what to do if stopped by mexican police

This makes tourists more profitable targets. All of this makes it easier for a corrupt police officer to take advantage of tourists than locals. Since January, 69-year-old Lupe Adame has been driving his truck back and forth from Escondido to Tijuana to help his friend renovate a [] I like to stash away around $50-$100 this is enough for a hotel room, food, and a ride to the border if worst comes to worst. Instead of involving the police, I offered her 200 pesos for my phone (around $10). I missed a small stop sign partially hidden behind some bushes while driving my Class B motorhome. Lots of crime happens here. 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. We offered the officer everything in our wallet, but he could smell our fear and got greedy. Reach out for pricing and further information. Youre more likely to have a police encounter in areas where there are more police. Also, keep in mind that going to the police station is a hassle. It features locking zippers and slash-proof mesh to prevent theft. A bit firmer this time, we told him he could take whatever we had on us but that we couldnt withdraw any more from the bank. Pretend that you dont speak any Spanish or that you understand very little Spanish. If you get lost, walk into a store or restaurant to look at the map. The police wont help you try to retrieve a stolen wallet or phone. Every Saturday and Sunday morning. What are your likely plans for 2023? 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. If possible, drive in groups in remote areas. If the cop is corrupt, he will take your money and leave. Whether you have a tour, a meeting, a flight, a dinner, or whatever, dont mention it! 21 hours ago. The areas around the border crossings are also heavily policed because they are frequented by tourists who are entering and leaving Mexico. We got pulled over AGAIN for the same thing, and the municipal police officer laughed when we showed him our receipt of payment. The uniformed, machine gun outfitted soldiers may look intimidating but these are usually quick checks of ID and immigration papers (so have passports and visas handy). With more advanced Spanish, you may be able to talk your way out of paying a bribe or negotiate a lower rate. Sorry youre. To prevent this, lower your daily withdrawal limit so they cant drain your account. They issue themselves fake documents, badges, and uniforms. They dont want to fight with you. Keep an eye on the officers searching your vehicle or RV to the best of your ability. Of course, I got pulled over, and rightfully so. In this case, the officer will probably put you in the back of the police car and drive you there. For more info, check out my guide to taking taxis and Ubers in Tijuana. We want to highlight 3 approaches that work very well in handling the police. Of course, there is also the principal of the matter. If you liked this post, you would probably enjoy these three: Through traveling to almost 50 countries and living in 4 of them, Ive had really cool opportunities to learn a lot about the world and its people. So far, from everything I've seen in my time here, the police are more polite and tend to abuse people far less than in the U.S. In some cases, assailants have been wearing full or partial police uniforms and have . . Its easy to speed or make, illegal turn, or get lost. FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2020 file photo, a policeman drives past town hall in Apaseo El Alto, Guanajuato state, Mexico. If the officer is corrupt, they will imply that you can settle the matter there and then by paying a fine in cash. This is done to intimidate you. I encountered this scam when my phone was pickpocketed one night while walking home from a bar. This can happen pretty much anywhere in the city at any time of day. Police officers do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy when performing their jobs, but the people they are interacting with may have privacy rights that would require you to notify them of the recording. If you think that the fine is unfair and wish to contest the ticket, you can. Yes. Here is another similar form I found. Once at the station you can pay the fine or fight your case, should you feel the stop was unjustified. 1. -If you are stopped by a police officer for a traffic violation, you should request a written citation from the officer. These are highly illegal in Tijuana. In most circumstances, the officer will just give up and drive away. You will also be told what you did wrong. Minors stopped by the police. If you still have some cash in your wallet, you cant easily prove that a police officer robbed you. We just crossed into Mexico in our RVand it was easy! Traffic citations are written in both English and Spanish and will contain instruction on how to pay the fee. The immigration and customs officials are honest. Remember, the officer just wants money. The same is true if you ever get robbed. The machine prints you out a receipt for your payment of the fine. Regardless of this potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers. If you decide to take a taxi, take a white taxi libre. Website by Faith in Marketing, Getting Pulled Over by the Police in Baja: Know your Rights. When we mentioned we had a flight to catch, we became hostages. They may leave you with a bit of cash to get back across the border. June 23, 2010, 2:22 PM. He walked me forcefully to an ATM with his hand on his hip, conveniently close to his gun. One friend got shook down on the highway. Independencia 1350, Zona Urbana Rio Tijuana, 22320 Tijuana, B.C. You can do this by calling your credit card company or bank. We go to Mexico on a regular basis. It is located on Blvd. We were in fairly heavy traffic. celebrity veranda stateroom . 