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Don Jorge
Senior Nomad
Posts: 647
Registered: 8-29-2003
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Speargun Confiscated at TIJ Border
Last Tuesday, the gal working the early morning shift for Aduanas at the TIJ border took away my speargun. Luckily it was a JBL and not the Riffes
which I left at home, but still a few hundred bucks. This is not the first time I have had issues with the spearguns crossing into Mexico, but this
is the first time they confiscated them.
I could do or say nothing to convince her it was legal in Mexico for sport fishing purposes. They did give me a receipt and I can pick it up when I
return but that is still a month away and if it will still be there I do not know.
In the end, after 3 hours of trying to scare me that it was a weapon, blah blah, they let me go, without it. From the get go I was not going to let
the encounter spoil my trip and used it as an exercise to practice Spanish and engage in the system formally, with respect and confidence.
The aduanas gal also tried to to tell me that since my registration on the quad was expired, I could not bring it in to Mexico and needed to return to
the USA . Explaining to her the registration was not required for off road use and I only had it to prove ownership in order to bring it along was a
hard sell. In the end she ran the registration through the computer data base and yes, it belongs to me.
I would have been so happy to have the regulations regarding spearguns in Mexico in print. Would need to have an official copy from PESCA
rules and or from the Registro Federal. Anyone have a link to share?
Also, they tried to tell me it was very dangerous to carry such a lethal weapon. I explained to them how this lethal weapon works and showed them I
had removed the bands for transport. Got a bad look from her on that exchange and she huffed off never to be seen by me again.
In the end she sent out a fellow to deliver the stack of papers i needed to sign and they gave me back my passport, registrations for truck, trailer
and quad and let me go.
Those aduana gals are tough but in this case she made up her own rules. If we could get in print the official rules regarding spearguns in Mexico and
share those rules it would be very helpful in preventing this from continuing to happen.
[Edited on 10-1-2019 by Don Jorge]
[Edited on 8-17-2021 by Don Jorge]
�And it never failed that during the dry years the people forgot about the rich years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of the dry
years. It was always that way.�― John Steinbeck
"All models are wrong, but some are useful." George E.P. Box
"Nature bats last." Doug "Hayduke" Peac-ck
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mtgoat666
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Posts: 18373
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
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Mood: Hot n spicy
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Legal-to-fish-with may be separate matter from being legal to carry across border...
Woke!
“...ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” “My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America
will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.”
Prefered gender pronoun: the royal we
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baronvonbob
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That is an interesting point, actually needs consideration!
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Pacifico
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First time I've heard of something like this! I've taken my spearguns dozens of times in plain view without issue. Unless something changed, I don't
know....
All I could find was this:
You may have gotten the bad apple at the border...
[Edited on 10-1-2019 by Pacifico]
[Edited on 10-1-2019 by Pacifico]
[Edited on 10-1-2019 by Pacifico]
[Edited on 10-3-2019 by Pacifico]
"Plan your life as if you are going to live forever. Live your life as if you are going to die tomorrow." - Carlos Fiesta
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SoCalAl
Nomad
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Registered: 6-8-2004
Location: Punta Banda, Ca
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Mood: Hungry
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I usually request their supervisor and things usually get resolved... Have had those types of experiences at aduana beofre...
Ahh Baja.... Where you can hear yourself think & commingling with the locals will humble you.
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ehall
Super Nomad
Posts: 1906
Registered: 3-29-2014
Location: Buckeye, Az
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Mood: It's 5 o'clock somewhere
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Funny, even the soldiers at the military checkpoints don't give it a second look.
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Mulege Canuck
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I bring two spearguns with me, and I have never had a problem. I keep them in the open in my camper. After hearing this I will tuck them away.
That really sucks man.
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Don Jorge
Senior Nomad
Posts: 647
Registered: 8-29-2003
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Yes and that was her contention in the end. But, they were unable or unwilling to show me the regulation specific to this issue.
They claimed it needed to be imported and since I did not declare it they confiscated it.
Now, it would be nice if we could clear this issue up with printed, published Mexican laws. When I return I will speak with a customs broker we know
and see if they can bring some clarity to this.
I only brought this up because I know many of us have crossed many times, been through many military checkpoints too with spearguns and never had a
problem.
Since this was the second time this year the speargun was an issue it is obvious and best if I can get definitive, legal guidance.
Merely trying to find an answer and the final answer, spearguns legal or not legal to possess and or transport, will be the guidance we follow.
Since I am now in their database I dare not bring another speargun across until this is cleared up. Second time could result in a vehicle impound and
that gets really expensive and time consuming.
