Crime, Safety, and the Police

[Monkey7212]

Much appreciated. Still planning to head out to Tijuana in the next few days for a short trip. Lightning can't strike twice in the same location on consecutive weekends, can it?

My guess is that it can. But I'll probably still risk it.

[WombatEd2]

Every bit of speculation I've seen so far, about the shooting's back-story, is based upon the same assumption, that there is a rational explanation.

I'm probably wrong, but I'm wondering what if there isn't one.

[Captain Solo]

Correction:

1 US and 1 Mexico's citizen, both 24, shot and killed 1 Turista policia, wounding 2 other, with AR-15 assault rifles with ammo drums and sniper scopes at corner Coahuila and Nino Heroes in front of Hong Kong Club and Tropical bar. Both were arrested after gun fight by Policia Federale.

If they were just smuggling the weapons, they would have wrapped up and concealed them. In this case they had their weapons loaded, out in the open, shot and killed the cops from their car. So they were planning to kill someone in that area, and brought along high-power assault rifles with large amount of ammunition, expecting heavy returning fire.

This incident looked like 2 Mexican Americans, older, in their 40's, brought down 2 brand-new AR-15's assault rifles with ammo drums and sniper scopes, to sell to cartel guys, who would use those heavy weapons and have the money to pay for them. This is new development as Tijuana has been mostly hand guns action all along. Some groups wanted heavy weapons to start a war on a lot of people.

[Captain Solo]

This incident looked like 2 Mexican Americans, older, in their 40's, brought down 2 brand-new AR-15's assault rifles with ammo drums and sniper scopes, to sell to cartel guys, who would use those heavy weapons and have the money to pay for them. This is new development as Tijuana has been mostly hand guns action all along. Some groups wanted heavy weapons to start a war on a lot of people.

Lucky a turista policia stopped them for some reasons, more likely for a mordida, than anything to do with public security. The 2 gun runners had loaded weapons in the car. They could probably outrun the cop, but decided to start shooting. The pictures showed Policia Federale hand cuffed them next to their brand new rifles. It's a very difficult job subduing 2 guys with assault rifles firing at them, but Mexican Policia did a very good job arresting them both alive, without incurring lots of collateral damages.

Based on the press reports and pictures, we would be stupid to underestimate how good these Mexican cops are. If left to LA PD, SB PD or SD PD, they would call in heavily-armed SWAT teams, massive artillery and air power supports, decimate a few neighborhoods, killing a few dozens innocent women and children, then declare a complete victory, patting themselves in the backs, pinning new shiny medals on their own bloated stomachs.

This is serious news but life will go on. If new violence and retaliation will come, it would take the parties a few months to plan and execute.

[HorseTrader]

Being from the east coast my local news broadcasts and newspapers don't discuss what happens ZN. I appreciate seeing the violence reports in this forum. These recent reports were enough for me to postpone my early October visit. I'll wait a coupe extra weeks before I reschedule, just want to see how things progress.

Thanks.

[Captain Solo]

4 AM Saturday morning, a few hours after I drove home past that intersection, 2 dumb jerks returned to Tijuana after buying 2 AR-15 type assault rifles with large drum magazines and sniper scopes from San Diego. They must be US citizens. They were stupid enough to drive the guns down Coahuila; which is reputedly to most heavily policed street in Tjuana, if not the entire Mexico.

A turista cop wanted to stop them, probably for a mordida. They did not stop, shot him dead, wounding 2 others. Policia Federale gave chase, arrested both of them. One was shot in the stomach; the other one was fine. They are very lucky being alive, even though they would probably spend the rest of their lives in prison, may be die of unnatural causes. It's amazing Mexico's policias managed to confront and arrest 2 guys shooting at them with their assault rifles, without just quickly killing them in a hail of bullets.

If it had happened in the US, both would have been shot dead with hundreds bullet holes; a number of innocent bystanders would also have been shot up by accident. Hell, unarmed guys in Charlotte and Tulsa were shot full of holes even with their hands up.

At least shootings and killings in Tijuana seem to be carefully targeted, not random.

http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2016/0...ona-norte.html

[CoolBeanz]

First time got searched and magically lost 2 Viagra pills and 40 dollars.

They searched me randomly when I was Walking behind HK.

Took my belongings and then when they gave it back magically missing.

Was a bit pissed and told my taxi driver on the way back, he told me it was nothing new and happens to Mexicans as well (not limited to only tourist). He told me he has been stopped in his car for no reason 4 times in the past and the cops always want 100-200 peso each time to let him go.

Just a warning, don't walk around the streets when the cops are patrolling. They are not looking out drugs or your safety, they looking to make some $$ Haha.

Surprised though I never get searched in the morning, only at night, I am guessing the bad cops come out at night?

[TomJackin]

I was under the impression that the card was valid only for ground transportation. Not valid for air travel. I am not sure about cruise travel?

I use my passport card when I fly to other cities in Mexico.

[GolfSexRroll]

The passport card IS a passport. It is valid for ALL border crossings between the USA and Mexico and Canada, as well as seaport entry, I. E. Cruise ships, between the same countries. It is treated exactly the same way a passport book is treated except it can't be stamped. It's also not good anywhere BUT Canada and Mexico.

