If youre involved in a violent situation, the police will try to help. I became a Mexican citizen because the United States walks too proudly on the earth I prefer a land far less racist and far more accepting. These fake cops tend to target tourists. 1. over to the side of the road at the first opportunity when it is safe. I was not having it. Nothing that Ive read in this article is a surprise, but it is good to read real experience and how it was handled. The first and most important thing you can do to avoid trouble with the police when you're driving in Mexico is to get all your forms in order and keep them that way. In this case, negotiate the best you can and pay. If you prefer to pay by mail, youll find the mailing address on the ticket. A $400 speeding ticket could cost a months salary for an average person living in Tijuana. Keep calm while interacting with the police in Tijuana. To do this, call Tijuanas Tourist Assistance Hotline at 078. Montana moves to save some campsites from filling up with out-of-staters, Industry insiders say RV prices will dropand they already are. Stick to the script, instead. Police officers . At this point, the interaction can go a couple of different ways. Some people prefer to pay and get it over with while others avoid paying bribes at all costs. If they see you have more they are likely to ask for more. When walking around, you want to avoid looking like youre lost or dont know where youre going. Two hours down and only ten minutes away from the airport. You want to avoid escalating the situation. We were so close! Its not surprising that they try to earn a bit extra on the side. For example, I met an ex-pat who was living in Mexico on a temporary import permit and took his car with him when he moved to Mexico. If you want to move to another bar or club after youve been drinking, call a taxi or Uber. This is a very big no-no. If you are in a popular tourist destination, like Playa del Carmen, there is a better chance that the officer will speak English. Your email address will not be published. what to do if stopped by mexican police. yankees front office jobs; twins indicator in natal chart; instructional coaching conference 2022; hail storm in plano, tx today; ichiban happy hour menu In this scam, the dealer sells drugs to a tourist. jackie's danville, va store hours While vising, chances are youll at least take a stroll down Avenida Revolucion in Zona Centro or along Calle Coahuila in Zona Norte. Instead, dress down. Your ice cube tray does a lot more than just make ice, Holy federal film permit, Batman! They also know that tourists dont know the local laws or their rights. For example, they could easily claim that you werent wearing your seat belt or that you were texting while driving. Thats not a lot of money to live on, even in Tijuana. For more info, check out my guide to taking taxis and Ubers in Tijuana. Don't resist even if you believe you are innocent. Corruption is just in their blood. By calling the Citizen Attention Line, Tourist Assistance Hotline, or Sindicatura, youre basically telling the officer that theyre not doing a good job and that youre going to tell their boss and get them in trouble. That way if you are being shaken down, you can claim thats all you have. (Los Angeles Bay instead of Bahia de Los Angeles? office of the Sindicatura Del Gobierno Municipal. what to do if stopped by mexican police. 1. The Baja Secretary of Tourism and the Mexican government are on your side and want the policeto stop this behavior, but they rely on help from tourists to report the problem and to stop feeding into it by offering the cops bribes. In some cases, assailants have been wearing full or partial police uniforms and have . Dont give them a reason to want to, because you will not win. Minors should know: Especially in Zona Norte and Zona Centro. While I was apologizing profusely for my error to one officer, my male traveling companion was talking to another on the passenger side. If you get lost, walk into a store or restaurant to look at the map. They may accuse you of carrying an illegal substance in your car and search your car for contraband. If youre unfamiliar with the city, its best not to go exploring. Your email address will not be published. I fold it over to fit the back of my license, so the police officer can see the phone numbers of the various police investigators. Avoid drawing any attention to yourself. In the past, most fines cost only $20-$50. When we mentioned we had a flight to catch, we became hostages. You never have to consent to a search of yourself, your belongings, your . A local may be able to tell the difference between a real and fake cop. The system will continue to be corrupt forever. Officers sometimes stand on a street corner and perform random searches. This number will connect you to an English-speaking person. They will also tell you why they stopped you. We withdrew the necessary cash and paid the corrupt officer our hefty fine. June 23, 2010, 2:22 PM. In fact, there are corrupt police who will stop people for no other reason than to extract a mordita or bribe. Went to TJ as a kid and had a good time. By following all of the rules and not driving in Tijuana, you can greatly reduce your chances of encountering corruption. Its been a major tourist destination for Americans for over 100 years. We learned this one from a good friend in Cholula. Gosh its nice to live in the USA. The only thing a corrupt police officer really wants from you is money. The officer will simply make up a reason for stopping you. If the officer is trying to make you pay a fine in cash, politely decline and insist that they give you a written citation instead. The officer will either take the bribe or not. This makes tourists more profitable targets. Leave your guns at home. Most of the stuff mentioned in the article happened to me in one traffic stop in Greybull, Wyoming in the early 1970s. campgrounds for sale lake of the ozarks; william heirens childhood; what happens to water when heated prediction 1; Some corrupt police officers can become aggressive and threatening. We have never had an issue with the Police. They could even demand that you hand over your phone. Multiple murders, assaults, robberies. Sounds like he handled the situation perfectly. This is a new system. But see if some folks need a ride back before you leave. With more advanced Spanish, you may be able to talk your way out of paying a bribe or negotiate a lower rate. An officer could also pull you over for a legitimate reason and issue you a ticket that you simply dont agree with. Consider carrying your valuables in an anti-theft bag. Tijuana police are not known for being too helpful to tourists. If it's nighttime, turn on your car's interior light. Good story. He nervously told me to lead the way and he would follow me. Ill explain exactly how to pay a ticket in Tijuana later on in this guide. Copyright 2023 - Where The Road Forks. Same deal stupid, except in the US, the criminals have guns. And the reason I wont ever dream of going to Mexico. In a viral video from 2019, a Mexico City cop doing a routine stop was recorded telling a driver, "I'll nail you" if the motorist didn't pay him an on-the-spot 500-peso bribe. A local knows the local laws and their rights. While youre driving, find a hidden place in your car to stash some cash. Even though he may offer to help you out and only charge a spot fine, you should kindly insist on going to the station to receive your official citation. 