Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Malo9517]

Hey Guys,

Anyone not familiar with the new travel rules should just log on to www.travel.state.gov for info. Until around June 2008 you can still use your D/L but you also need proof of U.S. Citizenship, i.e birth certificate. If you are not a U.S. Citizen then you already have a passport from your home country, so make sure you have that and your green card etc.

There is a guy on the radio in San Diego named Rick Roberts in the morning on A.M. 760 KFMB. He has a report weekly called This week in Mejico (Mexico). He is trying to discourage people from traveling to Mexico because of the crime and violence. he reads every news story about how many cops, soldiers, people who are murdered, shootings in broad daylight, kidnappings, etc. He even mentioned some gringo being kidnapped for a $1,000 ransom.

Well I'm happy to report that I visited Tijuana on 4/9 and 4/10 at night. I saw nothing unusual taxied in taxied out. On 4/9 that night the lines were out the door going through immigration. During the day I made a day trip by bus and it took about 1 1/2 hours to go through immigration and I was on the bus. The lines were backed up to the taxi drop-off. So I guess the stories aren't scaring anyone away.

Remember guys just use the tips from this board and everything should be OK
Check the AB section for my detailed report in a couple of days.

[Country John]

The day will come when passports will be the law of the land and some returning Americano will be bleeding from the asshole while being detained because they will claim that they didn't know about it. Then comes the lawsuit, book deal, movie etc.

Homeland security is trying to get the message across that Passports will be required by a date certain.

Most will comply. Some will try to bullshit their way through and create for themselves a delay that they will then ty to convert into a cause of action that will go nowhere.

Do yourself a favor: familiarize yourselves with the law of the land, then comply. You'll be glad you did.

Be safe and be nice
Country John

[Samurai0907]

I've been hearing mixed details on the whole passport thing. Are we required to have a passport to walk across the boarder now?

I know when driving down to Ensenada they require a passport to pass back thru to the U. S. We've been warned a number of times and they claim (boarder patrol) that next time (this was in Feb 08) if we don't have a passport or paperwork we're going to be detained.

I don't like carrying my passport in Mexico and especially would worry if on foot in the Zona. I plan a visit soon but am really concerned about the whole passport thing.

You have to have either:

Passport or

DL plus original birth cert.

I forgot my BC a few weeks ago and they let me pass, no problem. Tonight I saw 4 guys together, from LA. None had bc. Just showed dl and were let through. Now, I know that if they want to be hard-assed, they can and will, and will detain your ass for several hours. It depends on who and when I guess. You can also get the new passport card, which is like a dl.

[Docholiday101]

I've been hearing mixed details on the whole passport thing. Are we required to have a passport to walk across the boarder now?

I know when driving down to Ensenada they require a passport to pass back thru to the U. S. We've been warned a number of times and they claim (boarder patrol) that next time (this was in Feb 08) if we don't have a passport or paperwork we're going to be detained.

I don't like carrying my passport in Mexico and especially would worry if on foot in the Zona. I plan a visit soon but am really concerned about the whole passport thing.

[Country John]

This may be irrelevant information for those living close the US border, but further south, we import/nationalize an extra vehicle. With an FM-3 residency visa, you are allowed one vehicle for the duration and continuation of your FM-3 status. If however, you wish to bring in another vehicle, try to find a low-mileage one, ten years or older. That way you dodge the 35% import duty.

Vehicles with US certified salvage titles can also be declared far, far less than their Blue Book value. For instance a $20,000usd car with a salvage title could be valued at $1,000usd and thus only be levied 35% or $350usd in taxes.

Thanks for clearing that up. My understanding now is that anything other than the above must be 10 years old, no more and no less.

A note regarding crime: I had a meeting with several business associates on Friday night to discuss risk and our activity. The recent arrests of high profile kidnap ring leaders is interesting (and welcomed) news, but it is NOT time to let your guard down.

Remember that these king-pins employed nut cases to do their dirty work. Now that the ring leaders are in jail, there are a lot of unemployed nut cases out there who know the game and who will be less selective about who they grab. They are not looking for the big money, they'll take you for $10K if mom will pay it. They tend to be much less sophisticated, lacking the equipment and intelligence provided by their previous employers.

My understanding is that they will prowl the backstreets and alleys looking for strays. So you must remember to stay in populated areas that are well lighted and the Alley should be perfectly safe. DO NOT stray out of the Zona unless you are able to take care of yourself.

Lacking the organization, equipment and command structure they had before, they might be a little rough around the edges operationally, but do not let your guard down. Leave the bling at home, don't carry LARGE amounts of cash or credit cards.

Take a separate wallet with your ID, monger money, temporary ATM card (that you can get at the bank just for asking) and appropriate contact info State-side in case you have an accident.

