There are very few things that I love more than traveling and experiencing new places and cultures. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. What are your likely plans for 2023? Luis, 16, from Honduras, was caught . Once you come to an agreement, you can pay the officer and theyll send you on your way. Ive just read 5 of your stories. 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. Thats not a lot of money to live on, even in Tijuana. By paying a bribe, you lower your risk by avoiding confrontation with the officer. Same deal stupid, except in the US, the criminals have guns. In this post, were going to tell you our own horror story of an encounter with a corrupt police officer, and then well give you some tips for dealing with corrupt police in Mexico in case this unfortunate scenario ever happens to you. thank you for this great blog, I found a lot of informations. Afterward, they drove the man to the border and dropped him off. par ; juillet 2, 2022 As mentioned earlier, police may also be more likely to pull you over if youre driving a nice car. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you refuse to pay a bribe, an officer could issue you a bogus ticket out of spite or to save face. 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. He does not want to explain to his commanding officer that he was trying to shake down a tourist. So if you are in the right, it can pay to politely challenge a mordita shakedown. The city really cracked down on this. Uber is a safe, affordable, and convenient way to get around Tijuana. If they ask for identification, hand them your drivers license instead. . . With basic Spanish, youll be able to communicate with the officer that you want a written citation. Whether you have a tour, a meeting, a flight, a dinner, or whatever, dont mention it! Now, we want to break down two approaches that we absolutely do not recommend trying. Thank you! There are a number of cases of officers using excessive force. If you decide to contest a ticket, youll need some information about the incident. This wont always work. I was able to dissuade him. chester upland school district business office; eastham assessor's database; faith bible tabernacle missouri shut down by fbi to remain calm and be polite to the officer. Nothing will change. what to do if stopped by mexican policecynon valley history. Unlike in the states, most road infractions are quite reasonable (usually under $20). There is no legal way to pay a spot fine, by the way, and any receipt that the officer gives you will be fake. kevin anderson obituary. If you enjoyed the story about our run-in with the Mexico City police, be sure to check out the video that we linked at the top of this post and subscribe to our Youtube channel. This is Tijuanas most famous tourist street. You can mail your fine to Mexico from the U.S. -Never attempt to bribe or give money to the officer. For example, while visiting Tijuana, I was in a bar that was robbed by two armed men. Here, youll find the beach, a boardwalk, the Monumental Bullring, Plaza Coronado, and many residential buildings and hotels. After stopping you, the officer will tell you why you were stopped. I ran the sign and nearly t-boned a cop coming the other way. This article is accurate and reflects reality. What I just described is how traffic stops in Mexico should work according to the book. They aim to overwhelm and intimidate you. This is why he felt so confident in escorting me to an ATM and demanding cash. No wonder the people south of the border want to come here. Sometimes its out of your hands. This could happen even if you did nothing wrong in the first place. If you get lucky and the officer is a somewhat decent person, they may even become friendly. To do this, call Tijuanas Tourist Assistance Hotline at 078. Simply not driving in Tijuana greatly reduces your chances of getting stopped by a corrupt police officer. You can read the full story about how I was pickpocketed in Tijuana here. We want to highlight 3 approaches that work very well in handling the police. In other words, they will ask you to pay a bribe. Remember officers' badge numbers, patrol car numbers, and physical descriptions. The first cop might not have even been a police officer! A few common traffic tickets you could receive in Tijuana and their costs include: As you can see, ticket prices are high. An English-speaking agent will walk you through the process. You can request a paper ticket and pay in person or by mail as outlined above if you dont have a card or if you dont feel comfortable giving your card to the officer. If you start to act aggressive or fight back, the officer could get violent. Absolutely! Of course, going to the police station is better than giving money to a corrupt police officer. While youre walking around, some good places to hide cash are in your phone case behind your phone or in your shoe under the inserts. You dont have as many rights or freedoms in Mexico as you do back home. You should always carry your drivers license, vehicle registration, proof of Mexican insurance, passport, visa/FMM (Forma Migratoria Mltiple, also known asTourist Card) card, and personal