what to do if stopped by mexican police

We wouldnt go near Tijuana. The city is worth a visit for the food alone. However, you cannot assume officers . This area probably has the highest police presence of any area in the city. 1. Dont give them a reason to want to, because you will not win. So, here is our story of how we got robbed by the corrupt Mexican police. friends in Baja wont go to the mainland, or Tijuana, too dangerous. There are three different levels of police forces: local police forces, state police forces, and national police forces. I guess from your point of you that might be correct. According to this article from the San Diego Tribune, most officers earn around $166 per week working 48 hours. While there are no specific guidelines for citizens in handling contacts with police, a familiarization with law enforcement concerns and . Crossing the Border Between San Diego and Tijuana in an RV. There is one more type of law enforcement challenge you might face in Mexico that does not happen nearly as often but is far more sinister. The 513 individuals were being transported in inhumane conditions in the trailers of two trucks, according to the authorities. Wait in the bar until your ride pulls up. Fighting a corrupt system and winning feels great. There are things you can do to protect yourself from this kind of corruption and also to minimize your losses. Have ever been out late boozing in a big US city? The tales usually filter onto the ex-pat community boards on Facebook. Some frequent Tijuana travelers recommend that you write the words Sindicatura Del Gobierno Municipal along with their phone number on a piece of paper and tape it to your drivers license or in a visible place on the dashboard of your vehicle. If you act hesitant, the officer may try to convince you that paying the fine in cash is legitimate. Paying a bribe also increases your chances of getting stopped again by another corrupt officer. Website by Faith in Marketing, Getting Pulled Over by the Police in Baja: Know your Rights. 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. nhs waiting list for acl reconstruction. Its not a bad idea to keep and show a laminated copy of your drivers license. By paying the bribe, you avoid any escalation. For some ideas, check out my guide to 29 things to do in Tijuana. Discover Baja has the best rates and the highest-quality insurance. While I was apologizing profusely for my error to one officer, my male traveling companion was talking to another on the passenger side. To put up with this kind of nonsense. Its Mexico, no need to read further. Remember officers' badge numbers, patrol car numbers, and physical descriptions. In recent years and throughout the past decade, there has been a lot of focus on trying to get Mexican police officers under control, but the majority of these efforts by the Mexican government have failed. They wont threaten to take you to the police station or detain you. Instead, leave them at home or lock them up in your hotel room safe. office of the Sindicatura Del Gobierno Municipal. While driving, a corrupt police officer could pull you over pretty much anywhere in the city. I imagine they also want you to have enough cash to get home safely. Remember, the officer just wants money. However, know these crimes are usually committed by lower-ranking officers and getting caught doing these things can cost them their jobs. I dont think anyone had ever called him on it before. Of course, in the U.S. we would then be issued a ticket that requires us to pay a fine or appear in court at a later date. The gorgeous sea. For example, you may want to reduce the withdrawal limit from $1000 to $200. Future tourists will continue to get stopped and hassled for no reason by corrupt officers. They can change at any time. Thats not a receipt, thats just some scribbles. To eliminate your risk of getting pulled over by a corrupt officer while driving, simply dont drive in Tijuana. Oftentimes, you can negotiate these small bribes down to 500-1000 pesos (around $25-$50). More on that later. The officer wont want to do this because its a hassle. We know that being pulled over by a police officer while driving in a foreign country can be a scary experience. Investigation begins, as another San Diegan alleges shakedown by Tijuana police Another local man says he was shaken down by Mexican police, as Tijuana officials announced an investigation into the alleged incidents. Here is a form some people try to get the police to fill out. After the sale, the dealer tells their corrupt police officer accomplice. In most circumstances, the officer will just give up and drive away. Here we describe what the law requires and also offer strategies for handling police encounters. Occasionally, an officer may stand by your parked car and wait until you return. For weekly travel inspiration and in-depth travel tips from a seasoned pro, make sure to subscribe to our weekly mailing list. Police officers are routinely killed in Tijuana. Getting stopped on foot is slightly less common. Along this street, youll find Tijuanas largest shopping plaza, Plaza Rio, the Tijuana Cultural Center (CECUT) as well as a number of hospitals, banks, skyscrapers, and residential buildings. The touristy areas of Tijuana