Crime, Safety, and the Police

[StRobert]

Travv,

Last few years I have been pulled over by policia 7 or 8 times late at night after 6 or 7 hours of partying, one time tested with breath analyzer in Tijuana's medical truck on Benito Juarez. My BAC was way below Tijuana legal limit, which AFAIK is half of California, something like 0. 04%. If policia gets me for DUI with solid evidence, I could easily get out of it with $20. One night last month a policia even volunteered to escort me around an alcohol check point on be Juarez, but I know I would pass their BAC test and declined. It turned out to be just a quick fugitive check point, no alcohol test truck on site.

I was pulled over by CHP late at night near La Jolla a few years ago. The 2 cops claimed I flew past their parked patrol car at high speed, nearly blew their door off blah blah blah. They were hoping to make a big bust, gave me a long DUI test which I passed, so they gave me a speeding ticket instead. A SD attorney, Elizabeth Aronson, got the ticket dismissed for a small sum. Remember her name, a very good attorney and a beautiful, classy princess.

In the last couple years I got pulled over too many times on freeway by CHP, got a few tickets. I am more worried about CHP than the dumb and corrupt Tijuana policias. But you are right. Knowing the dire consequences of DUI in Mexico and California I should modify my driving habits, may be staying over on nights I feel tired or inebriated. Sometimes the problem is to accommodate the wingmen's work schedules or spousal commitments ect. But this latest wingman is irresponsible and repeatedly felt too drunk or too tired to drive. I am really mad at this loser, so I have to figure out alternatives.

You are a real gentleman with lots of experiences in Tijuana and kind concerns for the bros' safety. I wish you would share more of your experiences in this forum and just ignore jealous, ignorant guys who claim to know everything and crudely attack other bros without clear facts, solid evidences or good reasonings.

Captain Solo. When you come back at 2 AM from Tijuana Zona Norte party, it is safer to spend the night in a motel with parking on the US side, somewhere close to the border with a short taxi ride. But if you plan on visiting Tijuana Zona Norte every weekend for the next 20 to 40 years it is better to move permanently somewhere close to the border to San Diego county. This way you will save a lot of money and time.

[Captain Solo]

Travv,

Last few years I have been pulled over by policia 7 or 8 times late at night after 6 or 7 hours of partying, one time tested with breath analyzer in Tijuana's medical truck on Benito Juarez. My BAC was way below Tijuana legal limit, which AFAIK is half of California, something like 0. 04%. If policia gets me for DUI with solid evidence, I could easily get out of it with $20. One night last month a policia even volunteered to escort me around an alcohol check point on be Juarez, but I know I would pass their BAC test and declined. It turned out to be just a quick fugitive check point, no alcohol test truck on site.

I was pulled over by CHP late at night near La Jolla a few years ago. The 2 cops claimed I flew past their parked patrol car at high speed, nearly blew their door off blah blah blah. They were hoping to make a big bust, gave me a long DUI test which I passed, so they gave me a speeding ticket instead. A SD attorney, Elizabeth Aronson, got the ticket dismissed for a small sum. Remember her name, a very good attorney and a beautiful, classy princess.

In the last couple years I got pulled over too many times on freeway by CHP, got a few tickets. I am more worried about CHP than the dumb and corrupt Tijuana policias. But you are right. Knowing the dire consequences of DUI in Mexico and California I should modify my driving habits, may be staying over on nights I feel tired or inebriated. Sometimes the problem is to accommodate the wingmen's work schedules or spousal commitments ect. But this latest wingman is irresponsible and repeatedly felt too drunk or too tired to drive. I am really mad at this loser, so I have to figure out alternatives.

You are a real gentleman with lots of experiences in Tijuana and kind concerns for the bros' safety. I wish you would share more of your experiences in this forum and just ignore jealous, ignorant guys who claim to know everything and crudely attack other bros without clear facts, solid evidences or good reasonings.

