Crime, Safety, and the Police

[OrganicAlo]

Offhand, I think a seatbelt ticket from the CHP runs around $350. Captain Solo paid 2300 pesos or a bit over $100 with no ding to his auto insurance and no traffic school. I think this example shows it is better to deal with the Mexican cops than getting a ticket from the CHP.

I just had to pay a $530 ticket two weeks ago for a solo-occupant carpool lane ticket.

Such a ridiculous amount.

[Travv]

Offhand, I think a seatbelt ticket from the CHP runs around $350. Captain Solo paid 2300 pesos or a bit over $100 with no ding to his auto insurance and no traffic school. I think this example shows it is better to deal with the Mexican cops than getting a ticket from the CHP.

When I was yet a teen my mother and father taught me during our visits to Baja to keep a $20 in the ashtray together with how to maneuver the conversation during a stop into paying a fine on the spot. Never fails. Thanks Mom & Dad!

[Dogers69]

Do you mean the Mormons in Sonora?

Yes. Sad story. Most gave up today left Mexico for good. Turns out wasn't mistaken identity as they hit up multiple cars hours apart from same group. Who knows what the reason was. But a war zone it is.

[SenorTJ]

20 bucks is nothing, it's all part of the adventure of Mexico. Hong Kong wouldn't be half as exciting if it was on the other side of the border wall. At least the police help keep other criminals away. Bunch of Americans got their vehicles shot up and survivors kidnapped in Sinaloa yesterday. Mistaken identity, the way USA army was shooting up civilian cars all day long in Iraq and Afghanistan during those wars. Mexico is in midst of a civil war right now.

Do you mean the Mormons in Sonora?

[Thunder52]

8 PM Sunday night, I was driving east on Coahuila with 2 wingmen to dinner at Mr. Pampas.

At the Madero intersection, I stopped at the flashing red lights but a patrol car followed us and flashed their beacons. I stopped behind another flashing patrol car checking a CA car on the right.

2 fat pigs searched my car, my wallet and all my wingmen's bags but did not find or take anything. They went though my wallet and all my cash, one note at a time, total about $1,000 plus 2,000 pesos in cash, but did not take anything. They picked out a small pouch in my wallet with broken pills, asked me what it was, I told them "Viagra. " In broken English, they accused me of not stopping at red light. Their sergeant showed up with a few other pigs in a car behind mine. Total there were 3 patrol cars flashing beacons with 6 pigs.

I kept arguing and they kept accusing. Pigs told me they would write a ticket and showed me a link in their tel with 2,300 pesos fine. One of my wingmen was very hungry, saving his stomach for the feast at Mr. Pampas so I did not want to go to the station. I gave the sergeant a 100 peso note but he refused to take it. The 2 original pigs were smiling, telling me they got me red handed but would let me go with a propina.

When I was yet a teen my mother and father taught me during our visits to Baja to keep a $20 in the ashtray together with how to maneuver the conversation during a stop into paying a fine on the spot. Never fails. Thanks Mom & Dad!

[Dogers69]

8 PM Sunday night, I was driving east on Coahuila with 2 wingmen to dinner at Mr. Pampas.

At the Madero intersection, I stopped at the flashing red lights but a patrol car followed us and flashed their beacons. I stopped behind another flashing patrol car checking a CA car on the right.

2 fat pigs searched my car, my wallet and all my wingmen's bags but did not find or take anything. They went though my wallet and all my cash, one note at a time, total about $1,000 plus 2,000 pesos in cash, but did not take anything. They picked out a small pouch in my wallet with broken pills, asked me what it was, I told them "Viagra. " In broken English, they accused me of not stopping at red light. Their sergeant showed up with a few other pigs in a car behind mine. Total there were 3 patrol cars flashing beacons with 6 pigs.

I kept arguing and they kept accusing. Pigs told me they would write a ticket and showed me a link in their tel with 2,300 pesos fine. One of my wingmen was very hungry, saving his stomach for the feast at Mr. Pampas so I did not want to go to the station. I gave the sergeant a 100 peso note but he refused to take it. The 2 original pigs were smiling, telling me they got me red handed but would let me go with a propina. They said there were cameras on the sergeant 's car, so they had to turn their back to block it. I gave them 200 pesos; they balked. I added another 200 pesos; they were smiling broadly. They blocked traffic so I could pull out to the street. Damn. I was out 400 pesos. Another small cost to visit La Zona's chicas.