I was under the impression that the card was valid only for ground transportation. Not valid for air travel. I am not sure about cruise travel?

[Phordphan]

I am planning on going across to the zona and want to avoid getting my passport stamped.

Is the passport card accepted at the border crossing into Tijuana? I have read some earlier reports that they were accepting it, not sure if it is still the case. Any recent experience would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

ZD.

The passport card IS a passport. It is valid for ALL border crossings between the USA and Mexico and Canada, as well as seaport entry, I. E. Cruise ships, between the same countries. It is treated exactly the same way a passport book is treated except it can't be stamped. It's also not good anywhere BUT Canada and Mexico.

[Zee Dude]

I am planning on going across to the zona and want to avoid getting my passport stamped.

Is the passport card accepted at the border crossing into Tijuana? I have read some earlier reports that they were accepting it, not sure if it is still the case. Any recent experience would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

ZD.

[Captain Solo]

Before crossing back, UT may help checking car and foot traffic with BORDERTRAFFIC.COM.

They have live cameras looking at the lanes. While there are 6 cameras aiming at the pedestrian lane, only 1 camera is left working for all car lanes.

Viewing the car lanes at 11 AM Thursday show 5 SENTRI and 5 regular lanes open, but all ready lanes were closed. It shows a very long waiting line for all lanes, including SENTRI. WTF? Russian and ISIS hackers may be fucking around with CBP and HSI multi billion-dollar computer network?

[Captain Solo]

A supposedly quick nap in Cascada at midnight turned into a full night sleep. Woke up around 5:45, took a shower. TIJUANA is now doing DST just like California. Checked out of hotel Cascada at 6 AM. Took the car and drove through downtown Tijuana to the SENTRI lanes, expecting a quick crossing back to the US, but the SENTRI line was packed with cars and infinite length, stretching back all the way into Zona Rio. Almost all cars, like 99.5 %, carried California plates. So these guys come home every night for hot food and hot sex with their Mexican sweethearts and go back to work in the US in the morning. Hehe.

Traffic was horrible with gridlocks at every intersection; cars were inching, cutting in lines, blowing horns. I did not even know where the SENTRI line started and could not cut into that line. Policia blocked off entries into SENTRI line at every intersection along Padre Kino. Something wrong was going on with the SENTRI lanes. Meanwhile the ready lanes looked shorter, but would still be about 2 to 3 hours wait.

After driving around the leafy streets of Zona Rio with green rotaries and large monuments, decided to head back to Zona Norte. Parked the car at Pepe's, went back to hotel Cascada, told javier, the ruddy-face reception guy, I wanted my room back. He asked me what happened, programmed and gave me another key card. A few guys in this forum keep projecting irrational fear and intimidation by policias, HK meseros and Cascada's staff, but in truth they are mostly very reasonable and helpful if treated decently like any normal human beings.

Went to Azul for breakfast. Azul is open 24/7 and does serve a breakfast menu with about 10 different breakfasts with eggs for 75 pesos. I had a Desayuno rustico, very little scrambled eggs with mushroom and sweet potatoes. The tropical fruits, papaya, pineapple etc. Were all green and tasteless. The coffee was instant mix, not very good. Breakfasts at La Perla are far better, but they open late. Food at Monaco next to Adelita is also far tastier.

Hang out in the alley watching polcias round up the bearded and filthy vagrants from stores. The paddy vans had quite a few guys. They questioned an old, bearded gringo sitting at the store front across the street from HK, selling a box full junks, but left him alone.

Took a street girl from the alley for another round before heading back. Drove out to the SENTRI lane at 8 AM, the line was all cleared up, there was no car waiting in line. Cut right in at the Caliente intersection. 6 SENTRI lanes were open. CBP had moved the barriers and reduced READY lanes down to 2. Something unusual had happened at the border at 6 AM. Crossing border took about 15 minutes from HK after 8, but the border can be unpredictable and stressful for folks who have to show up on time for work. I am beginning to think it's not worth staying the whole night in Tijuana and face the morning with only ugly, overweight girls. I would rather take a nap after a hot night and cross back at 3 or 4 AM to avoid wasting time at the border.

BTW I805 traffic North bound in the morning was light and easy without any congestion. An accident South of I5 merging was quickly cleared up in the left shoulder.

[Jackie888]

I do the same thing. My bottle is a clean and empty Gatorade bottle that is always on the floor directly behind the driver's seat. Just make sure you have a bottle with a large enough opening, some are too small. Closes very nicely after use.

And of course keep it separate from your actual drinking bottles for when a friend borrows your car, or when one is too inebriated to distinguish them in the dark.

[Captain Solo]

A few guys in this forum claim extreme dick sizes and expert sniper aim.

For this job they will need an aluminum trash can with lid.

I do the same thing. My bottle is a clean and empty Gatorade bottle that is always on the floor directly behind the driver's seat. Just make sure you have a bottle with a large enough opening, some are too small. Closes very nicely after use.