[Travv]

Don't worry, if the Tijuana policia catch you driving after dark with "5 to 6 beers a night in the club" and are desperate for money or hates tourists, the chances of you sleeping alone are zero in the Tijuana jail, which I've heard is packed full. You will have plenty of company crammed into your stinking cell where you can fight for a space to sleep on the floor covered with piss or whatever. . . You will make lots of new friends there. . . Rateros, cartel dudes, other drunk dudes and crazy tourists who didn't want to spend $20 for a hotel room and chose to roll the dice by driving after dark from the clubs, which are surrounded nightly by greedy Policia looking for victims. . . Read "Pozo Del Mundo" by Ovid Demaris for a description of Mexican jails a few years ago. . . The rattiest Zona Norte hotel is a chalet in paradise by comparison to a Mexican jail.

Travv,

I don't like to stay overnight in Tijuana. I feel lonely sleeping by myself unless I have a beautiful girl whom I can embrace all night. It's very depressing to wake up in the morning to face a bare, filthy, grimy La Zona without fun, sexy, attractive girls and glammy party life. Besides, after breakfast and crossing the border back, I could never get home before noon, so I would lose half a day or the whole day. I prefer to drive home late, sleep all night and wake up in the morning having a full day available in front of me hehe.

I usually drink 5 to 6 beers a night in the club, got stopped a few times by policia, including an alcohol test with a breath analyzer, never got nailed with DUI. Have not been pulled over late at night or seen the alcohol check point recently. Besides policia still roam around La Zona, checking cars in the day time. Lots of rationalizing, but basically I don't like to waste any time in Tijuana besides partying, flirting and screwing girls hehe.

Friday night, early Saturday morning the wingman wanted to hang out with his ugly bar girl so I drove back late, about 2 AM. He drank too much, could not stand or walk steadily, for sure could not drive back safely, so I had to drive back. Did not see any policia in Tijuana after 2 AM..

[Hargow20]

If anyone sees any new changes in Mexican immigration policy please post. ? It is quite possible they could start demanding prescriptions once again.

[Hargow20]

Personally I never drive in Tijuana. People simply drive to crazy in Tijuana for my tastes. The other problem is spending extra money for insurance. It is much for simple to walk down or take the taxi vans. These days I usually take a Uber or take a taxi at night back to the border.

[DramaFree11]

Travv,

I don't like to stay overnight in Tijuana. I feel lonely sleeping by myself unless I have a beautiful girl whom I can embrace all night. It's very depressing to wake up in the morning to face a bare, filthy, grimy La Zona without fun, sexy, attractive girls and glammy party life. Besides, after breakfast and crossing the border back, I could never get home before noon, so I would lose half a day or the whole day. I prefer to drive home late, sleep all night and wake up in the morning having a full day available in front of me hehe.

I usually drink 5 to 6 beers a night in the club, got stopped a few times by policia, including an alcohol test with a breath analyzer, never got nailed with DUI. Have not been pulled over late at night or seen the alcohol check point recently. Besides policia still roam around La Zona, checking cars in the day time. Lots of rationalizing, but basically I don't like to waste any time in Tijuana besides partying, flirting and screwing girls hehe.

Friday night, early Saturday morning the wingman wanted to hang out with his ugly bar girl so I drove back late, about 2 AM. He drank too much, could not stand or walk steadily, for sure could not drive back safely, so I had to drive back. Did not see any policia in Tijuana after 2 AM. The border was empty, traffic on freeway 5 was very light, only a few cars. The area surrounding the rest area near Camp Pendleton was having heavy ground fog, visibility was less than 100 feet in places. I had to slow down to 15 MPH, but a few guys were zipping by at 65 or faster. I could only see the road by slowly following white lines on the road and was stressed out, was glad after we got out of the fog and was speeding up to make up for lost time. Nearing San Clemente, suddenly a CHP car lit up his blue / red beacon and pulled me over into an off ramp. I popped a mint in my mouth before talking to him hehe..

I usually agree with you, but on this one no. You are real playing with fire, both in Tijuana and drinking / driving. Neither is worth the risk. I will never understand why any of you even bother to drive to HK.

All of us on this site are big risk takers, but the risks need to be calculated. Just not worth it, my friend. Live to fight another day or another trip to HK, even better.