20 bucks is nothing, it's all part of the adventure of Mexico. Hong Kong wouldn't be half as exciting if it was on the other side of the border wall. At least the police help keep other criminals away. Bunch of Americans got their vehicles shot up and survivors kidnapped in Sinaloa yesterday. Mistaken identity, the way USA army was shooting up civilian cars all day long in Iraq and Afghanistan during those wars. Mexico is in midst of a civil war right now.

[Captain Solo]

8 PM Sunday night, I was driving east on Coahuila with 2 wingmen to dinner at Mr. Pampas.

At the Madero intersection, I stopped at the flashing red lights but a patrol car followed us and flashed their beacons. I stopped behind another flashing patrol car checking a CA car on the right.

2 fat pigs searched my car, my wallet and all my wingmen's bags but did not find or take anything. They went though my wallet and all my cash, one note at a time, total about $1,000 plus 2,000 pesos in cash, but did not take anything. They picked out a small pouch in my wallet with broken pills, asked me what it was, I told them "Viagra. " In broken English, they accused me of not stopping at red light. Their sergeant showed up with a few other pigs in a car behind mine. Total there were 3 patrol cars flashing beacons with 6 pigs.

I kept arguing and they kept accusing. Pigs told me they would write a ticket and showed me a link in their tel with 2,300 pesos fine. One of my wingmen was very hungry, saving his stomach for the feast at Mr. Pampas so I did not want to go to the station. I gave the sergeant a 100 peso note but he refused to take it. The 2 original pigs were smiling, telling me they got me red handed but would let me go with a propina. They said there were cameras on the sergeant 's car, so they had to turn their back to block it. I gave them 200 pesos; they balked. I added another 200 pesos; they were smiling broadly. They blocked traffic so I could pull out to the street. Damn. I was out 400 pesos. Another small cost to visit La Zona's chicas.

Looks like policia are patrolling Coahuila aggressively with reinforcing Marinas in face-saving operations after the botched arrest of El Chapo's son Olivia Guzman Lopez. Instead of taking Coahuila back to the border, I will Consitucion or Revolucion South to Benito Juarez where we saw no policia activities.

[Dogers69]

In California the police have 500 dollar red light cameras. DEA on Amtrak takes Americans cash and keeps it. They can assume you were a drug runner. No evidence needed. Have to sue to get it back. I see it all the time I'm on the train so much. Millions they get from Amtrak alone.

Anyway, in general, don't roll into or out of Mexico with a lot cash. Especially in a car, or with a suitcase on foot. And yes dress down. Just on the trolley you will notice nobody is ever in a suit or nice shirt. This is not LOS Angeles or the east coast. And have 50 in the wallet. Make them search long hard for it. I always stop at McDonald's at border, put cash in socks, few other spots. All together I never walked in with more than 250.

[Travv]

The Guardian Tom Phillips in Tijuana, The Guardian 4 hours ago.

' . . . Mexico now suffers an average of about 96 murders per day, with nearly 29,000 people killed since Amlo took office.

Tijuana has seen a methamphetamine-fuelled murder epidemic which produced a record 2,518 murders in 2018 and looks set to cause even more this year.

"The state has lost control," said Victor Clark, a security expert and activist based in the city.

Negative headlines sparked government action and by 2012 the number of annual murders had plunged. But Tijuana's murder rate is now soaring once again with the slaughter so routine that one local newspaper features a muertómetro (deathometer) to help readers keep track.

Authorities and academics blame the new wave of violence on a largely hidden dispute for Tijuana's drug trade – particularly that of crystal meth – although Brianna Rojas's murder did not seem to fit that mould.

"These deaths aren't about the fight for control of the routes into the US. They're fighting over the local market," said Clark."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/bloody-ti...090021250.html

Comments: "Only the police, military, gangs & drug dealers have guns in that country. This is what happens."

"What they don't mention is that Mexico has one gun store and the strictest gun regulations in North America. Essentially, civilians can't own guns. And they are protected by the police and military. "

"Please go call President Rodrigo Duterte he was the one who turned Davao City in the southern island of Mindanao around and his own country of the Philippines. Crime fighting 101. "

If you are visiting Tijuana, remember to bring a crime alert whistle. . . This will intimidate the local gangbangers and muggers once they see you pull it out and whistle for the local Tijuana policia! LOL.

[Travv]

The posts on the Tijuana policia were from last year. Here is another from 2019:

"Tim Shepherd. May 26, 2019 at 9:21 am.