are all pretty walkable. If you get lost, walk into a store or restaurant to look at the map. You can contact the State Secretary of Tourism 24/7 by dialing 078 to report the information. Have you gotten pulled over by a corrupt police officer in Tijuana? This is another form of corruption that you could encounter. thank you for this great blog, I found a lot of informations. If you act tough, get angry and make threats, the officer will simply arrest you for being disorderly or assaulting him or her. The police could take that as an opportunity to solicit a bribe from you. They could search you or your vehicle. He told us that since we had paid our fine, we were free to finish our drive to the airport and we wouldnt have any more problems. Humans suck. They could also refuse to give you back your passport, drivers license, or car registration. Be sure to take note of the time and location that you received the ticket as well as the name or badge number of the officer or the identification number of the police car he was driving. If you have a police encounter, you can protect yourself: What you say to the police is always important. The most important thing is to remain calm, be respectful and know your rights. They will also tell you why they stopped you. These are more regulated than the yellow cabs and they have a meter. Your email address will not be published. Once youre detained, they could throw you in jail. Under your seat covers is a good option. In most cases, the officer is bluffing to try to get you to pay. A $400 speeding ticket could cost a months salary for an average person living in Tijuana. The officer has all of the power in the situation. Instead, dress down. They could tell you that you were driving without a seat belt or using your phone while driving. In some cases, assailants have been wearing full or partial police uniforms and have . If it makes you feel any better, it regularly happens to Mexican nationals as well as gringos. Recently, Tijuana started offering the option to pay some traffic fines on the spot with a credit card or debit card. 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. If you are asked to get out of the car for an inspection, be sure to take your wallet or purse with you, along with pets. I have a friend who fell victim to this while bar-hopping in Tijuana. (Los Angeles Bay instead of Bahia de Los Angeles? Whether you have a tour, a meeting, a flight, a dinner, or whatever, dont mention it! what to do if stopped by mexican police. This is common on roads with multiple police checkpoints. This may deter the officer from forcing you to pay a bribe. For more information on filing an appeal, you can call the Tourist Assistance Hotline at 078. If the officer accused you of a minor crime, they usually ask for $100. Keep hands visible at all times and don't make sudden movements that could confuse the officer. Choose a direct route through busy areas. Went to TJ as a kid and had a good time. But traffic stops in Mexico, where you dont know what to expect and you may or may not speak the language, can be even more so. These officers are stationed in these areas to deter violent crime and to keep tourists safe. Ideally, youll want to speak to someone in the office of the Sindicatura Del Gobierno Municipal. Save my name and email in browser cookies for the next time I comment so I won't have to enter that information again. Drinking Water in Tijuana: Is the Tap Water Safe to Drink? This signals to the officer that you have money. And people who point out that paying a bribe is a federal crime and that there are other cards to play in these situations are loudmouths. One part of that was begging to let us go because we had a flight to catch. You could help another traveler avoid the same situation. A particularly bold officer may grab you by the arm and forcefully demand that you stop walking and follow them to their cop car. Tijuana police corruption has been a serious problem for decades. The police spotted the migrants using X-ray machines at a checkpoint in Tuxta Gutierrez, and then pursued the trucks until they stopped, reports EFE. 5. If he does that, get the heck out of there. As part of a federal agency, these officers tend to be the least corrupt. Youll want to avoid this if possible. 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. Our best tip is to empty your wallet before you drive anywhere (including credit and debit cards) except for 100 or 200 pesos and your drivers license and hide the rest of your cash somewhere he will never find it like down your pants, in your socks, or in your bra or other underwear. If the officer is looking to exploit you for cash, the last place he can do that is in the station. On May 30, 2009, the Mexican Federal Police took over the PFP's duties as the Federal Ministerial Police took over the Mexican federal Investigative Agency's duties. Seeing the flashing lights of a police car in your rearview mirror is always stress-inducing. They aim to overwhelm and intimidate you. Keep in mind that if the officer asks you to pull over, by law you must . An accomplice may approach you and offer to help you get your stolen belongings back. These tips wont work every time but there is no harm in trying them. Driving to Baja? You must remain in your car and wait for the officer to approach you and ask for your licence and registration. Uber is a safe, affordable, and convenient way to get around Tijuana. Thank you. Regardless, youll want to drive carefully while visiting Tijuana to avoid getting a ticket. 