[Smut Villain]

While I defer to experts like Country John for in depth analysis of the ground truth in Tijuana, I think it's important to draw a distinction between what's happening in the metropolitan Tijuana area (or the rest of Mexico) and the scene in the Zona Norte.

My visits stick very close to the tried-and-true paradigm made famous by the Brockton O'Toole guide. I park on the U.S. side, take a yellow taxi to the Zona, check out the Big Three Clubs, take care of business, and reverse my steps. I'm inside a club 95 percent of the time, and when I'm on the street I know enough to avoid the street hustlers and the areas where the muggers lurk. I don't get too drunk, I don't do anything to stand out, and I've always got a few words of Spanish and a tip for the waiters and bartenders.

In 15 years of trips I've never had a waiter try to rip me off, I've never been stopped by the police in the Zona, and I've had zero problems with any of the locals. (I did endure one police stop at the Sentri taxi dropoff last fall. But nothing came of it and and it appears this practice has come to an end.) In fact, the folks who make a (legitimate) living in the Zona Norte have been unfailingly polite.

I realize that I am arguing via anecdote. But I suspect that there are many lurkers on this board (and Zona Norte regulars who aren't online) who haven't noticed any change for the worse. I theorize that no matter what troubles plague Mexican society in general, they almost never trickle down to those parts of the Zona Norte that cater to the Norteamericano trade. Some my deride those who make a beeline for the Adelita Bar to do the trophy fuck thing. But what others may find boring and trite at least seems to offer the value of increased safety and security.

Bunky

I would definitely agree. What's going on down there is the same old stuff that's been happening for years. I haven't been a TJ regular for at least 10 years or more but the stories I'm hearing now were happening back then, too. I think the real difference is that the internet has become so ubiquitous in recent years that knowledge of these situations tends to become more widespread and in a much quicker manner. IOW, it's the "same ol' same ol'" but it only seems to have gotten worse than it really is because news spreads so much faster to so many people now.

[Supermonger2]

Right now, there is a major crackdown on unregistered vehicles. A recent law made importing any vehicle more or less than ten years old impossible. This gives them the chance to clean house and a mexican driving a car with american plates will have some 'splainin to do when he gets stopped by the cops. I just got plates for my girlies car, a 2002 Saturn.

So if you look Mexican and drive a car with USA plates, get your paperwork in order. You have a better than 90% chance of being stopped.

This may be irrelevant information for those living close the US border, but further south, we import/nationalize an extra vehicle. With an FM-3 residency visa, you are allowed one vehicle for the duration and continuation of your FM-3 status. If however, you wish to bring in another vehicle, try to find a low-mileage one, ten years or older. That way you dodge the 35% import duty.

Vehicles with US certified salvage titles can also be declared far, far less than their Blue Book value. For instance a $20,000usd car with a salvage title could be valued at $1,000usd and thus only be levied 35% or $350usd in taxes.

[Bunky]

While I defer to experts like Country John for in depth analysis of the ground truth in Tijuana, I think it's important to draw a distinction between what's happening in the metropolitan Tijuana area (or the rest of Mexico) and the scene in the Zona Norte.

My visits stick very close to the tried-and-true paradigm made famous by the Brockton O'Toole guide. I park on the U.S. side, take a yellow taxi to the Zona, check out the Big Three Clubs, take care of business, and reverse my steps. I'm inside a club 95 percent of the time, and when I'm on the street I know enough to avoid the street hustlers and the areas where the muggers lurk. I don't get too drunk, I don't do anything to stand out, and I've always got a few words of Spanish and a tip for the waiters and bartenders.

In 15 years of trips I've never had a waiter try to rip me off, I've never been stopped by the police in the Zona, and I've had zero problems with any of the locals. (I did endure one police stop at the Sentri taxi dropoff last fall. But nothing came of it and and it appears this practice has come to an end.) In fact, the folks who make a (legitimate) living in the Zona Norte have been unfailingly polite.

I realize that I am arguing via anecdote. But I suspect that there are many lurkers on this board (and Zona Norte regulars who aren't online) who haven't noticed any change for the worse. I theorize that no matter what troubles plague Mexican society in general, they almost never trickle down to those parts of the Zona Norte that cater to the Norteamericano trade. Some my deride those who make a beeline for the Adelita Bar to do the trophy fuck thing. But what others may find boring and trite at least seems to offer the value of increased safety and security.

Bunky

[Roguesta]

Here's to insanity!!!