Just happened to me. Left a club and got into a taxi libre with about $300 in my wallet and a few blocks down the road police lights. Cops pulled us over made me get out. Made me bend over the hood and took my wallet and made a lot of intimidating remarka about maybe I have viagra or I am nervous. I complied fully and they let me go but they only left $100 in my wallet. Actually since the border has gotten more stringent, police harassment of Americans has gotten worse. I've been frisked on Avenida Revolucion 2 times before but they never took anything. This trip I decided to only travel by taxi. I haven't been back in over a year but I finally got caught up and it cost me almost $200. Beware, Mexico is corrupt and probably always will be. Avoid. ".

Betty: - November 5, 2018 at 7:30 pm.

"Got pulled over by 2 police officers just south of Otay Mesa border crossing. Accused of running 2 stop signs and told to pay $200 US dollars. I didn't have that amount and asked for a ticket and direction to station. One officer said CASH, CASH. I told him I had pesos not US dollars that he wanted. He said 3000 pesos which I paid as it was 8:30 at night and I am a 71 yo woman traveling alone. Told me I was "clear". Never got a receipt for my alleged infraction. Be very careful!

http://tourist-scams.com/tourist-sca...t-police-scam/

My general experience is that having CA license plates do not get you targeted. What does is the appearance of wealth. I've driven through Tijuana policia checkpoints with no problems in my old beater truck and then I noticed the Tijuana policia stopping a new looking SUV with CA plates. Tourists who look like money trees get targeted. Tourists who look broke and are driving beaters get left alone. BTW, Policia are not the only ones who can smell tourist money. Meseros seem to target club guys who dress up for special attention.

First, as I mentioned to you, this was a dark, deserted street in the middle of the night. The only witness in sight was the taxi driver. Second, recent? That article was from 2015.

I'm just done with this discussion. You are not wrong. Bad things happen in some police interactions. I'm merely saying not every interaction is a disaster.

I dare say that I've spent as many, if not more days in Tijuana this year than most on this board. And I'll also say that the time I spend in the zona is typically in the wee hours of the morning. My point in saying that is if I was less familiar or a newbie, many on this board would scare me from ever going.

[ClamSlammer]

For the naive true believers in the Tijuana police force, there is a website discussing Policia ripoffs of tourists. It isn't just Clamslammer's opinion on this. "Corrupt Police Scam: Mexico is infamous for its corrupt police, trying to rip off unsuspecting tourists by intimidating them and abusing their power. Most tourists will be happy to pay up after being threatened to be thrown into a Mexican jail.

In the past, police corruption was such a widespread and omnipresent phenomenon in Mexico, that cops even had to pay hundreds of Dollars every week to their chief, in order to be protected against complaints from extorted tourists or locals. They then had to earn that money back, on top of their regular loot, by wringing the tourists even more. . . But beware if you rent a car in the US and drive it across the border, as an American car with US license plates acts like a magnet to corrupt Mexican cops.

TIP: Never hand over your driving license. Make copies before you travel and only hand over the copy. You can them show the original, but don't let the cops get their hands on it, as this will give them leverage to extort money from you in order to give it back.

The above written articles provide some good insight into the corruption of Tijuana Police. Although it may not be 100% accurate, possibly being due to being written about Mexican police in general and not Tijuana Police, it still provides sound insight and advice. Anybody who says differently is severely misinformed.

As long as we're on the subject of the severely misinformed, some has been written about how carrying pesos is somehow a great deterrent to crooked cops trying to rob you. This is one of the most laughable assertions that's every been written on this board. How can anyone actually believe that cops will not rob pesos and only dollars? Ridiculous. Are pesos so rare and difficult to obtain that by merely possessing them you land on some mystical VIP untouchable list where the cops can't fuck with you? LOL. Let me state this for the record: it makes No difference whatsoever if you're carrying pesos or dollars. If a crooked cop late on his rent stops and searches you, he's going to steal your money whether it is pesos or dollars. I wonder whoever thinks that pesos are advantageous over dollars, how many times this person has been searched by the cops. He must have a lot of experience getting searched, at least a couple dozen times in order to come to such a conclusion. He certainly couldn't draw such a conclusion from a puny sample size such as THREE could he, because that would be utterly laughable. Oh wait, nevermind. That would be almost as ridiculous as telling you to never offer a bribe and then the next breath advising you to always pay bribes in pesos. Oh wait again.

So if you get stopped by the cops, here's my advice to prevent getting robbed:

1. Quickly dart into the nearest casa de cambio and exchange your dollars for pesos. Tijuana cops will only rob dollars and not pesos. LOL.

2. Seriously though, take your cash, whether it be dollars or pesos, and hold it in your hand. If they want to see you are not hiding contraband in your wad, let them see. But do not let them touch it.

