Stopped by TJ police car, this time I fight

[CJ G]

Sorry I didn't respond to this earlier, got lost in the jumble.

They told me I was under arrest, then that I would have to pay a fine. I had to come with them, I had to follow them, I would pay a fine at the jail, my car would be taken apart to search for drugs.

None of these added up (some being mutually exclusive) and they were going to arrest me for DUI when I wasn't drunk and they didn't do any testing. It seemed like they just kept saying things to see if I would get scared or offer them money. I wasn't a hard ass and I didn't refuse to cooperate, I just didn't leap to give them cash and was willing to wait out their games if necessary.

 

[Feed Me Answers!]

Noneathome, your opinions are welcomed here, there are no experts here, just a lot of guys who like to pretend, including me.

I don't blame you for believing Consular information sheet from the US department of state over the guys here and some insurance sites. But if you ask me, I believe almost nothing the US state department puts out, especially if it's directed from our President.

Now those are fighting words: " I wouldnt ever bang a TJ girl" Why not? Most women from all over the world deserved to be banged.

 

[Olivia]

I think many of our points are getting lost in this thread.

So i'll just resummerize mine and let it go at that.

What i read in this thread came across as "Car insurance is not required in Mexico". I probably read it wrong or missed someones point.

The way i see it is before you go to Mexico you have the choice to buy Mexican Recognized insurance or not.

If you don't..and get caught (most likely in the event of an accident) I believe you will be screwed.

If you get pulled over for something else, I dont know if they can ask for it like in the states, but when a recent Consular information sheet from the US department of state specifically states:

>>Insurance: Mexican insurance is required for all vehicles, including rental vehicles.

 

[ODP]

Yes, I have seen the same thing for example this link http://bajabound.com/info/whybuy.asp

Notice how the statement reads," in the event of an accident." They also say that even if you have your own insurance, it only covers your car, that it doesn't cover the other car in case you hit him.

Absolutely, you should have Mexican insurance, just like you should wear a condom. But still the question remains, "can the TJ cops write you a ticket for not having Mexican car insurance?" What is their practice? It seems this is something they aren't looking for when they are stopping US citizens in Mexico?

Now I understand only the registered owner of a car is allowed to drive his car in Mexico, but, and their is usually also a BUT, or exception. I understand if someone has a notarized signature note to present to the TJ cops they are borrowing the car.....that's it's accepted? Anyway that's what I tell my kid, and him and his friends often go to Rosarito beach, to use the notary stamp I have and make himself up a note. So far it worked, him and his friends only got stopped once for no license plate in the front, and the asshole cops made all 4 boys put up $10 dollars each towards the bribe. One of the boys mothers got pissed who lives in Rosarito beach and watches over these kids for us went to the police station seeking blood but were unable to find the corrupt cop.





Here is something else I found from Mexicanonline: This is more in line with what I been going by. I tell you Mexican laws and sometimes just hard to figure out:

 

[anuja]

I only have a few minutes to answer and have no desire to posture myself over the senior members, but i have read this in multiple places and want to make sure no one screws themselves by NOT having mexican auto insurance as suggested in this thread.

Here is a huge chunk of information from Travel.State.Gov that address much of what i have read in this thread, including finabcial responsibility if involved in an accident...

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_970.html

==========
Driving and Vehicle Regulations: U.S. driver's licenses are valid in Mexico. The Government of Mexico strictly regulates the entry of vehicles into Mexico. Mexican law requires that only owners drive their vehicles, or that the owner be inside the vehicle. If not, the vehicle may be seized by Mexican customs and will not be returned under any circumstances.

Insurance: Mexican insurance is required for all vehicles, including rental vehicles. Mexican auto insurance is sold in most cities and towns on both sides of the border. U.S. automobile liability insurance is not valid in Mexico, nor is most collision and comprehensive coverage issued by U.S. companies. Motor vehicle insurance is considered invalid in Mexico if the driver is found to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Road Emergencies and Automobile Accidents: If you have an emergency while driving, the equivalent of “911” in Mexico is “060”, but this number is not always answered. If you are driving on a toll highway (or “cuota”) or any other major highway, you may contact the Green Angels (Angeles Verdes), a fleet of trucks with bilingual crews. The Green Angels may be reached directly at (01) (55) 5250-8221. If you are unable to call them, pull off the road and lift the hood of your car, chances are they will find you.