Two things stand out to all the changes over all the years spent in Baja.
The first is the emergence of a solid middle class in Mexico.
The second is the border crossing. Gone are the days of pay as you go.
�And it never failed that during the dry years the people forgot about the rich years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of the dry
years. It was always that way.�― John Steinbeck
"All models are wrong, but some are useful." George E.P. Box
"Nature bats last." Doug "Hayduke" Peac-ck
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daveB
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Posts: 244
Registered: 11-6-2003
Location: B.C. Canada
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Mood: wondering about Nomads!
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You had no SCUBA gear with you? I have always heard that is not permitted in Mexico, if they see the two together, your gun with be taken. I do note
you did not have mention of SCUBA so I hope you can retrieve your gear, sounds like a problem with border personnel. Trying another crossing might
have crossed my mind.
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AKgringo
Elite Nomad
Posts: 6025
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Location: Anchorage, AK (no mas!)
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I don't know...a tube with a pistol grip? She might have thought it was a rocket launcher! 
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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Lee
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Posts: 3507
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Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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Quote: Originally posted by Mulege Canuck  | I bring two spearguns with me, and I have never had a problem. I keep them in the open in my camper. After hearing this I will tuck them away.
That really sucks man. |
Here's the problem. You see someone experiencing a problem, and think you will learn from their ''mistake.''
Think MX logic might play out this way. If I were keeping spearguns in the open in a camper and that has worked in the past, I'd keep doing it.
My opinion doesn't matter what the MX law is, or how long spearguns have been allowed into MX in the past.
Having a hardcopy of the law in hand, showing it at border crossing, is probably meaningless as well. The legitimacy of the copy can be denied by
the border agent, and that's that.
Think it's luck of the draw in this situation. Get your gear back and use a different crossing.
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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Archie
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Registered: 4-23-2012
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That's highly irregular. The website of Mx Customs has a list of the things you can bring as a tourist without paying taxes, that includes sports gear
http://omawww.sat.gob.mx/BienvenidoaMexico/Paginas/respaldo/...
| Quote: |
Dos equipos deportivos personales, cuatro cañas de pesca, tres deslizadores con o sin vela y sus accesorios, trofeos o reconocimientos, siempre que
puedan ser transportados común y normalmente por el pasajero.
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Two sets of sports gear for personal use, four fishing poles, three boards w/without sails, trophies and awards that can be carried normally by the
passenger.
Official norms for sport fishing do consider the use of spear guns, even pneumatic; and only if you plan to use it from a boat, then they can ask you
for your fishing license. If you plan to fish from shore, you're good to go.
http://www.pescalabaja.com/doc/Manual-de-Pesca-17FEB-interac...
I Know the last thing you want it's to get involved in the bureaucratic nightmare with Mx Gvt, but you should file a complaint.
That's the only way they can solve things like this, law should not be subject to personnel interpretations or criteria.
[Edited on 10-1-2019 by Archie]
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freediverbrian
Senior Nomad
Posts: 620
Registered: 2-24-2007
Location: Papas Gonzaga Bay
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The most through searches I have had at the South bound boarder have been by the young women agents. They will search your vehicle very well. Maybe
too well inforcing laws that do not exist. I can understand a young woman working in a Latin America macho job, has to work twice as hard as a male.
I would much rather we an old pot belly male officer inspector coming to my truck, he will not climb in the back and dig thru bags and boxes.
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Allwaters
Junior Nomad
Posts: 66
Registered: 10-29-2020
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| Quote: Originally posted by Don Jorge | Last Tuesday, the gal working the early morning shift for Aduanas at the TIJ border took away my speargun. Luckily it was a JBL and not the Riffes
which I left at home, but still a few hundred bucks. This is not the first time I have had issues with the spearguns crossing into Mexico, but this
is the first time they confiscated them.
I could do or say nothing to convince her it was legal in Mexico for sport fishing purposes. They did give me a receipt and I can pick it up when I
return but that is still a month away and if it will still be there I do not know.
In the end, after 3 hours of trying to scare me that it was a weapon, blah blah, they let me go, without it. From the get go I was not going to let
the encounter spoil my trip and used it as an exercise to practice Spanish and engage in the system formally, with respect and confidence.
The aduanas gal also tried to to tell me that since my registration on the quad was expired, I could not bring it in to Mexico and needed to return to
the USA . Explaining to her the registration was not required for off road use and I only had it to prove ownership in order to bring it along was a
hard sell. In the end she ran the registration through the computer data base and yes, it belongs to me.