emergency contact numbers with you when driving in Mexico. Stick to the more crowded touristy areas. We go to Mexico on a regular basis. The burden of de-escalation does not fall on private citizens it falls on police officers. If you refuse to pay the bribe, the officer will begin threatening you. If the officer cant explain what they want, they may get frustrated with you and let you go. When you pay at the police station, you will receive a receipt. One other problem in Mexico..criminals who impersonate the police.this can be extremely dangerous. This type of thing isnt common but it could happen if you were to lose your temper. Leslie, 13, was stopped by Mexican police at the border a few weeks after fleeing El Salvador, where she said gang members had threatened to sexually abuse her. Theres a form at the link below that we tell people to print and keep in their glove box. Ill explain exactly how to pay a ticket in Tijuana later on in this guide. If you attempt to bribe an honest officer, you could end up with a bigger fine or even jail time. 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. Very slowly. If youre unfamiliar with the city, its best not to go exploring. Tijuanas police force is extremely underfunded. Reports of Misconduct Kept Rising," the two authors reported one of the many police brutality stories in Mexico. The abusive behavior of Mexico's police forces is the result of multiple factors, . Desa Teguhan. They dont want a worse reputation. If the officer is able to get money out of one tourist, theyll surely try it again and again. Criminals have also been known to get their hands on real police badges, jackets, and hats and pose as police officers. Its been a major tourist destination for Americans for over 100 years. You will drive away from the traffic stop with a fine to pay, instructions on paying, and a traffic conviction about to go on your driving record. The best way to avoid getting hassled by the police is to never walk around while intoxicated. You have recourses, including filing a complaint if your rights were not respected. Been to Mexico a number of times. Sent me on my way(Very little damage. This is done to intimidate you. If you are stopped by the police while driving, you may feel confused, anxious or even angry. evans high school jv basketball. 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). The main tourist zones in Tijuana include Zona Centro (downtown), Zona Norte (the red light district), Zona Rio (the business district), and Playas de Tijuana (the neighborhood by the beach). Driving to Baja? Taking out a cell phone to film the encounter seems to often do the trick. If not, you go to the station. The first time it was dusk. In the state of Baja, traffic tickets are divided into four levels of severity. Corruption is just in their blood. Here is what you need to know: If you choose to plead guilty at the roadside and pay the fine, you will be convicted. 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. You wont encounter any corruption at the actual border crossing. You can mail your fine to Mexico from the U.S.-Never attempt to bribe or give money to the officer. Our receipt was invalid, and the police tried to scam us again for the same violation. Why would I spend money in a country that allows illegal immigrants to pass through their country and into the USA unchecked! For some trips, this is a good option. what to do if stopped by mexican police. For more information on filing an appeal, you can call the Tourist Assistance Hotline at 078. Having your car towed (and potentially never seeing it again) is a lot more expensive than paying him one hundred bucks (but if you listen to our tips above you shouldnt ever really pay more than 10). Minors stopped by the police. We have RVed the Baja end to end. Play Dumb. Most fares cost $10-$20 pesos. I hope this guide helps you avoid becoming a victim of police corruption in Tijuana. You should also try to blend in the best you can while walking around Tijuana. While I was apologizing profusely for my error to one officer, my male traveling companion was talking to another on the passenger side. . By continuing to use our site, you consent to accepting cookies. You can pay the fine in person at the police station or by mail. Youll also want to take note of the time, date, and location of the incident. These are natural feelings, but remember, traffic stops can also be stressful and dangerous for the police officer. There are two reasons that police corruption is more common in Tijuanas tourist areas. When youre intimidated, youre less likely to notice that they arent real cops. If the officer asks for money, pretend that you dont understand what theyre talking about. If the officer refuses to take your card, you should request a paper ticket instead. In fact, there are corrupt police who will stop people for no other reason than to extract a mordita or bribe. If the officer is corrupt, they will imply that you can settle the matter there and then by paying a fine in cash. Tijuana police corruption has been a serious problem for decades. Likewise, for all practical purposes, the practice doesnt show any signs of stopping.