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. For most travelers, an extra $50-$100 isnt a big deal. What experience have you had with the water in Tijuana? You might think thats a real cop pulling you over.but it might not be! Photo and other info.do you know of this form? If you pay by mail, youll have to send in a check or money order. What are your likely plans for 2023? This old article outlines an aggressive police encounter that a man experienced in Tijuana. 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. For example, they could easily claim that you werent wearing your seat belt or that you were texting while driving. A taxi or Uber being driven by a local is unlikely to get pulled over. Because fake police officers dont have to worry about losing their job, they can be even more aggressive. Some officers are more aggressive than others. They dont want a worse reputation. You should never offer to pay a bribe for this reason. 2. Its been a major tourist destination for Americans for over 100 years. Recently saw an article about a small town in a southern state that was shaking people down. NYCLU representatives told kids to be polite and to keep . I have had two personal experiences with traffic stops in Mexico in the last six years. There are a couple of major drawbacks to paying a bribe. I believe the problem has been mostly solved. Nothing that Ive read in this article is a surprise, but it is good to read real experience and how it was handled. This is the internal affairs department of the Tijuana police. This sounded fishy to me. While walking around Tijuana, never carry anything illegal. Cops very nice. Corrupt officers target vehicles with U.S. or Canadian plates because they know a tourist is driving. For more info, check out this article. If they have your passport, they can try to extort money from you by refusing to give it back to you. If you have any comments or questions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below or email us at [emailprotected]. Been to Mexico a number of times. For more info, check out this news article. One of the reasons Ill never go to Mexico. Why would she want to go to the police? Never act like youre in a hurry or tell the officer you have somewhere you need to be. Independencia 1350 Zona Urbana Rio, Tijuana 2232. That way if you are being shaken down, you can claim thats all you have. These officers often communicate with one another. Tijuana is often rated as the most dangerous city in the world (that is not in a war zone). This is the area that you are most likely to encounter a corrupt officer. Police must follow certain rules, and they must apply them equally regardless of your appearance, ethnic origin, or immigration status. 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 were pulled over while driving, they may threaten to impound your car. Doing so is illegal for both the person offering the bribe and the police officer accepting it. When you pay at the police station, you will receive a receipt. It features locking zippers and slash-proof mesh to prevent theft. Please follow these rules when commenting on RVtravel.com. Some corrupt officers demand that you hand over your wallet and take what they want. Somehow we can recover. Some approaches work better than others for certain people, so you need to judge based on your personality what will work best for you. Just a short distance from the airport - maybe 5 miles - we were flagged by a police officer on a motorcycle and instructed to pull off the highway. RV Tire Safety: Are you sure you can change a flat tire? He could smell our fear and displeasure, and he wanted to wring every penny possible out of us. All Rights Reserved. In some cases, they may handcuff you and put you in the police car. Getting pulled over by a police officer in a foreign country is a stressful situation. Its almost impossible to get your belongings back if theyre stolen. 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. The officer could take you down to the ground, put you in a headlock, or use a number of other techniques to detain you. Some travelers report success with this method but others warn against it. A corrupt cop could target you as a result. The police wont help you try to retrieve a stolen wallet or phone. With more advanced Spanish, you may be able to talk your way out of paying a bribe or negotiate a lower rate. Act like you have all of the time in the world. In this case, the officer may demand that you withdraw $300-$500. Made the terrible mistake of leaving a clip of bullets in the Jeep and got pulled over. When you call, make sure you have some information about the officer such as their name, badge number, or the license plate or identification number of the car they were driving. The main tourist street in Zona Rio is called Paseo de los Hroes. It has two sectionsone in English for you and the other in Spanish for the officer.

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