I have noticed the police in California seem to be more lenient. Texas you are going to jail.

[Captain Solo]

Travv,

I don't like to stay overnight in Tijuana. I feel lonely sleeping by myself unless I have a beautiful girl whom I can embrace all night. It's very depressing to wake up in the morning to face a bare, filthy, grimy La Zona without fun, sexy, attractive girls and glammy party life. Besides, after breakfast and crossing the border back, I could never get home before noon, so I would lose half a day or the whole day. I prefer to drive home late, sleep all night and wake up in the morning having a full day available in front of me hehe.

I usually drink 5 to 6 beers a night in the club, got stopped a few times by policia, including an alcohol test with a breath analyzer, never got nailed with DUI. Have not been pulled over late at night or seen the alcohol check point recently. Besides policia still roam around La Zona, checking cars in the day time. Lots of rationalizing, but basically I don't like to waste any time in Tijuana besides partying, flirting and screwing girls hehe.

Friday night, early Saturday morning the wingman wanted to hang out with his ugly bar girl so I drove back late, about 2 AM. He drank too much, could not stand or walk steadily, for sure could not drive back safely, so I had to drive back. Did not see any policia in Tijuana after 2 AM. The border was empty, traffic on freeway 5 was very light, only a few cars. The area surrounding the rest area near Camp Pendleton was having heavy ground fog, visibility was less than 100 feet in places. I had to slow down to 15 MPH, but a few guys were zipping by at 65 or faster. I could only see the road by slowly following white lines on the road and was stressed out, was glad after we got out of the fog and was speeding up to make up for lost time. Nearing San Clemente, suddenly a CHP car lit up his blue / red beacon and pulled me over into an off ramp. I popped a mint in my mouth before talking to him hehe. He claimed I was doing 86 MPH, passing cars, could not stay in lanes steadily, using HOV lane ect and he was tailing me for over a mile. I was checking rear view mirror frequently but had no idea he was following, must be at a far distance. I told him I was only following traffic. He disagreed, gave me a quick eye following his finger test which I seemed to pass. After a few minutes he took down my license number, gave me a verbal warning and let me go without writing a ticket, a pretty cool guy, may not be so cool if he pull me over next time hehe.

Lucky me. If he had pulled up my DMV records he may not have been so nice. A female judge in OC was considering my plea for leniency. She reviewed my DMV record and cracked a wide smile like she just got the right guy hehe. She read out my driving records, berated me in front of the full court room; people were laughing hysterically. She did give me a bail reduction however. Lucky me this time, so my driving record will remain near perfect. But I have to rethink and plan my return drives better.

The damned wingman kept wanting to sit with his ugly bar girl, so I may have drank too much, stayed too late and was a bit sleepy. Have to rethinking the strategy of leaving Tijuana. You seem to have a lot of time to spend in La Zona, good for you. You were even in a chokehold by a couple cholos in the day time with people around. I appreciate your concerns for the bros' safety.

[Captain Solo]

Governor Newsome has issued curfew between 10 PM to 5 AM, starting Sat Nov 21 to Dec 21, restricting unessential travels and meetings with people outside the immediate family.

During the last purple period we were able to drive on freeways. Don't know how it will be enforced with this curfew.

[Phordphan]

What is the best route to get back to the Sentri lane from the Zona Norte and avoid enterprising LEO on a weekend?

I never drive in the ZN at night. Period. Talk about a target-rich environment for a cop looking for potential DUIs. I always park elsewhere, like Ticuan, and Uber in and out.

If you can get up to Calle 8, take it until it dead ends. Turn right, follow the curve to the left. Go past the La Tijeras roundabout, cross the Via Rapida, it will dead end into Padre Kino. Left at the roundabout, and it's a straight shot to the SENTRI line. Be careful at night because of the concrete lane dividers.

This isn't perhaps the shortest way, but it's simple and easy to remember.