If you are involved in an automobile accident, you will be taken into police custody until it can be determined who is liable and whether you have the ability to pay any penalty. If you do not have Mexican liability insurance, you may be prevented from departing the country even if you require life-saving medical care, and you are almost certain to spend some time in jail until all parties are satisfied that responsibility has been assigned and adequate financial satisfaction received. Drivers may face criminal charges if injuries or damages are serious.

 

[Cheetah_K]

There just seems to be confusion on who is saying what here?

Noneathome is saying: "However, it absolutely is required for foreigners (US citizens) driving in Mexico." Yes I guess so if your involved in an accident, as they won't recognize your insurance that depending on the policy will protect you within 100 miles of the border. If you don't have the insurance the TJ police are within their rights to impound your car and put you in jail until you can pay up.

Sampson is only saying the TJ cops can't use the excuse of "driving without insurance" as the reason for writing you a ticket, for example pulling you over for not wearing a seat belt, they also can't write you a ticket for not having insurance, and if they try to shake you down, you can tell them you haven't broken any laws, now if he were in an accident that would be another story.


Yes, let me know if this is correct, because I often find myself driving in Mexico when I go to Rosarito Beach and I never buy the Mexican insurance unless I'm going deep into Mexico. When I just visit TJ and the zona, I almost always walk in and take the cab.

 

[Ellie]

If Mexican insurance was required by law for Non-Mexicans the police could forget about their games like you failed to stop, etc...the first thing out of their pie hole would be, "Can I see your insurance?" and it would be a topic of these boards....I do know of a couple of instances that the police have asked to see insurance, but nothing came of it. I have probably been stopped more than 50 times in my years living in TJ, and never once asked for insurance.

 

[aronbayarea]

I appreciate anyone's jumping in, but no one is required to have insurance in Mexico. If you cause a wreck and cannot pay, you can go to jail unitl you can. My information came from a cop after I was involved in an accident.

 

[Hatchet Wounds]

noneathome...that's different from what I was told. Would you mind giving us your source?

For what it is worth, about a month ago I was stopped for running yellow light. (I posted about it elsewhere.) The cops wanted a bribe, which I refused to pay. At one point they demanded I follow them to the police station, which I refused saying they could give me a ticket but not compel me to go to the police station for a yellow light infraction.

The cops did their best to mess with me. They asked for my drivers license and registation. If a car with US plates is required to have insurance I think they'd have demanded to see my insurance too.

 

[Hipster Doofus]

Mexican law does not require insurance for Mexican Nationals which is why less then 5% mexican citizens have it.

However, it absolutely is required for foreigners (US citizens) driving in Mexico.

Also, the insurance company has to be recognized in Mexico.

I saw an earlier post where the guy said he is covered 70 miles in mexico. Of course the TJ police argued, because it wasnt Mexican Insurance so it doesnt satisfy reqs for non nationals.

If you are a US-Citizen (non mex national) driving in Mexico you ARE REQUIRED to carry Mexican insurance by a company recognized in Mexico. Your AAA coverage will not suffice.

I apoligize for jumping in on this and have total respect for all posters but this is dangerious mis-information.

sorry for the rant.

peace!

 

[Mc.Zee]

Well I don't doubt that lots of people look at Whitey as child predators...as a White guy myself I kind of think we have the market cornered on sick guys like Jeffrey Dahmer....About other things the local police lock up tons of Mexicans for drugs and robbery...often getting innocent guys for made up crimes(innocent guys of Mexican decent).

I believe they generally get into Whitey's business as they are hoping for a jackpot and a big payday. If they sterotype Americans for anything, it is for having money.

 

[Azeri]

The big problem is that Mexican cops stero type too much. To them Mexicans do not traffic drugs. Mexicans do not cruise nieghbor hoods looking for children to molest, mexicans don't commit burglary. Only Americans do these things. (Aids is an American problem) Living in Mexico I cans say first hand that mexicans get a lot of their information via third mouth, rather than from the source and they make up their conclusions from what someone has told them rather than investigating the fact.

Even though you have heard about the corupt police, you forget that even the TJPD looks like Keysone cops to you, in their mind, in their world they are doing their job to the best of their ability

 

[jerry]

Mike Dude wrote:

I'm sure you at least felt better for not allowing the TJ cops to get away with their bullshit as you put it.....that alone may have been worth it?