I would have been so happy to have the regulations regarding spearguns in Mexico in print. Would need to have an official copy from PESCA
rules and or from the Registro Federal. Anyone have a link to share?
Also, they tried to tell me it was very dangerous to carry such a lethal weapon. I explained to them how this lethal weapon works and showed them I
had removed the bands for transport. Got a bad look from her on that exchange and she huffed off never to be seen by me again.
In the end she sent out a fellow to deliver the stack of papers i needed to sign and they gave me back my passport, registrations for truck, trailer
and quad and let me go.
Those aduana gals are tough but in this case she made up her own rules. If we could get in print the official rules regarding spearguns in Mexico and
share those rules it would be very helpful in preventing this from continuing to happen.
[Edited on 10-1-2019 by Don Jorge] |
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Allwaters
Junior Nomad
Posts: 66
Registered: 10-29-2020
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Sounds like she likely had a boyfriend of family member she was thinking of gifting it to. Some palm grease or speaking with a higher up would have
allowed it. Certain areas I have seen signs posted outlawing their use or possession of them such as in a sanctuary of some sort but not overall. I
had a similar situation years ago flying into Argentina with fishing rod tubes. They could not be found at the airport and I was recommended to return
tomorrow, I knew if I had done so I would never have seen or used those rods ever again, instead I demanded to see someone else and stay at the
airport as long as necessary to get them. They miraculously appeared within minutes!
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BajaTed
Senior Nomad
Posts: 859
Registered: 5-2-2010
Location: Bajamar
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Dude,
They gave you 10 minutes to find a way to hand over a twenty spot.
You then stretched it out to 3 hours.
She told the story to her amigas and they all had a laugh while nodding in the affirmative manner that they do when discussing norteamericanos.
Es Todo Bueno
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Don Jorge
Senior Nomad
Posts: 647
Registered: 8-29-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by BajaTed | Dude,
They gave you 10 minutes to find a way to hand over a twenty spot.
You then stretched it out to 3 hours.
She told the story to her amigas and they all had a laugh while nodding in the affirmative manner that they do when discussing norteamericanos.
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You are right no doubt. Maybe after I get more experience in Mexico, maybe someday as much as you have now, I can figure that all out. Thanks!
�And it never failed that during the dry years the people forgot about the rich years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of the dry
years. It was always that way.�― John Steinbeck
"All models are wrong, but some are useful." George E.P. Box
"Nature bats last." Doug "Hayduke" Peac-ck
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chatolj
Junior Nomad
Posts: 99
Registered: 3-17-2014
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Looking at the photo it appears you were at one of the x-ray machines. Once they have you that far into their system, a twenty dollar bill is not
going to fix things. The new crop of Aduana employees are very serious about their jobs. Their training and knowing the laws is another story. That
new south bound TJ crossing does a faster and more complete job of monitoring what is crossing than the north bound US CBP.
As far as bribing any Mexican official, $50 is the new $20. Just saying.
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BajaBlanca
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Posts: 13196
Registered: 10-28-2008
Location: La Bocana, BCS
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I do believe your speargun will be there when you return but by the time one arrives at the border, getting across it fast is usually the priority.
Bummer, for sure. Fantastic that you decided not to let it spoil your trip!
That's the right attitude, for sure.
Will you make it as far south as La Bocana? I would love to buy you a margarita at our beach restaurant!
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Don Jorge
Senior Nomad
Posts: 647
Registered: 8-29-2003
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| Quote: Originally posted by BajaBlanca | I do believe your speargun will be there when you return but by the time one arrives at the border, getting across it fast is usually the priority.
Bummer, for sure. Fantastic that you decided not to let it spoil your trip!
That's the right attitude, for sure.
Will you make it as far south as La Bocana? I would love to buy you a margarita at our beach restaurant! |
This post is from last years fall trip to Mag Bay. I was there 2 months and upon my return never attempted to retrieve the speargun.
Leaving soon for this years fall trip to Mag Bay. I will not be visiting La Bocana this trip plan but someday.
I plan to to bring another speargun and hopefully even if those Tolucanitas at Aduanas give me grief with Lencho's help finding Articulo 92 maybe the
results will be positive. Have Articulo 92 printed out and ready to share with the gals from chorizolandia.
Thanks Lencho. Much appreciated the effort to find and share that information.
�And it never failed that during the dry years the people forgot about the rich years, and during the wet years they lost all memory of the dry
years. It was always that way.�― John Steinbeck
"All models are wrong, but some are useful." George E.P. Box
"Nature bats last." Doug "Hayduke" Peac-ck
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