2022 Discover Baja Travel Club - All rights reserved. If you pay, you are partially responsible for perpetuating corruption. By continuing to use our site, you consent to accepting cookies. Thank you for reading! In the state of Baja, traffic tickets are divided into four levels of severity. Each year, a number of law enforcement officers are killed or seriously injured while making the "routine" traffic stop. As you could imagine, this can be risky. Dont dilly dally or loiter around. Its your right. That may be true. what to do if stopped by mexican police. It is not uncommon for a Tijuana police officer to stop tourists and demand that they pay a bribe or mordida in Spanish. If you have rented your car, ask lots of questions in the office about your paperwork. We hope you heed our advice and have good luck if you ever have to deal with the cops, but more so we hope you never have to worry about dealing with them at all! You cant walk a block without seeing police in these parts of the city. Many of the urban legends you will hear are just not accurate and instill fear. They must show you their warrant card if . Future tourists will continue to get stopped and hassled for no reason by corrupt officers. On a Sunday the day . This is common on roads with multiple police checkpoints. Its been a major tourist destination for Americans for over 100 years. He did not know what to do. This way, you know that the fine is legitimate and that the money isnt going into the officers pocket. These guys are aggressive, authoritative, and sometimes scary. At the same time, its important to remember that the police officer has all of the power in this situation. The best response when getting stopped is to stay calm, speak respectfully, be patient, and play dumb. Dont speed. nhs waiting list for acl reconstruction. kevin anderson obituary. Oftentimes, the officer will tell you that the crime you committed is very serious. In this guide, I outline Tijuana police corruption and explain how it works. New Mexico's governor signed a law Wednesday eliminating qualified immunity for law enforcement, making it the third state to do so amid a growing debate about police misconduct in the U.S. " [G . There are a number of ways that the officer could try to intimidate you. This is good advice for dealing with police in any country, including the U.S. There are only around 2500 police officers working in Tijuana, which is about half as many as there should be for a city the size of Tijuana. Our receipt was invalid, and the police tried to scam us again for the same violation. Posted on Last updated: February 25, 2023, Home Mexico Tijuana Tijuana Police Corruption: How to Avoid Paying Bribes. Next, he claimed he stopped me because my dogs were loose and not in cages in the car. "Dame mi multa, por favor." Read Kevin's Blog on the same subject. After all, they are committing a crime and risking their job by soliciting a bribe. Sounds like he handled the situation perfectly. Call the officer seor. This is probably to leave some plausible deniability. While walking down Avenida Revolucion in Zona Centro or Calle Coahuila in Zona Norte, youll see a constant stream of police cars driving by. I also wrote a whole article about water in Mexico. If the officer is not corrupt and you were stopped for a legitimate reason, they will give you a written citation or ask you to pay your fine by credit card. While I was apologizing profusely for my error to one officer, my male traveling companion was talking to another on the passenger side. While vising, chances are youll at least take a stroll down Avenida Revolucion in Zona Centro or along Calle Coahuila in Zona Norte. Fake police officers have also been found operating in the lines of cars where people wait to cross the border. Keep in mind that if the officer asks you to pull over, by law you must . You have 24 hours to edit a comment. Now, we want to break down two approaches that we absolutely do not recommend trying. You dont risk angering the officer or making the officer escalate the situation. At the time, that was about $225USD. jackie's danville, va store hours There is lots to see and do in Tijuana. The officer carries a credit card machine in their car. If you wander around enough in Tijuana, a corrupt officer will find you. However, know these crimes are usually committed by lower-ranking officers and getting caught doing these things can cost them their jobs. Its on the books. This is a perfect recipe for police corruption. I caught the pickpocket and she insisted on going to the police. I have drunk the tap water a couple of times but I don't think it's a good idea. If a police officer pulls you over and issues you a written citation, you can pay the fine either in person at the police station or by mail. Your best option depends on a number of factors including how the officers behavior, the crime youre being accused of, your level of comfort with this type of situation, and how well you speak Spanish. Luis, 16, from Honduras, was caught . Maybe they claim that you were speeding but you disagree. 2. Local police officers (that is, not the state or federal police) are highly unlikely to speak English. While walking around Tijuana, never carry anything illegal. That couldnt be right. You might fall victim again during a future trip. This limits your exposure. This area probably has the highest police presence of any area in the city. They could take your wallet from your pocket against your will. Some officers are more aggressive than others. Tijuana police corruption has been a serious problem for decades. Alternatively, you can also call the office of the Sindicatura directly at 664-973-7065. Its already here. There are two benefits to paying a Tijuana traffic ticket by card. This is Tijuanas most famous tourist street. How to Fly Out of Tijuana Airport and Use the Cross Border Xpress, How to Travel From San Diego to Tijuana by Bicycle. Here, youll find a number of bars and strip clubs. They also know that tourists dont know the local laws or their rights. They have the right to look at your passport. And we also ensure that any third parties we contract with either anonymize your data or have strict privacy policies in place that are aligned with ours. Keep hands visible at all times and don't make sudden movements that could confuse the officer. what to do if stopped by mexican police. Wear older clothes and dirty shoes. The low pay and high risk make the officers more inclined to accept bribes or to involve themselves in organized crime. Even though crime rates are still high and the city is still a bit dangerous, its well worth a visit if youre in the region. The price might also go up because they know youll be more likely to pay in order to get out of there. I tend to disagree with this. Fines can only be paid at the station, and if you insist to the officer that you know the law and that youd like to handle it officially in the office, nine times out of ten a corrupt cop will just give you a warning and drive away. You can mail your fine to Mexico from the U.S. -Never