[Country John]

tourists have nothing to worry about, are you completely nuts !!! ??

having traveling in mexico for many years, yes i would agree that mexico as a whole is not more violent than the usa, but tj certainly lives up to is reputation as a safe haven for criminals.

as you mentioned the police are completely corrupt and involved in many of the the murders and kidnappings. crime pays since the legal system serves no one except crooked and [CodeWord130] judges and attorneys.

if you are a victim of violent crime in mexico, you have absolutely no recourse. the entire system is is a filthy cesspool of corruption. the part that is so difficult for gringos to understand is that the people accept it as a normal fact of life, since it has been going on for hundreds of years.

i live 20min from the border, but have not been to zn in over 6 yrs. i would rather pay 500-1000 dollars and fly somewhere less slimy even though it means less trips per year.

i will stipulate to being slightly insane at certain times. kidnappers are not looking for the low profile tourist.

bring your $100,000.00 rig across along with your bling and you present the bad guys with a unique opportunity.

i agree about the "no recourse" issue.

no question about it, the legal system is a mess. there are many many criminals living in the usa etc. the hysteria surrounding the violence in mexico is what frightens the tourist. if one tourist is hit, it might as well be a thousand of them. it is unreasonable for anyone to expect any country to be crime free.

i said it somewhere else and i'll repeat it here: mexico is a way of life.

[Cabroncito]

the crime, although not a pretty picture, is not any worse now than in years past, and certainly not worse than the usa. tourists have nothing to worry about and it's sad that they still stay away. you are exposed to violent crime anywhere in the world, wherever you have human beings.
.

tourists have nothing to worry about, are you completely nuts !!! ??

having traveling in mexico for many years, yes i would agree that mexico as a whole is not more violent than the usa, but tj certainly lives up to is reputation as a safe haven for criminals.

as you mentioned the police are completely corrupt and involved in many of the the murders and kidnappings. crime pays since the legal system serves no one except crooked and [CodeWord130] judges and attorneys.

if you are a victim of violent crime in mexico, you have absolutely no recourse. the entire system is is a filthy cesspool of corruption. the part that is so difficult for gringos to understand is that the people accept it as a normal fact of life, since it has been going on for hundreds of years.

i live 20min from the border, but have not been to zn in over 6 yrs. i would rather pay 500-1000 dollars and fly somewhere less slimy even though it means less trips per year.

[Country John]

Tourism has declined of course and businesses on Revolution are in dire straits financially. The tour buses are not as many or frequent and the tourists who arrive on them (mostly orientals) visit shops close to the bus stop, so they are probably being told to stay close by and not wander off.

A lot of what is happening now in TJ has actually been going on for many years. You're just hearing more about it now, recent shoot-outs not withstanding. I can't figure out what all the drama is about. You have very violent events happening state-side at least equal to what's happening in Mexico.

The main problem (in my opinion) is police corruption. Most people seem to know about the narcotraficantes and the kidnappings but the conversation always shifts to police corruption.

Right now, there is a major crackdown on unregistered vehicles. A recent law made importing any vehicle more or less than ten years old impossible. This gives them the chance to clean house and a mexican driving a car with american plates will have some 'splainin to do when he gets stopped by the cops. I just got plates for my girlies car, a 2002 Saturn.

So if you look Mexican and drive a car with USA plates, get your paperwork in order. You have a better than 90% chance of being stopped.

The kidnappers are targeting people with resources. The word I get is that they scope out their target, learning as much as possible about their financial situation then make a move if they think it will pay off. It is not a random act. Some groups actually have cops and lawyers working with them. Some even have people at the bank watching who walks in or out with money

The crime, although not a pretty picture, is not any worse now than in years past, and certainly not worse than the USA. Tourists have nothing to worry about and it's sad that they still stay away. You are exposed to violent crime anywhere in the world, wherever you have human beings.

The long wait coming back is not mexico's fault. Homeland Security is taking their time because they are almost dysfunctional as an organization so instead of making thier operation more efficent, they make YOU wait; you see, it's easier that way.

Nobody choses to be a victim unless they have a death-wish and you can become a victim of a violent crime any time, anyplace. To hang all this shit around Mexico's neck is an injustice if you don't look in the mirror. I wonder what part the San Diego Merchant's Association has to play in the run-up in hysterics.

[Efjayel]

Tourism of TJ has gone down by 90% according to a recent news cast. Good for lines, bad for the economy and definitely the sex trade. The chicas don't earn big bucks from the poor locals.

[Phordphan]

Do the Mexican Police still shake down people at the taxi drop off near the linea?

Only my limited experience, but on my trips down in the last couple of months I've not seen them. I used to see them almost every time. I've arrived at the sentri line between 10pm and 1am and not seen them, Also, the lines are waaaay down, which is good for me!

PP

[Member #4647]

Do the Mexican Police still shake down people at the taxi drop off near the linea?