However, there are many that say the TJ cops along with their supervisors all have their hand in the cookie jar! They say from the police captain on down, they are in cahoots,and in fact order the lowly patrol cop to shake down gringos just so they could get their cut. So what you may have witnessed good acting between the supervisor and TJ cops, and if the supervisor got upset it was that the TJ cops didn't pick on somebody else who wouldn't complain? So Mike Dude, you may have wasted two hours of your time for nothing, when a simple $20 dollar bribe might have allowed you to walk? My gut feeling say you did good, but did you put a dent in police corruption in Mexico, or cause them to think twice? I doubt it?

There are also those passing around rumors that after the election new police chiefs and other high level officials will be replaced so they believe now till the end of the elections the high level officials will be ordering more shake-downs on the streets of Tijuana in order to build their nest egg. In fact Burt is one of the leading online mongers pushing this theory as fact that this will indeed happen. If this is true, then it's almost certain that Mike Dude and others who complain to those in authority are wasting their time.

Personally, I don't know if this is true or not about ordered shake-downs till the end of the year? I hear those types of rumors all the time, usually it comes from some drunk in the 'know' sitting in a zona bar who is fucking a bargirl who also has a TJ cop for a boyfriend and tells her the lowdown how things in TJ work. To me the only thing we know their is police corruption, and it's Institutionalized or ingrained in the system. How it works is any body's guess, if I were to guess I think it's more informal as TJ cops are opportunistic in the way they work, and possibly give small bribes to commanders to get better work assignments, but I doubt they are ordered with sorta a quota system from police captains on down to go shake down gringos because they need Christmas money......but how the hell would I know, and for that matter how would any of us know anything for sure unless we worked for the TJ police Department?

 

[opheliasez]

Pictures of the sign. See line 8.
Click to enlarge

 

[Starz]

There is a world of diffence between protesting and resisting an order from the cops.

I advise protesting—not resisting—unreasonable orders from the police. I peacfully try to get the cops to go away and leave me alone. I don't get into fights with them.

When, for example, the cops want to search me or my car I ask them things like: "Why?," "Do you have a warrant?," etc. in protest But I don’t get rude, loud, profane, etc. And I certainly don’t forcible resist them either.

 

[missmojo78]

Insurance should not be on your list as it is not required by Mexican law.

 

[FlaChic]

Okay guys, thanks for your inputs and here is what I think about some of the things you guys are talking about.

When you get pulled over while driving in TJ, The cops are banking on three things. 1. DUI or traffic violation 2. Any drugs in your possession 3. Insurance. If you are covered in all three areas then I would say you should stand firm. Most likely, they will just let you go and look for easy meal. Fireball was saying that they could still give you "the famous TJ tour" in the backseat of their car. I had this tour once before. After realizing that I would not give in, they dropped me off outside of Zona with a warning that they would take me to jail if they see me again. You know what I did ? I walked back to Zona and went to the police station to report the incident. I demanded I see the supervisor and reported the ID of the police car to him. He summoned the cops to the station and they were stunned when they arrived and saw me there standing with the supervisor. I left there with an apology from the supervisor and those asshole cops and had a good sleep that night even though I probably wasted 2 hours in total. I know it's bullshit when I see one and I normally don't take a BS from anyone.

About accepting searches from BP and warrants and etc. I am not a legal expert but I think common sense will prevail in most cases. You need to protest if your intrinsic human rights are being violated. If the cops have reasonable cause for the search, I would just let them. If I don't have anything to hide, why put up an argument that would prolong the confrontation...
And about Republicans and Democrats... I don't go there.

Speaking about human rights, even foreigners like us in Mexico gotta have some sort of basic rights. I am not an expert on Mexican legal system but do they allow the police to stop anyone and search for any reason(or no reason) ? If they are allowed by law to do that, wow it seems like the cops have perfect tools to push people around and this is what police state is all about.

 

[cheyenne]

I haven't voted for the Corruptlican party since 2000. The Chimp showed me what a lying sack of shit he was in 2002. Not to mention the closet Pedophile Foley, or the Homo Sen Clark, who chastised Clinton for his affair with Lewinsky.

 

[illbaby]

God did Calderon join the PRI party?

 

[Max]

Here Here! Damnit no clapping emoticon for this. Burt you've spoke well.

Everybody in them Red States is fear struck, not I for one. Probably because I've done things with my life people could only dream about.