Stupid Shit in Tijuana

[Goyo61]

I never take offence to other folks perspectives. I have learned a ton from this forum related to Tijuana and just helps to make the trips down their more enjoyable and also safer by knowing others perspectives.

Thanks for sharing.

Goyo.

Ha sorry to be harsh bro you seem like a real nice guy. I wish you the best luck in future travels!

[Member #4722]

LOL. Do enjoy the feedback on this one! And would not be my first stupid idea or thing I have done. First of all. They don't know who I am and having never been shaken down "yet". They can't target me as for all they know. I have $20 bucks on me.

Rog. Do like your attitude though. To not be so afraid that you give into intimidation. BTW. I always bring with me a list of Mexican lawyers I can call if shit happens and I need a representative to help get my ass out of jail faster.

Along with the other stupid shit I do to try to mitigate risk. Here is the list from the US Embassy if anyone else wants to review it (bottom of web page. Link).

https://mx.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen...a-u-s-citizen/

Ha sorry to be harsh bro you seem like a real nice guy. I wish you the best luck in future travels!

[Goyo61]

LOL. Do enjoy the feedback on this one! And would not be my first stupid idea or thing I have done. First of all. They don't know who I am and having never been shaken down "yet". They can't target me as for all they know. I have $20 bucks on me.

Rog. Do like your attitude though. To not be so afraid that you give into intimidation. BTW. I always bring with me a list of Mexican lawyers I can call if shit happens and I need a representative to help get my ass out of jail faster.

Along with the other stupid shit I do to try to mitigate risk. Here is the list from the US Embassy if anyone else wants to review it (bottom of web page. Link).

https://mx.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen...a-u-s-citizen/

At least he found the correct titled thread to post it in.

[Jackie888]

I have a weird belief with. How much cash to carry. I kind of feel like I should carry more as if they stop me. And they get more money from me, perhaps they would be more app to be a little nicer to me and not harass me as much. Plus it gives you more bribe money or money to pay any fine they think up.

Any thoughts.

G.

If true, you are training the cops to target you and anyone that looks like you for a shakedown. Soon after, the word will get around, and criminals will be targeting you as well. You will be known as the Human ATM machine. So I don't think it is a good idea.

[ScatManDoo]

I have a weird belief with. How much cash to carry. I kind of feel like I should carry more as if they stop me. And they get more money from me, perhaps they would be more app to be a little nicer to me and not harass me as much. Plus it gives you more bribe money or money to pay any fine they think up.

Any thoughts.

G.

This might be the dumbest comment I've ever read on this board. Agree with Dodger you are the perfect candidate for corrupt cops. Unless they have something solid against me they aren't getting shit from me. I'm not afraid of the cops and worst case scenario a night in jail isn't the end of the world.

At least he found the correct titled thread to post it in.

[ChinaMan360]

Why not? If I don't have a passport I'm gonna go to Mexico if I feel like it. I'm legally allowed back. Maybe I don't want to buy a passport, if border patrol doesn't like it they can quit. Many thousands cross into USA daily with no papers, legally, 20% of San Diego is living here illegally, I'm not gonna feel guilty as a us citizen to come back to my country just cause I don't have a passport.

How hard is it to just bring a passport card? Better safe than sorry. I've gotten back and forth just with my drivers license, but still I'd rather not leave it up to the Border patrol.

[Member #4722]

I have a weird belief with. How much cash to carry. I kind of feel like I should carry more as if they stop me. And they get more money from me, perhaps they would be more app to be a little nicer to me and not harass me as much. Plus it gives you more bribe money or money to pay any fine they think up.

Any thoughts.

G.

This might be the dumbest comment I've ever read on this board. Agree with Dodger you are the perfect candidate for corrupt cops. Unless they have something solid against me they aren't getting shit from me. I'm not afraid of the cops and worst case scenario a night in jail isn't the end of the world.

[Dogers69]

Cops love people like this. Its why they became cops. You could also just hand them money when you walk past them. I don't do anything illegal so I'm not at all worried about the policia. They don't bring gringos to jail for not getting enough money from them on false charges. And they never took a penny from my wallet when searching it. If you don't have a car you don't need to be worried much about the police other than don't walk into them while they are arresting guys, they get real angry about that. And don't talk to girls in front of them they may be banging the same girl. St any rate the more cops around the less likely you will get kidnapped.

[Goyo61]

I have a weird belief with. How much cash to carry. I kind of feel like I should carry more as if they stop me. And they get more money from me, perhaps they would be more app to be a little nicer to me and not harass me as much. Plus it gives you more bribe money or money to pay any fine they think up.

Any thoughts.

G.

When crossing, I'm usually wearing a pair of light gym shorts with pockets under my pants with the truly essential stuff. I figure most folks whom would target me are going to do so from the boarder.

Even after checking into my hotel and putting those things in the safe, I don't carry much in the wallet. It's more of a decoy just containing a few small bills, my room keycard, and my HK VIP card. If I'm really paranoid, I'll put an expired credit card in there as well. Large bills, my ID, and a real credit card are secured either in zipped pockets or in shoes.

