Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Country John]

Cj

California Driver Licence (CDL) & vehicle papers- Tijuana Border Crossing!

I know this to be true for the State of Washington DL when visting Canada but I was not aware CBP are treating the CDL in parity with State of Washington DL at the border. WDL is a snipe similar to US passport card in construction using the same technology.

Interesting.

S7

I cross a lot and the guard could tell that I swiped a passport every time so he believed my story. That's not to mean that they will accept a CDL in lieu of a passport, it just means they let me slide this time. I crossed sever times since with the passport.

[Sound7]

Passport card or CDL !

For CDL read CJ's posting below.

Passport photocopy is not a legal document.

Has anyone used a photocopy of your passport? Would this even work? My guess is that this is not valid ID and you would be at their mercy. I have thought about that as it would make it easier for me to go mongering with less chances of being caught. I have never done it so I am asking what others have done.

I did a google search and didn't find any references that seemed credible either way if you could do this legally.

[Sound7]

Cj

California Driver Licence (CDL) & vehicle papers- Tijuana Border Crossing!

I know this to be true for the State of Washington DL when visting Canada but I was not aware CBP are treating the CDL in parity with State of Washington DL at the border. WDL is a snipe similar to US passport card in construction using the same technology.

Interesting.

S7

I had to cross the other day and I realized I didn't have my passport. When I got to the booth, I told the officer that I left it at an office in chula vista and was returning to pick it up. He took my CDL, checked the plates and then said OK. No hassle, no problems.

I cross a lot. A LOT. They have a record of all my crossings and Passport swipes, so they could tell I was legit. I expected to get a hard time, but the officer was actually very cool.

Country John

[Netman05]

Has anyone used a photocopy of your passport? Would this even work? My guess is that this is not valid ID and you would be at their mercy. I have thought about that as it would make it easier for me to go mongering with less chances of being caught. I have never done it so I am asking what others have done.

I did a google search and didn't find any references that seemed credible either way if you could do this legally.

[Country John]

Can anybody tell me how the border guards handle it if someone happens to leave their passport at home?

(Since I have a passport card, I'm not really concerned about experiencing this myself. What I am concerned about is being stuck in line behind someone who forgot their passport.

Has anybody experienced this?)

I had to cross the other day and I realized I didn't have my passport. When I got to the booth, I told the officer that I left it at an office in chula vista and was returning to pick it up. He took my CDL, checked the plates and then said OK. No hassle, no problems.

I cross a lot. A LOT. They have a record of all my crossings and Passport swipes, so they could tell I was legit. I expected to get a hard time, but the officer was actually very cool.

Country John

[One Wing Low]

Lately TJ policia has been patroling La Zona Roja in their white F150 pick up trucks. Every time I was in La Zona, I have seen 1 or 2 pick up trucks with 8 to 10 guys sitting in the truck bed.

I was having the mariscos coctele across the street from restaurant La Perla when 4 pick up trucks stopped at the intersection. They started to pat down a few guys hanging out at that intersection. Looked like they found something on 2 guys so they arrested and put them into the truck bed.

I asked the old mariscos man if they were all drug dealers. He said no. Most of the arrestees were rateros. They were probably robbing, stealing and had warrants out to arrest them.

[Efjayel]

I have been to TJ probably over 50 times in the last 6 years. I never have driven down and each time I leve my car at the border or stay at a hotel right there. First thing I do is to check my passport is in my shirt pocket that is buttoned down. I never wear a t-shirt. Only a shirt with a pocket that I can button. I also check again just before I push through the turnstiles.

Funny story is that one day I didn't follow this procedure and walked through. Then I wasn't sure I had brought it. I could feel my hear beat faster. I checked in my back pocket and I had put it there next to my wallet. That was a tense 5s search. Now I double and triple check.

lol, I'm the same as you. I check like twenty times before I reach the turnstiles. I check to see that I have all the Identification I need, check again to make sure it's correct. Re-check just to verify. Then continually keep checking to see that I didn't accidentally drop them on a previous check. And I still continue to check just in-case I somehow got pick-pocketed.

