Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Dogers69]

There's something fishy here. Were you there when the cops pulled her over? A $500 USD mordita, per officer, is so far outside the realm of feasible it's actually lunatic. Only a handful of Mexicans could afford that kind of bribe, and those that can aren't the ones some dufus cop wants to be screwing around with, if you know what I mean. And even 1,500 MXN is quite a steep bribe for something as minor as an illegal you turn. Are you sure you're getting the straight story?

Another red flag is someone who would "smuggle" drugs on a flight. I expect that from entitled gringas (and have seen it) but I'd have thought a local would have more sense. Obviously not. The thing with the iPhone and iPad makes sense. Some dope with little money trying to skate with some drugs, who has two expensive items on their person, with no proof of how they got it, is low hanging fruit. She was practically begging them to screw with her.

Tread lightly with this one. You really don't want to get dragged into some problems with being an accessory, or some shit, the next time she pulls a bonehead stunt like this. Drugs, airplanes and gringos in a foreign country is a toxic brew. If she pulls that shit when flying to France I doubt you'll be able to buy your way out of it so easily.

I was thinking the same thing. He may as well give her all his money and ask for an allowance for himself. He could clean up in Florida renting a condo in a senior community if he's old enough. Even if he's not he could still get plenty woman with his income. He must like the adrenaline of a foreign country. I know girl in Tijuana who work junk jobs and pay their own rent. If I had a girl I'd put her to work to keep her busy even if it was at oxxo.

[RikyMichaels7]

There's something fishy here. Were you there when the cops pulled her over? A $500 USD mordita, per officer, is so far outside the realm of feasible it's actually lunatic. Only a handful of Mexicans could afford that kind of bribe, and those that can aren't the ones some dufus cop wants to be screwing around with, if you know what I mean. And even 1,500 MXN is quite a steep bribe for something as minor as an illegal you turn. Are you sure you're getting the straight story?

Another red flag is someone who would "smuggle" drugs on a flight. I expect that from entitled gringas (and have seen it) but I'd have thought a local would have more sense. Obviously not. The thing with the iPhone and iPad makes sense. Some dope with little money trying to skate with some drugs, who has two expensive items on their person, with no proof of how they got it, is low hanging fruit. She was practically begging them to screw with her.

Tread lightly with this one. You really don't want to get dragged into some problems with being an accessory, or some shit, the next time she pulls a bonehead stunt like this. Drugs, airplanes and gringos in a foreign country is a toxic brew. If she pulls that shit when flying to France I doubt you'll be able to buy your way out of it so easily.

I agree with Phordphan that something appears to be fishy here. I too would like to know if you were in the car with her because that amount of a mordida is really unheard of. My thoughts are, and please just accept as an observation on my part, is that if you weren't in the car, that this may be a way for her to gain your sympathy over the loss of money and fact that it is needed in holiday time to have you give her money to compensate. I may be way out of line here but I have had this same type of thing happen to me but with different circumstances using involving someone in her family being extremely ill and in the hospital and needing help. Now the gummy incident is interesting as she should have known better. So is this additional incident part of the woe is me and please compensate me plan? Once again, just my observations for what they are worth. Take care.

[Sol12]

Many gaps to be filled with these stories. My suspicion about the ridiculous amount that the police would supposedly ask for seemed to me be her perhaps trying to make you feel bad for her and payback the money she lost. The other possibility is she had drugs in her possession and they knew she was a working girl depending on where she was pulled over.

Again at the airport she shouldn't be mad but lucky she got off easy for the gummies.

I don't understand the phone and iPad thing unless they were new and still in the package. If that's the case they would of been just wanting her to pay the tax on them if they weren't bought in Tijuana.

Sorry to be so negative and this could all be just miscommunication between the two of you and we are hearing the story wrong.

[Phordphan]

The girlfriend even got pulled over Thursday night around 4 am and they demanded 10 k peso for each officer since she made an illegal turn. She has a car with TJ plates and TJ license. She gave them 1,500 peso since she didn't have anything else. She flew out of the airport today and had some THC gummies in her carry on that they found in the search. They said she would have to go to the main legal office to settle the ticket and she would miss the flight, but she offered money and they took $140 since that is all she had on her. It is Christmas time so have a little heart right? It's for the kids right?

Also they wanted to keep her iPad and iPhone since she didn't have a receipt for them and not sure why, but probably to add more pressure to milk as much money out of her as they could. I can't blame them since their jobs probably pay very little. She now officially hates Mexico where she has lived her whole life, but I'm definitely taking the bait on that one just yet. Also she said they took the money out of sight of any cameras. I told her it is better than getting a record and possibly being flagged every time you fly.