The reality is I'm more concerned about my phone than my wallet.

[KC Questor]

Why not? If I don't have a passport I'm gonna go to Mexico if I feel like it. I'm legally allowed back. Maybe I don't want to buy a passport, if border patrol doesn't like it they can quit. Many thousands cross into USA daily with no papers, legally, 20% of San Diego is living here illegally, I'm not gonna feel guilty as a us citizen to come back to my country just cause I don't have a passport.

Just don't be surprised if they detain you for a few hours while they check you out. Hope you don't have anywhere to be.

[Phordphan]

Why not? If I don't have a passport I'm gonna go to Mexico if I feel like it. I'm legally allowed back. Maybe I don't want to buy a passport, if border patrol doesn't like it they can quit. Many thousands cross into USA daily with no papers, legally, 20% of San Diego is living here illegally, I'm not gonna feel guilty as a us citizen to come back to my country just cause I don't have a passport.

Good point. The laws don't apply to you.

BTW, which people are the ones who cross, daily, by the thousands, legally, without papers?

[Dogers69]

When crossing, I'm usually wearing a pair of light gym shorts with pockets under my pants with the truly essential stuff. I figure most folks whom would target me are going to do so from the boarder.

Even after checking into my hotel and putting those things in the safe, I don't carry much in the wallet. It's more of a decoy just containing a few small bills, my room keycard, and my HK VIP card. If I'm really paranoid, I'll put an expired credit card in there as well. Large bills, my ID, and a real credit card are secured either in zipped pockets or in shoes.

The reality is I'm more concerned about my phone than my wallet.

Yeah me too, it's the phone that's vulnerable because I like to always have it. Nobody should have a passport in a pants pocket and be drinking in any bar in any country. It's a huge pain to lose it, you will get hassled with the new passport from border patrol in future.

I also wear, under my Jean's, extremely thin shorts, that have a zippered side pocket. In that is my passport, license, some cash. So it's on side of my thigh outside thigh. HK laughs at me when they pat me down, every day in Tijuana I get laughed at taking money from sneaker. All these people laughing at me tells me that gringos are targeted way way more by cops and crooks than the locals are. Cause they know a much safer Tijuana than I know as a gringo. Most important thing is, with your belongings don't hesitate to give it up if asked, even if your mugger has no weapons and is a foot shorter than you, and 100 people are in street with you. Cause if you hesitate you can get sliced up. I have to look at my scar on my face every day for giving my muggers a hard time, this was about 75 feet from HK door. I don't even know what they cut me with. Probably not a knife or they would of stabbed my midsection as well.

[PowerMan02]

Wow, sorry to hear. One thing that's given me some peace of mind with theft is I have a few pants and shorts with zipper side pockets. I always make it a point to bring a couple of those to wear when I'm down there. I don't wear them every single time but most of the time I'm down there I wear them so I can have my wallet zipped up in my side pocket.

When crossing, I'm usually wearing a pair of light gym shorts with pockets under my pants with the truly essential stuff. I figure most folks whom would target me are going to do so from the boarder.

Even after checking into my hotel and putting those things in the safe, I don't carry much in the wallet. It's more of a decoy just containing a few small bills, my room keycard, and my HK VIP card. If I'm really paranoid, I'll put an expired credit card in there as well. Large bills, my ID, and a real credit card are secured either in zipped pockets or in shoes.

The reality is I'm more concerned about my phone than my wallet.

[BrotherMouzone]

I had my wallet and passport stolen in Tijuana, a few months ago, and when I got to the border, I had no ID at all. At the checkpoint, the officer listened to my story, asked me a couple of questions like my date of birth, found me on the computer, and waved me on through.

Wow, sorry to hear. One thing that's given me some peace of mind with theft is I have a few pants and shorts with zipper side pockets. I always make it a point to bring a couple of those to wear when I'm down there. I don't wear them every single time but most of the time I'm down there I wear them so I can have my wallet zipped up in my side pocket.

[WombatEd2]

I was crossing over at Pedwest last Wednesday for a little Zona Norte action and met a nice guy and his girlfriend who appeared a little confused on how to get to Rosarito Beach. After talking to them for a minute it turns out they just crossed over with no passport and were familiar with with the east crossing but not Pedwest. The girl was a little worried about this as they already went through the border they will need to prove that they are US citizens when they cross back over to the US later that night.

I heard they can be detained but can't be stopped from coming into the US. Not sure if anyone else has experienced this but I shared this with them from what I have learned so it calmed their fears a bit. But still. With all the info on the web there is no excuse to just wanted down to the border with out a passport.

I had my wallet and passport stolen in Tijuana, a few months ago, and when I got to the border, I had no ID at all. At the checkpoint, the officer listened to my story, asked me a couple of questions like my date of birth, found me on the computer, and waved me on through.

I doubt it would have gone as smoothly if I had just crossed without ever getting a passport, though.