3. Do not let on that you're an infrequent visitor to Tijuana. If they ask, tell them you come to Tijuana regularly.

4. Dial *86 on your cell which is an English speaking tourist help line. Dial as soon as you suspect the cops want to stop you. When the cops ask, tell them you are on the line with *86 because you don't speak Spanish and need help. As soon as the cops realize that the entire ordeal is being documented, they are much more likely to just let you go.

5. On the back of a business card, write "Sindicatura 664-973-7273" and keep this card in a prominent spot in your wallet such as the transparent ID compartment, or if you don't carry a wallet just keep it with your cash. Sindicatura is Tijuana police anti-corruption internal affairs department located in the Palacio Municipal building near Plaza Rio. If the cops know that you are aware of the Sindicatura, they will likely just let you go.

6. If you are pulled over while driving, try to pull over in a location that is sure to have cameras such as a bank.

7. If you must carry a significant amount of cash on you, hide it in your shoe. Cops rarely search shoes.

8. You will often be asked how much cash you have on you. Do not say "I don't know. " Tell them an exact amount, even if it is not precise.

9. If the cops say you can pay a fine on the spot, tell them that you were advised by the Sindicatura office that it is illegal to hand over cash to a police officer and that you are unwilling to break the law by doing so.

10. Make sure you memorize the police vehicle number, which is often the letter "P" followed by 4 numerals. Take a good long look at it on their vehicle, and make it apparent that you are doing so. If there is no vehicle, make sure to stare at their name tag and memorize their names.

11. If the cops threaten to take you to the station or the judge unless you pay a fine, agree to go. The last thing they want is some gringo at the station complaining about getting solicited for bribes. They will back down almost every time.

12. If the cops do actually rob you, call 911 immediately.

[ClamSlammer]

I took exception to your statement that every cop will steal from you. Clearly, that is not true. And it is inflammatory and fear mongering. In my specific case, if they intended to rob me, they had a golden opportunity. They knew I had a large amount of cash. We were on a dark side road in the middle of the night in centro. I can't say definitively why we were stopped. As I mentioned, that crazy woman coming to the cab and getting out was very odd. But, they also appeared to be surprised to see me in the back of the car when they walked up. So. While it was an inconvenience and a bit intimidating, it all ended quick enough, without me losing a dime.

I am not out here saying there aren't crooked police in Tijuana. And yes, the quotas they pay their superiors is well known and well documented. But stating all police WILL rob you serves nothing but to put fear in people. Why wasn't I robbed? Why were we stopped? I don't know. But I do believe speaking to them firmly but with respect helped my cause.

OK, let me clear things up a little. There's probably several hundred Tijuana police officers. Obviously not every single one is a thief. But the overwhelming majority are. What I am saying is that if you are stopped and searched for no reason, then the cop's intention is rob you. That applies 100% of the time with ZERO exceptions.

You seem to think that if you are stopped and searched and not robbed, the cops didn't necessarily intend to rob you. That is ridiculous. You really think Tijuana cops give a shit about taking drugs off the street? In the Zona there are dealers selling dope out in the open like tamales and the cops don't give a fuck. And you think that they really give a shit if some white, fat, balding, middle aged gringo monger is carrying drugs? They don't. Their only motive to stop and search without probable cause is pure robbery.

Be glad to let you know, since clearly you missed the posts where I explained it. They looked in my wallet that had $200. What did they do? They handed it back to me. All of it. And sent me on my way. Any other questions?

Yes I have a question: why did the cops break the law and stop and search you without probable cause? They intended to rob you, period. Just because they didn't actually take anything doesn't mean that robbery wasn't their motive in stopping you. Whether they actually follow through with the robbery or not depends on a variety of circumstances including how much money you have, your demeanor, how scare you appear, potential witness, whether you're a tourist or local, how likely you are to report them, etc.

[ClamSlammer]

Mr. Phordphan...I've noticed that when the intellectual points made by a writer cannot be countered the personal attacks start.

Unfortunately, you are all too correct here. And it seems to be a frequent pattern for a particular poster here: write nonsense-get corrected by a factual, educated post-respond with personal attacks. I've found myself in a similar position to yours more than once. I don't see why posters can't just admit a mistake then move on, instead of personally attacking the person who proved them wrong.

[Dcrist0527]

Did you read any of the numerous posts of victims of the Tijuana policia on the website? You were likely in a public area with lots of witnesses and the policia were afraid to rob you in public. Here are recent victim's accounts:...

First, as I mentioned to you, this was a dark, deserted street in the middle of the night. The only witness in sight was the taxi driver. Second, recent? That article was from 2015.

I'm just done with this discussion. You are not wrong. Bad things happen in some police interactions. I'm merely saying not every interaction is a disaster.