[Sound7]

Netman06

Sounds like you have a good procedure in place.

Carry a photocopy of passport and divide the money for the hobby. Use a safe in the hotel if available. Concealed passport pack is a good idea too. Many airports and travel stores carry concealed strap-on for passport and money.

Keep the fun flowing and let CBP do it's thing !

[Netman05]

Skip this experience - No Passport or No Passport Card. IMHO.

Do a Go List check: Confirm you have a passport or passport card frequently.

CPB staff is not your friendly chat group.

Any exception by a CPB staff does not make it a US border practice.

Good luck.

I have been to TJ probably over 50 times in the last 6 years. I never have driven down and each time I leve my car at the border or stay at a hotel right there. First thing I do is to check my passport is in my shirt pocket that is buttoned down. I never wear a t-shirt. Only a shirt with a pocket that I can button. I also check again just before I push through the turnstiles.

Funny story is that one day I didn't follow this procedure and walked through. Then I wasn't sure I had brought it. I could feel my hear beat faster. I checked in my back pocket and I had put it there next to my wallet. That was a tense 5s search. Now I double and triple check.

My guess is that you would be allowed back in if you could provide enough details (SS#, DOB, DL#, phone #, some contacts, etc...) But I would not want to be delayed or have to call anyone while I am mongering in disguise.

[Sound7]

Skip this experience - No Passport or No Passport Card. IMHO.

Do a Go List check: Confirm you have a passport or passport card frequently.

CPB staff is not your friendly chat group.

Any exception by a CPB staff does not make it a US border practice.

Good luck.

Can anybody tell me how the border guards handle it if someone happens to leave their passport at home?

(Since I have a passport card, I'm not really concerned about experiencing this myself. What I am concerned about is being stuck in line behind someone who forgot their passport.

Has anybody experienced this?)

[Victor Shanahan]

Can anybody tell me how the border guards handle it if someone happens to leave their passport at home?

(Since I have a passport card, I'm not really concerned about experiencing this myself. What I am concerned about is being stuck in line behind someone who forgot their passport.

Has anybody experienced this?)

[Sound7]

For Sentry Line for pass holders but it seems the CBP has other ideas. Sentry line is now WTF line. Taking the overflow and bus lane traffic?

Why pay the extra money for Sentry Pass for no better service.

[Cienega32]

I wish they'd do that at San Ysidro, especially when in the non-rush hours when no one is using the Sentri line.

No matter when I go or what line I choose, I always pick the one that has the people w/o documentation. It is never Mexican nationals, but always pinche gringos that "forgot" they needed a passport.

Yup - that was me before I learned about the Sentry line double duties. I always find "Junior & Trevor" trying to use a library card and a note from their mother or some silliness like that. They need a line for "Idiots Only".

I thought the Sentry shortcut was for the holidays but a badge explained no -it's one of the benefits of citizenship and passport. "That's the way it SHOULD be!", I stated. "Oh, I fully agree!", he replied.

Sorry to hear to you don't have that going for you out there.

[SuperSteve]

Saturday night TJ's finest motor cops were out in force stopping cabs, and I saw them pull over a SUV with CA plates, in front of Adelitas, that I saw do nothing wrong.

This is three weeks out of the last five, I wasn't there the other two, that they have had about 30 motor cops, stopping cabs, and CA licensed vehicles.

I would suggest that, at least on Saturday nights, you don't drive across the border.

I didn't see the sweeps on the streets though like they have been doing recently. They did not appear to target Gringos, but some of the rougher Mexican national looking guys.

Health & happiness......

[Super Gato]

At my usual ped crossing, they have the Sentry line that they double duty as a line for American born citizens with the passport or card. You can bypass the long bridge line pretty quickly.

I wish they'd do that at San Ysidro, especially when in the non-rush hours when no one is using the Sentri line.

No matter when I go or what line I choose, I always pick the one that has the people w/o documentation. It is never Mexican nationals, but always pinche gringos that "forgot" they needed a passport.