the federal police three times while living in los barriles and have found them to be very professional, never asked for
mordida, which is illegal for them to ask for and you to pay.
my fourth encounter..i had a flat on my suv going north just south of constitution on a two lane road with no turnouts and put on my flashers. cars
and trucks just wizzing by.
i called 066 and it took about ten minutes to get an english speaking person. i explained my situation and about where i was and he said he'll take
care of it.
about twenty minutes passed and a federal police car passed me going south, turned around, pulled behind me, put his lights on said he would call a
tire repair service and would wait with me until the truck arrived. perfect english speaking and very polite.
about another twenty minutes, an old flat bed truck pulls up, turns around and looks at my problem. i asked him how much and he said we'll talk about
it. small mistake.
he unloads the utilty trailer i was pulling as my unmounted spare tires were in the front of the trailer...no side door.
they take the flat off the rear of my suv, dismantle the tire off the rim, mount the new tire on the rim and put the tire on my suv.
they put everything back into my trailer and then..we talk. he wants a $ 100.00. I didn't haggle as i am happy to be back on my way home to l.a., ca.
the federal cops, the ones i have met are very professional people.
i have never had the opportunity of meeting the regular city policias but i have heard horror stories.
by the way, the SINDICATURA stickers do work.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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sancho
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 2524
Registered: 10-6-2004
Location: OC So Cal
Member Is Offline
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I can't remember if all Mex police on Hwy's are Federal or not, I assume they are. Was a humorous story a few yrs back, a Gringo driver
going so. on 5, just past the Laguna Salada area no. of San
Felipe, was flagged over, was told he was speeding, to which the
Gringo
replied ' how would you know if I was speeding, you're parked here' to which the Mex cop calmly,
logically explained, of course you were speeding, everyone does
on this Hwy.
[Edited on 8-1-2015 by sancho]
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bajalearner
Senior Nomad
Posts: 670
Registered: 8-24-2010
Location: Tijuana
Member Is Offline
Mood: in search of more
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Quote: Originally posted by sancho  | I can't remember if all Mex police on Hwy's are Federal or not, I assume they are. Was a humorous story a few yrs back, a Gringo driver
going so. on 5, just past the Laguna Salada area no. of San
Felipe, was flagged over, was told he was speeding, to which the
Gringo
replied ' how would you know if I was speeding, you're parked here' to which the Mex cop calmly,
logically explained, of course you were speeding, everyone does
on this Hwy.
[Edited on 8-1-2015 by sancho] |
 
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basautter
Senior Nomad
Posts: 862
Registered: 7-1-2013
Member Is Offline
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Nice change of culture! Most of the people I have seen offer bribes have done so without being prompted. Sometimes they are taken, other times not.
I point out that they are setting expectations for future travelers, and should not do that. 
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chuckie
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6082
Registered: 2-20-2012
Location: Kansas Prairies
Member Is Offline
Mood: Weary
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I got stopped once for a "routine check" by the Federal Police, Since there was no traffic, I let my dog out for a run....He went over to their table
and grabbed a hot dog and ate it! They said they were going to arrest me for stealing Federal Property.....We all laughed...good guys....
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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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Highway cops are your friends. City cops not so much.
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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 BAJA.DESERT.RAT | Hola,
i have been stopped by the federal police three times while living in los barriles and have found them to be very professional, never asked for
mordida, which is illegal for them to ask for and you to pay.
my fourth encounter..i had a flat on my suv going north just south of constitution on a two lane road with no turnouts and put on my flashers. cars
and trucks just wizzing by.
i called 066 and it took about ten minutes to get an english speaking person. i explained my situation and about where i was and he said he'll take
care of it.
about twenty minutes passed and a federal police car passed me going south, turned around, pulled behind me, put his lights on said he would call a
tire repair service and would wait with me until the truck arrived. perfect english speaking and very polite.
about another twenty minutes, an old flat bed truck pulls up, turns around and looks at my problem. i asked him how much and he said we'll talk about
it. small mistake.
he unloads the utilty trailer i was pulling as my unmounted spare tires were in the front of the trailer...no side door.
they take the flat off the rear of my suv, dismantle the tire off the rim, mount the new tire on the rim and put the tire on my suv.
they put everything back into my trailer and then..we talk. he wants a $ 100.00. I didn't haggle as i am happy to be back on my way home to l.a., ca.
the federal cops, the ones i have met are very professional people.
i have never had the opportunity of meeting the regular city policias but i have heard horror stories.
by the way, the SINDICATURA stickers do work.
BIEN SALUD, DA RAT
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Yes they do:
Bob Durrell
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ncampion
Super Nomad
Posts: 1238
Registered: 4-15-2006
Location: Loreto
Member Is Offline
Mood: Retired and Loving it
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X 2. I have always been treated with courtesy by the Federal Police, never a hint of a bribe and even got off with a warning once about speeding.
Different story with most (not all) of the city cops.
Living Large in Loreto. Off-grid and happy.
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Maron
Nomad
Posts: 458
Registered: 4-14-2014
Member Is Offline
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Where does one buy/print sticker?
Thanks
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gallesram
Nomad
Posts: 384
Registered: 7-6-2010
Location: Laguna Beach
Member Is Offline
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I bought mine at mike's stickers:
http://www.mikestickers.com/countries/mexico.htm
Totally agree that it works; haven't been pulled over in 5 years ever since I put one on the back of my car.