I dare say that I've spent as many, if not more days in Tijuana this year than most on this board. And I'll also say that the time I spend in the zona is typically in the wee hours of the morning. My point in saying that is if I was less familiar or a newbie, many on this board would scare me from ever going.

[Phordphan]

For the naive true believers in the Tijuana police force, there is a website discussing Policia ripoffs of tourists. It isn't just Clamslammer's opinion on this. "Corrupt Police Scam: Mexico is infamous for its corrupt police, trying to rip off unsuspecting tourists by intimidating them and abusing their power. Most tourists will be happy to pay up after being threatened to be thrown into a Mexican jail.

In the past, police corruption was such a widespread and omnipresent phenomenon in Mexico, that cops even had to pay hundreds of Dollars every week to their chief, in order to be protected against complaints from extorted tourists or locals. They then had to earn that money back, on top of their regular loot, by wringing the tourists even more. . . But beware if you rent a car in the US and drive it across the border, as an American car with US license plates acts like a magnet to corrupt Mexican cops.

TIP: Never hand over your driving license. Make copies before you travel and only hand over the copy. You can them show the original, but don't let the cops get their hands on it, as this will give them leverage to extort money from you in order to give it back.

Split your cash over different wallets or different pockets. If a corrupt police officer asks you how many cash you have on you, you can show him one set of bills and hope it is enough to satisfy his desire for. Never let them notice you have any other money on you, because they won't let you go until they have all the cash you've got. And if you don't have a lot of cash to show, they are more likely to consider you as an uninteresting prey and may even let you go without paying anything. . . ".

http://tourist-scams.com/tourist-sca...t-police-scam/

Naive dude: Flash your roll of cash in front of the Tijuana policia and let us know what happens. Practice your faith in the Tijuana policia and let them know you have a lot of dollars in your wallet! Then get back to the old hands who have visited Tijuana for years and let us know what happens to you!

There is so much bad information in this article I don't know where to start.

If a cop is really interested in you, he'll search you. He may find your hidden stash, too. Instead of this nonsense, first of all, CARRY PESOS. I can attest to the cops' attitude changing when they see you have a wad of MXN, not a wad of greenbacks. Second, KEEP YOUR MONEY IN YOUR HAND if you are searched. The cops have no right to handle your money. If they want to take you to the judge, go. Unless you did commit a crime the odds of them going through with it are small. They don't need the judge to start asking them why they're bringing random gringos into his courtroom for no good reason. And if they want to keep your DL, so what? You have a passport, right? Of course you do. So, worst case, you go home and report a lost DL.

I drive in Tijuana. A LOT. I have driven all over the city. I visit two or three times per month, and I always drive. There are shitloads of cars with CA plates. Lots of Mexicans own cars with CA plates. The only place I think you can make an argument about cops targeting CA plates is in the Zona Norte, where the odds of nabbing a gringo while DUI is quite high.

Over the years I have been stopped exactly 3 times by cops. Once in Mexicali for a not-quite-legal turn that the locals were making (the CA plates may have caused me to get pulled over this time), twice in Tijuana. Oh, and once on the road to Puerto Penasco by a Federal cop. News flash: they have the right to see your license and registration. Just try showing them your license and not actually handing it to them and see what happens. Anyway, in NONE of the cases did they even hint about keeping my license and extorting money. In the Mexicali case I gave the cop 200 pesos to not write me a ticket, I. E. Let's dispense with the colossal time wasting and be on our way. In one Tijuana case I got tired of fucking around with the guy and obliquely offered to pay a fine. He got 200 pesos. The third time the guy got nothing. The Federale never even hinted he wanted something.

I have been pulled over in a taxi when exiting HK, some years ago. The cop went through everything I had, looked in the taxi, thanked me and left. Nothing taken.

10 years ago I was "extorted" for $20 on Revu, back when there were no street lights, and a pair of cops stopped me and my fave before we got into the Hotel Espana. But I didn't know then what I know now.

Some years back a friend was on his way to Ensenada and got lost in Tijuana, stopped by some asshole and extorted for a couple hundred dollars. But my friend was very inexperienced and quite nervous.

OK. My point is that CA plates are not an automatic magnet for shakedowns. There are loads of corrupt cops in Tijuana, but not every one of them will shake you down at the drop of a hat. And if they do, if you PAY IN PESOS, you'll get out of it a lot cheaper. But to say that every cop will rob you is ridiculous on its face. Sooner or later you'll run into a bad cop. The key is to know how to handle the situation. Oh, and NEVER offer a bribe, and always PAY IN PESOS.