attempt to bribe or give money to the officer. Corruption is there but in no way does it run rampant. This can happen while youre driving around town or simply walking down the street. There are very few things that I love more than traveling and experiencing new places and cultures. These tips wont work every time but there is no harm in trying them. Been to Mexico a number of times. office of the Sindicatura Del Gobierno Municipal. Sometimes they may ask to look in the vehicle. The crime was taken very seriously. El Chaparral is the main crossing. Especially in a foreign country. Lost a flashlight to a military stop. Ill also share some tips to help you avoid paying a bribe if you do get stopped by a corrupt police officer while visiting Tijuana. Yes. We gave him 20 pesos ($1). In Mexico, the local police forces are tasked with maintaining law and order in a certain city, town, or area. After the sale, the dealer tells their corrupt police officer accomplice. The 513 individuals were being transported in inhumane conditions in the trailers of two trucks, according to the authorities. But 4,800 pesos? If you have any comments or questions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below or email us at [emailprotected]. Some fines are a bit cheaper. This is highly unlikely to happen if the officer was the one who asked for the bribe but it is possible. You should never offer to pay a bribe for this reason. . For those who are worried about getting one of these tickets in Tijuana, consider visiting without a car. If the officer pulled you over while driving, they will accuse you of committing a traffic violation. When youre intimidated, youre less likely to notice that they arent real cops. If they have your passport, they can try to extort money from you by refusing to give it back to you. Some people handle this type of situation better than others. "If the cop is talking to you, it means they don't have enough to arrest you on, so don't give it" to them . Lower level crimes, like failing to stop at a stop sign, have the smallest fine. We occasionally update our terms and privacy policies pages so if you have not read them lately, we encourage you to do so. Once in there he called a dept who dealt with these issues & not long after the dept sent down some officers & once the police saw them they scarpered.lol! They will also tell you why they stopped you. Afterward, they drove the man to the border and dropped him off. Desa Teguhan. We were so close! I agree. Some travelers have a different philosophy and prefer to nod or say hello to police as they walk by. The main street in Playas de Tijuana is called Paseo Ensenada. If youre just walking down the street to the next bar, try to blend in as best you can. Leave your jewelry at home. Especially when you take into consideration the dangers involved in the job. These fake cops tend to target tourists. If the officer is looking to exploit you for cash, the last place he can do that is in the station. Another good tip is to divide your cash up and store it in two places. Police corruption is less common here. The address should be printed on the ticket. Giving them money for a bribe is both unnecessary and illegal. Alternatively, try handing them a copy of your passport. Some officers may keep an eye out for rental cars because they know a tourist is driving. They can pull you over for the smallest infraction or for no reason at all. I like this Pacsafe Metrosafe LS350 Anti-Theft 15l Travel Backpack. To be sure, locals on the community social media boards HATE it when anyone pays a mordita as they say it just continues the practice. Next thing I knew we were on our way. If youre walking down the street, the officer may approach you on foot and tell you to stop. This is another form of corruption that you could encounter. If you do wind up going to the station and paying your fine, it will probably be somewhere between the fine he mentions and the bribe that he asks for, but at least the money will be going honestly to the station and the municipality and not just the pockets of an exploiting officer. Luckily, he had hidden some cash in his phone case. Sometimes you can pay the fine there and then with a credit card or debit card. Worst case, you waste some time and annoy the officer a bit. But there are two other scenarios that you might find yourself in. This is literally the worst thing that you can do. One comment about having clips in the RV is a real bozo no no. If pulled over, we were to show our receipt to the officer, and he would understand and let us go. Wait in the bar until your ride pulls up. After getting Mexican license plates for his car, he hadnt been pulled over since. No anonymous comments. If not, you go to the station. Driven Mex 200 from Bahia Kino to Puerto Angel with many side trips away from the coast (Tequila, Patzcuaro, Guadalajara, etc.) The national police force, more commonly referred to as the National Guard, are the highest level of police that exists in the country. Fake police officers are also a problem in Tijuana. Another bizarre Mexican law that could technically (but probably not really) see you arrested is the one about removing your feet from your bike pedals.Yes, you read that right. Counterintuitive? Some travelers recommend that you tell the officer that youre going to call the Sindicatura and file a complaint if they wont let you go. So if you are in the right, it can pay to politely challenge a mordita shakedown. According to this article from the San Diego Tribune, most officers earn around $166 per week working 48 hours. To eliminate your risk of getting pulled over by a corrupt officer while driving, simply dont drive in Tijuana. Getting pulled over by a police officer in a foreign country is a stressful situation. Regardless, youll want to drive carefully while visiting Tijuana to avoid getting a ticket. We followed him down the ramp and rolled down the window to hear what he had to say. We have never met an unfriendly Mexican. State police forces are slightly higher up the food chain than local police forces, and they are also slightly less corrupt, on average. If youre moving to Tijuana on a temporary resident visa, you may be better off buying a vehicle that is registered in Mexico. Same deal stupid, except in the US, the criminals have guns. After a pickpocket steals something from you, they give the item to the corrupt police officer that theyre working with.