Crime, Safety, and the Police

[QUOTE=Surf69;2330034]I read a very recent report on Hong Kong's Yelp that police are actually targeting taxis leaving the zona and shaking down the passengers. That level of corruption sounds pretty damn horrifying. I'm a bit concerned because I'm taking my first trip, staying at Ticuan, and planning on using taxis. Is this a common occurrence and what is the best way to handle such a sketchy situation?[/QUOTE]Recently I have read about more police shakedowns of mongers that were riding in taxis than the number of muggings of mongers walking the short distance between PedWest and La Zona. I still would only make that 2-block walk into LZ during daylight hours.

[QUOTE=Surf69;2330034]I read a very recent report on Hong Kong's Yelp that police are actually targeting taxis leaving the zona and shaking down the passengers. That level of corruption sounds pretty damn horrifying. I'm a bit concerned because I'm taking my first trip, staying at Ticuan, and planning on using taxis. Is this a common occurrence and what is the best way to handle such a sketchy situation?[/QUOTE]This has been going on for many years. No, it's not a common occurrence, but it does happen. They are fishing, looking for drugs and such. So, don't be a dick and come to Tijuana with weed or some other drug.

The best way to handle it is to use Uber. Cheaper than taxis, better cars, better class of drivers. Just make sure your cell has Mexico / international data roaming.

[QUOTE=Scbb1;2329557]I used my passport card to cross back to the US by foot on Memorial Day. Some Mexican girl in line said if I had the card I could use the ready lane so I tried it. It worked and I was through customs in 10 minutes from arriving at PedWest.[/QUOTE]The passport card is, and always has been, OK to use in the Ready Lane. Your USA passport book, too, is good for the Ready Lane.

All passports that have a RFID chip in them can be used in the Readylane. The regular passports have a symbol that looks like a simcard. On west side there is no longer separate lanes for Ready lane and others at least when I have gone through. There might be in the mormings when it is busy.

[QUOTE=Phordphan;2330289]The passport card is, and always has been, OK to use in the Ready Lane. Your USA passport book, too, is good for the Ready Lane.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Hargow20;2330313]All passports that have a RFID chip in them can be used in the Readylane. The regular passports have a symbol that looks like a simcard. On west side there is no longer separate lanes for Ready lane and others at least when I have gone through. There might be in the mormings when it is busy.[/QUOTE]All passports since 2007 have the RFID chip. Since passports expire in 10 years, all passports now have the chip. Unless, I suppose, you're trying to cross with a 13 year old passport.

Monday evening at PedEast border crossing link to the video [URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmJEznAx0H4[/URL].

[QUOTE=StRobert;2331787]Monday evening at PedEast border crossing link to the video [URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmJEznAx0H4[/URL].[/QUOTE]Kid was schizophrenic.

[QUOTE=StRobert;2331787]Monday evening at PedEast border crossing link to the video [URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmJEznAx0H4[/URL].[/QUOTE]Just a normal day in Houston!

[QUOTE=Hargow20;2330313]All passports that have a RFID chip in them can be used in the Readylane. The regular passports have a symbol that looks like a simcard. On west side there is no longer separate lanes for Ready lane and others at least when I have gone through. There might be in the mornings when it is busy.[/QUOTE]I crossed on Memorial Day about noon at Ped West. They did have a separate ready lane. It saved me at least a half hour.

"March of Unity" today in Tijuana at 5:00 pm (downtown) with important political figures from Mexico. On Saturday, in the city of Tijuana anticipated traffic obstructions and increased security link [URL]https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/237561/mexico-demonstration-planned-in-tijuana-june-8[/URL].

[QUOTE=StRobert;2332591]"March of Unity" today in Tijuana at 5:00 pm (downtown) with important political figures from Mexico. On Saturday, in the city of Tijuana anticipated traffic obstructions and increased security link [URL]https://www.garda.com/crisis24/news-alerts/237561/mexico-demonstration-planned-in-tijuana-june-8[/URL].[/QUOTE]Trump has my vote if he can get the HK Chica Cartel to lower their prices back to $60. $80 is 25% more that the Adelitas price of $60. Really outrageous behavior.

[QUOTE=Jackie888;2334368]Trump has my vote if he can get the HK Chica Cartel to lower their prices back to $60. $80 is 25% more that the Adelitas price of $60. Really outrageous behavior.[/QUOTE]Nobody is holding a gun to your head. There are other bars in Tijuana. There is maybe a shitton of independent chicas all over town. The only way prices will come down is if pendejos stop paying stupid money for quickies.

Saw a new chica dancing today in HK. After the dance, she went over to some guys, talked for a minute or two, then walked off. She came over to me, I bought her a drink and chatted. She was from Sinaloa and didn't seem to like Tijuana too much. Wanted to go arriba and said $100. Told her I only had pesos, so she then wanted 1800 pesos. I told her 1500 and that others were taking much less, but she wouldn't budge, so I walked off. I wonder if the regular HK chicas are telling the newbies to demand a high price to limit competition by pricing the newbies out of the market.

[QUOTE=Phordphan;2334684]Nobody is holding a gun to your head. There are other bars in Tijuana. There is maybe a shitton of independent chicas all over town. The only way prices will come down is if pendejos stop paying stupid money for quickies.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Travv;2334926]Saw a new chica dancing today in HK. After the dance, she went over to some guys, talked for a minute or two, then walked off. She came over to me, I bought her a drink and chatted. She was from Sinaloa and didn't seem to like Tijuana too much. Wanted to go arriba and said $100. Told her I only had pesos, so she then wanted 1800 pesos. I told her 1500 and that others were taking much less, but she wouldn't budge, so I walked off. I wonder if the regular HK chicas are telling the newbies to demand a high price to limit competition by pricing the newbies out of the market.[/QUOTE]When they say $100, I usually just walk away, if they counter I will go back otherwise just move on.

[QUOTE=Travv;2334926]Saw a new chica dancing today in HK. After the dance, she went over to some guys, talked for a minute or two, then walked off. She came over to me, I bought her a drink and chatted. She was from Sinaloa and didn't seem to like Tijuana too much. Wanted to go arriba and said $100. Told her I only had pesos, so she then wanted 1800 pesos. I told her 1500 and that others were taking much less, but she wouldn't budge, so I walked off. I wonder if the regular HK chicas are telling the newbies to demand a high price to limit competition by pricing the newbies out of the market.[/QUOTE]The girls talk, for sure. I'm sure there's some sort of conspiracy to keep prices high. But, as you did, walking away is the best defense. I've found talking and negotiating in Spanish helps, but it's not a magic bullet.

Frankly, I think a lot of times the girls just don't want to go arriba, for whatever reason. If you're just out to make a living, as opposed to making a ton (relatively speaking) of money, you will survive on lap dances and fichas, with the occasional arriba thrown in. If it's not a priority to them, they'll pick and choose until they find a sucker who will go $100+.