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55steve
Senior Nomad
Posts: 857
Registered: 4-24-2006
Location: Warner Springs, CA
Member Is Offline
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Federal Police stopped me towing down to BoLA - Right out in the middle of nowhere - I was hesitant to stop but my brother was a half mile behind so I
figured it would be OK - he was very polite and asked me the usual questions and we were on our way. It was a good experience.
Thanks for the link - ordered a couple of the 'no apple' stickers!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64749
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks for that link!
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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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I have had nothing but positive interactions with Federal Police. I have found them to be polite, courteous and many speak English that is much better
than my Spanish....
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lizard lips
Super Nomad
Posts: 1468
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: EARTH
Member Is Offline
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I posted this encounter some time ago but I must do it again.
An old Navy buddy of mine came to visit us here in Ensenada for a week so I was taking him around the town showing him the sites.He was nervous about
coming to Mexico and asked if it was safe, do the police actually pull people over and extort money, blah, blah, blah.
As we were driving down Reforma towards Maneandero I was stopped at a red light. A Policia Federal vehicle pulled up next to us and I noticed the
driver was my brother in law who was a Captain at the time. I looked at my friend and told him "Watch this". I then rolled down my window and started
yelling at my brother in law and was flipping him off. I thought my friend was going to pass out and kept grabbing my flipping off finger but I kept
doing it. My brother in law just laughed and when the light turned green he kept going.
I didn't tell my friend that he was family until we were at a family party the next day when my brother in law showed up in his uniform. My buddy
laughed so much.....
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Terry28
Senior Nomad
Posts: 824
Registered: 8-25-2007
Location: S.Calif mtns.
Member Is Offline
Mood: Thirsty
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God, that's funny!!!!
Mexico!! Where two can live as cheaply as one.....but it costs twice as much.....
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bajabuddha
Banned
Posts: 4024
Registered: 4-12-2013
Location: Baja New Mexico
Member Is Offline
Mood: Always cranky unless medicated
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All of the 'feel-good' stories of the Federales are fine, but I've had a few personal experiences that aren't so fine.
Everyone in the Sta. Rosalia / Mulegé corridor know about the x-mas officer's drive set up in speed traps along Hwy 1 i.e. bus-stops; little towns
with the speed going from ALOT to a-little with no buildings around, just posted speed zones; all legal, and if you don't drop to 40kmph (25 mph) you
WON'T be given a ticket, because Sta. R. is so far away, but you WILL give a donation to the specific officer's family's Navidad donation.
About 5 years ago a fellow camper at La Perla was on his way back to the beach about 9 pm, and at the Santispac curve (just north of the beach)
nodded, rolled, and survived. He was first time in Baja, somewhat indigent, as in living in his trailer (master-carpenter) and on winter vacation
with friend who'd just left to go north..........yes, he screwed up, and nodded off, caught an edge, and rolled. He lived. His truck didn't.
Totalled, smashed, and because he was semi-indigent had all his tools of his trade in his camper shell.
Bertha (the infamous one from Bertha's and Coyote) herself and family were behind him; picked him up, carried him to La Perla, to me, and as a former
EMS I gave him a good assessment; he was physically OK but very traumatized (no chit)........ we took him back to his accident site, total no more
than an hour, probably 45 minutes total.
FEDERALES ON - SCENE, as were EMS, and a whole lot of looky-loo's... mess everywhere and scattered. Almost everything that was in the back of his
truck was GONE. NO security on-scene, Fed's sitting in their car.
My fellow camper was needless to say in shock and scared spitless. The fed's asked if he'd been drinking in town; he'd said ''a beer or two'' .
POUNCE. Mexico has a 'zero-tolerance law'.... fine. His first and biggest mistake; like in the U.S., NEVER ADMIT ANYTHING, RIGHT? So,
he'd stepped on his Richard right there. It was his first trip to Baja, was going through hard times, we all have excuses, blah-blah..... But these
VULTURES pounced on him like flies like stink.
They threatened him with a $20,000 USD fine and 2 YEARS IN A MEXICAN PRISON. Needless to say, he was chitting cactus spines.
The actual law of the offense was, because it was a single-car accident there wasn't even a citation needed to be written, but they had this poor sap
by the juevos. He didn't speak any Spanish, but after an hour of negotiating for him, the two officers walked away with $200USD in each of their
pockets (all he had on him) and an admonition NOT to come to the Federale Officina by Sta. Rosalia for a receipt, no harm, no foul. He submitted the
'accident report' that was issued to the Mexican Insurance Co. and got a pittance for his rolled truck, all contents un-insurable.
I don't give a flying ---- what the uniform is, it's the person behind it. This poor guy will probably have PTSD from the wreck as well as the RAPE
for the rest of his days.
I personally have been shaken for mordida as many times from PDF as from local policia. They don't get paid much, that's the difference between
Norte and Mexico.
Or is it? Glad I'm not a junkie pusher, eh? Not justifying burning cities, but BAD COPS IS BAD COPS.
I don't have a BUCKET LIST, but I do have a F***- IT LIST a mile long!
86 - 45*
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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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just right click on the one I posted then select "save image as" to your computer and print it out.
Bob Durrell
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gallesram
Nomad
Posts: 384
Registered: 7-6-2010
Location: Laguna Beach
Member Is Offline
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I did that at first too but it faded pretty quickly. I sent the picture to Mike and then he created the sticker. Worth the few bucks he charges to
have one which lasts more than month!
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