There's something fishy here. Were you there when the cops pulled her over? A $500 USD mordita, per officer, is so far outside the realm of feasible it's actually lunatic. Only a handful of Mexicans could afford that kind of bribe, and those that can aren't the ones some dufus cop wants to be screwing around with, if you know what I mean. And even 1,500 MXN is quite a steep bribe for something as minor as an illegal you turn. Are you sure you're getting the straight story?

Another red flag is someone who would "smuggle" drugs on a flight. I expect that from entitled gringas (and have seen it) but I'd have thought a local would have more sense. Obviously not. The thing with the iPhone and iPad makes sense. Some dope with little money trying to skate with some drugs, who has two expensive items on their person, with no proof of how they got it, is low hanging fruit. She was practically begging them to screw with her.

Tread lightly with this one. You really don't want to get dragged into some problems with being an accessory, or some shit, the next time she pulls a bonehead stunt like this. Drugs, airplanes and gringos in a foreign country is a toxic brew. If she pulls that shit when flying to France I doubt you'll be able to buy your way out of it so easily.

[Hargow20]

It is fairly common for locals to get shaken down. My regular Liz recently bought a used car. The car had a smashed steering column. This is a red flag for a cop. I am fairly certain the car stolen. People drive stolen cars from the US all the time there. Even the police drive stolen cars as well sometimes. The police impounded her car.

The girlfriend even got pulled over Thursday night around 4 am and they demanded 10 k peso for each officer since she made an illegal turn. She has a car with TJ plates and TJ license. She gave them 1,500 peso since she didn't have anything else. She flew out of the airport today and had some THC gummies in her carry on that they found in the search. They said she would have to go to the main legal office to settle the ticket and she would miss the flight, but she offered money and they took $140 since that is all she had on her. It is Christmas time so have a little heart right? It's for the kids right?

Also they wanted to keep her iPad and iPhone since she didn't have a receipt for them and not sure why, but probably to add more pressure to milk as much money out of her as they could. I can't blame them since their jobs probably pay very little. She now officially hates Mexico where she has lived her whole life, but I'm definitely taking the bait on that one just yet. Also she said they took the money out of sight of any cameras. I told her it is better than getting a record and possibly being flagged every time you fly.

[Hargow20]

Seems like the police have not been shaking down people as much in the Zona this past year. Before the cops would hang out on the west end of the alley waiting to shake down guys that were walking by. I the police are now focusing on shaking down US drivers. My guess is that pulling a over a American is less obvious especially at night. When you do get stopped you should always pull your money out of your wallet cell phone and hold them in your hands. The police will object. But this will help stop them from stealing from you.

[Member #4730]

The girlfriend even got pulled over Thursday night around 4 am and they demanded 10 k peso for each officer since she made an illegal turn. She has a car with TJ plates and TJ license. She gave them 1,500 peso since she didn't have anything else. She flew out of the airport today and had some THC gummies in her carry on that they found in the search. They said she would have to go to the main legal office to settle the ticket and she would miss the flight, but she offered money and they took $140 since that is all she had on her. It is Christmas time so have a little heart right? It's for the kids right?

Also they wanted to keep her iPad and iPhone since she didn't have a receipt for them and not sure why, but probably to add more pressure to milk as much money out of her as they could. I can't blame them since their jobs probably pay very little. She now officially hates Mexico where she has lived her whole life, but I'm definitely taking the bait on that one just yet. Also she said they took the money out of sight of any cameras. I told her it is better than getting a record and possibly being flagged every time you fly.

In the U.S. I hired an attorney for a speeding ticket that got reduced to a non moving violation and it still cost $400-$500 for ticket and attorney. I was doing 75 in a 45, but the officer only gave me a 54 in a 45 since Im a vet. I can only imagine what would happen in a U.S. airport if you brought something illegal in your luggage. I love that you are able to just pay off the officials and go about your day instead of getting a record and waiting for the court date.

[Captain Solo]

KoolBeam,

Last few weeks while I was away in South America, a wingman drove down to La Zona Norte in his car, got pulled over on Coahuila near Madero before he got to the bars.