9. If you are stopped for a traffic violation in Mexico, you will be asked for your drivers license, vehicle registration, and possibly proof of insurance. the lights on his or her police cruiser, you should pull your vehicle. Alternatively, they could also accuse you of being in the country illegally and ask to see your passport and visa or visitors permit. Fake police officers are also a problem in Tijuana. I saw to many Sailors and Soldiers getting fined in Tijuana for the exact amount of cash they had minus the bus fare to get back to the base. This limits your exposure. Even though people drive a bit differently in Mexico, the driving laws are basically the same as in the U.S. You can read the full story about how I was pickpocketed in Tijuana here. Driving to Baja? They could pretend to make a phone call to a superior or write your address down and tell you that youll receive a receipt in the mail. There are two benefits to paying a Tijuana traffic ticket by card. They dont want a worse reputation. If they agree, you will follow the officer to the police station in your car. This record must include the following information: ethnicity, grounds for search, object of search, police officer details, date, time, and place. Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, Central America; Sainte Mere Eglise, France, Europe; Sekigahara, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, Asia. Worst case, you waste some time and annoy the officer a bit. Most commonly, a drug dealer or con man may have an agreement with a corrupt police officer. Recently saw an article about a small town in a southern state that was shaking people down. There is lots to see and do in Tijuana. I have had two personal experiences with traffic stops in Mexico in the last six years. There is also the principal of the matter. Read Please give me my ticket. If you decide to take a taxi, take a white taxi libre. This indicates to the officer that youre a tourist. The most important thing is to remain calm, be respectful and know your rights. Ive regularly seen passels of kids loose in the back of pickup trucks and the police do not bat an eye, let alone stop those vehicles. While this post is tailored to Mexico, it is just as applicable in Panama City and in Rio de Janeiro. It features locking zippers and slash-proof mesh to prevent theft. While driving in Tijuana, always wear your seatbelt. Particularly at night. Never buy, carry, or use illegal drugs in Tijuana. Your tax deductible gift can help stop human rights violations and save lives around the world. They know that tourists are more likely to be carrying large amounts of cash. Once you come to an agreement, you can pay the officer and theyll send you on your way. I considered it a bargain, considering my error. Answer (1 of 5): Mexican police wear masks either to protect themselves from the current cartel, or other criminals, or they wear protective masks to ward off the Covid-19 virus. Avoid pulling your phone out to look for directions while youre walking around on the street. Corrupt police officers regularly stop drunk tourists and shake them down for bribes. This is an upscale area with fewer tourists. They also dont want to arrest you and have to do a bunch of paperwork. Right. Reach out for pricing and further information. Here, youll find a number of bars and strip clubs. He walked me forcefully to an ATM with his hand on his hip, conveniently close to his gun. That satisfied this second not-so-kind police official, and he took all our pesos and a $20 bill that was in the side pocket of my backpack. Me: "I used to work at [SCHOOL NAMES OMITTED FOR PRIVACY], but now I do other work." Police: But your visa says "education." Me: "Yah. They could take your wallet from your pocket against your will. If it makes you feel any better, it regularly happens to Mexican nationals as well as gringos. If youre able to stall long enough, the officer may become bored or annoyed with you and let you go. Also the poverty here does run rampant so when the occasional coins disappear from the car or some items I made like disappear from the yard, I think about the people who are taking that and how hard it must be for them. Over the past 15 years, Tijuana developed a reputation for being a dangerous border town due to cartel activity. Some approaches work better than others for certain people, so you need to judge based on your personality what will work best for you. There are other benefits to not driving. Always to be forewarned is to be forearmed as they say. For different reasons, these approaches are more likely to get you locked into paying a price, and probably a higher one than he initially asks for, too. If you spend enough time in Tijuana, you will encounter a corrupt police officer who stops you and asks you to pay a bribe. For example, you could pull out a map and ask the officer for directions. When youre intimidated, youre less likely to notice that they arent real cops. If youre a talkative person, you could start telling the officer about your trip and how much you love Tijuana. The amount of the bribe varies. The same is true if you ever get robbed. After a pickpocket steals something from you, they give the item to the corrupt police officer that theyre working with. If you are arrested, ask for a lawyer immediately. Minors stopped by the police. Corruption happens everywhere in Mexico, but I like to call it equal opportunity corruption in that it is priced in such a way that anyone can play. This article is accurate and reflects reality. Whether you are a native Spanish speaker, or you've been practicing for the whole last year, or you only learned the word taco last month, dont even try to speak a word of Spanish. That wraps up our advice for how to deal with the corrupt cops in Mexico. A bold officer may simply demand that you hand over your wallet.