[Travv]

The best way to avoid Policia patrol cars hiding on dark streets around the Zona looking for drunks to shake down is simple. Rule No. 1: Rent a hotel room for the night before you start drinking and do not go near your car till morning. Go to your hotel room instead. In the morning, you will be sober and the policia cars will have no dark streets to hide on making your trip back to the border from your hotel much safer and saving you from losing your money and car when the Policia bust you for DUI at a checkpoint for driving around Tijuana at night after partying at the clubs. So easy, even a caveman can avoid the Policia looking for mordida and the likely drunk driving accident arrest and trip to the Tijuana jail if he is willing to spend a few bucks on a cheap hotel room before he starts drinking.

Policia patrol cars hide on dark streets all around La Zona. They like to pull cars over on dark, deserted stretches of streets. It's better to drive out on busy, well-lighted streets to reduce the chance of pull over as policia would have many targets to go after. It's random where policia would show up.

I usually drive East on Coahuila, South on Madero, East On Benito Juarez. This is where policia occasionally set up alcohol and fugitives checkpoint.

Benito Juarez splits 3 ways, take the middle Medical lane parallel with the regular Northbound lanes on your left, pass the Medical booth, make a tight you turn at the rotary at old McDonalds' plaza and follow the right lane to Pueblo Amigos. At the bus enclosure Before Caliente, turn left and head to the intersection with Padre Kino. If Transito hangs yellow tape to control entry into SENTRI lanes, turn right head South on Padre Kino and join the line before the big rotary.

This is the old taxi route and the shortest way to get to SENTRI.

[Jackie888]

I don't know about anyone else. But potholes are a huge risk in Tijuana for drivers. I had 2 major flats in the last 4 weeks. These were nearly brand new. I found the first flat after I got my car from the garage so it may have not been a pothole. But on my 2nd flat, I hit a pothole at only about 20 mph and it blew out my new tire. The pothole was so deep that I thought I felt the bottom of my car hit pavement.

[Captain Solo]

CHP nailed me for speeding on fwy at high speed. Never saw the guy until he started tailing me. I gently slowed down to legal speed but he pulled me over. He was hiding at an on ramp and clocked me with his laser about 3 miles down the road.

The court took 5 months to send me the courtesy notice, bail about $480. Court clerks were probably too busy having orgies in court rooms with CoVid excuses. I talked to my attorney who said he would just pay the fine and not waste time. He's a good attorney, conscientious and does good detailed work, but he's too honest.

I did not want another point on my near perfect driving record, so sent in bail money and wrote a long letter to the court, asking for a court trial. 2 weeks later the court sent back a notice of dismissal, promised to refund the bail. YIPPEE! The judge probably figured my court trial would interrupt his sessions with the obese and ugly clerks hehe.

Any pervs got tickets for driving too fast or too slow, buy me a few beers then I will give them my expert consultation.

[Thunder52]

I don't think you understand the point. The agents are looking for tells. Shifty looks, nervousness, sweating, evasive behavior. THAT is what gets you sent to secondary. They are not interested in whether or not you've been clubbing. They do not have time to send every pervert to secondary. It's a waste of everybody's time. Generally speaking, you have to do something particularly stupid to be sent to secondary when crossing on foot.

Dogs smell drugs. Dogs smell money.

[Captain Solo]

Policia patrol cars hide on dark streets all around La Zona. They like to pull cars over on dark, deserted stretches of streets. It's better to drive out on busy, well-lighted streets to reduce the chance of pull over as policia would have many targets to go after. It's random where policia would show up.

I usually drive East on Coahuila, South on Madero, East On Benito Juarez. This is where policia occasionally set up alcohol and fugitives checkpoint.

Benito Juarez splits 3 ways, take the middle Medical lane parallel with the regular Northbound lanes on your left, pass the Medical booth, make a tight you turn at the rotary at old McDonalds' plaza and follow the right lane to Pueblo Amigos. At the bus enclosure Before Caliente, turn left and head to the intersection with Padre Kino. If Transito hangs yellow tape to control entry into SENTRI lanes, turn right head South on Padre Kino and join the line before the big rotary.

This is the old taxi route and the shortest way to get to SENTRI.

[Jackie888]

What is the best route to get back to the Sentri lane from the Zona Norte and avoid enterprising LEO on a weekend?