He asked policias what he was pulled over for. Policias said, your windows were tinted too dark. His windows were indeed tinted too dark to me and for California vehicles codes. You cannot see who and how many people are inside his car. Policias asked him what he was doing in Tijuana, if he had any drugs ect primarily to intimidate him, then they had him put his hand on the hood, started to pat him down and search his pockets. This guys has been going to Tijuana with me in my car a hundred times but is not too smart. Policias searched his wallet behind his back. When he got it back all his few hundred dollar cash was gone. No tinted window ticket was written. Polcias were so happy with the loot they drove away quickly. He was so shaken and had no cash left, so just turned around and waited for hours in the Ready lane to drive back to the US.

When stopped by policias the bros should not be afraid. They are just dicking with you trying to shake you down for some cash. Worst case they can only write you s bullshit ticket. Stop the car at major intersections where there may be security cameras and other people nearby. Tell them you speak no Spanish and want them to call in their sergeants. Try to call Tourist or Transito policia number for assistance. But before driving in, hide all your cash and leave only a few small bills in your wallets. Hold all your cash, wallets, valuables in your hands while they search. They will steal if they can but will very unlikely rob what you hold in your hands. If they see difficulties stealing from you they would let you go and prey on the next weak, easy targets.

Don't let stupid assholes bully you.

[Member #4730]

Just heard 4 San Diego guys drove into Tijuana last week loaded with money for a little fun with the chicas.

Policias pulled them over before they got near the red light district, all were searched. One guys had $420 in his wallet; policias took $380, left him $40, for a few beers perhaps. The other 3 guys all lost a couple hundred each.

I drove back at mid night, saw no policia around La Zona Norte, only 1 patrol car dicking around with another driver near the old McDonalds rotary. Good luck and be safe for the coming holidays.

Probably best to drive down and not into Zona Norte or around Revolucion. I would take an Uber into those areas. I haven't had any issues outside of those areas and probably due to holidays. Also if they want to write you a ticket, then goto the main office and pay the ticket if you can. I had tinted windows and the policia said I was speeding, but it was only the tinted window violation at the main office which is a 2000 peso or $100 ticket. The speeding claim suddenly disappeared when the ticket was written at the main office.

[Dogers69]

Just heard 4 San Diego guys drove into Tijuana last week loaded with money for a little fun with the chicas.

Policias pulled them over before they got near the red light district, all were searched. One guys had $420 in his wallet; policias took $380, left him $40, for a few beers perhaps. The other 3 guys all lost a couple hundred each.

I drove back at mid night, saw no policia around La Zona Norte, only 1 patrol car dicking around with another driver near the old McDonalds rotary. Good luck and be safe for the coming holidays.

Dam that's rough. Looks like they made a few mistakes. Not hiding the money. And driving. I take the 50 cent bus. Cops don't steal from me because I look poor and they never see all my money.

[Captain Solo]

Just heard 4 San Diego guys drove into Tijuana last week loaded with money for a little fun with the chicas.

Policias pulled them over before they got near the red light district, all were searched. One guys had $420 in his wallet; policias took $380, left him $40, for a few beers perhaps. The other 3 guys all lost a couple hundred each.

I drove back at mid night, saw no policia around La Zona Norte, only 1 patrol car dicking around with another driver near the old McDonalds rotary. Good luck and be safe for the coming holidays.

[Dickus Maximus]

There is a story in today's Union-trib about the kidnapping problem in Tijuana The criminals have been setting people to meet at the "Hotel Aqua" in the south end of downtown Tijuana.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...dicted-tijuana).

Interesting story, but you need to be more careful with your reporting. It was Motel Aqua which is out near Otay, not the Hotel Aqua Rio in downtown Tijuana. And, that is where there were reportedly holding them. They did not kidnap them from there.

[Captain Solo]

Frogg,

You look the opposite of the hungry, skanky drug addicts and dealers profile.

[Hargow20]

There is a story in today's Union-trib about the kidnapping problem in Tijuana The criminals have been setting people to meet at the "Hotel Aqua" in the south end of downtown Tijuana.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com...dicted-tijuana).

[SeaBeeJoe]

Before the pandemic, each time I went to Tijuana, in the Zona police were constantly patting people down. Whenever I'd leave the hotel, everywhere I looked police were searching someone, as you described. I assume I managed to blend in because I was never searched. I've been lucky, and suprised that I have not been searched or questioned yet. Since when the pandemic started, I've seen much less searches and fewer police out.

It is getting closer to Christmas and the Three Kings or whatever they call it. SOooo the police need the extra "donations" aka bribe money to get little Juanito and Roselia their presents.