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jcloughley
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| Joined: | Sun Jan 1st, 2006 |
| Location: | San Diego |
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Posted: Sun Jun 15th, 2008 12:52 am |
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Visited San Carlos last week and were pulled over for turning left from Pilar access road. Local Guaymas police spoke no English and only could repeat "Infraction".
$20 US solved the problem and we were on our way. Very disappointing as I thought that the shakedown days were over. Truck #52 Saturday 6/7 about noon. I would like to report it but don't know how. Any suggestions?
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Susura
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Posted: Sun Jun 15th, 2008 06:08 pm |
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Could you explain it a bit more? There is a glorietta from the Pilar road to turn left to head into San Carlos. I know I have seen some tickets given for turning left when returning from the Delfinario, one can only turn right and then make a u turn at the shops to return to San Carlos.
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Susan C
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 26th, 2005 |
| Location: | San Carlos, Mexico |
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Posted: Mon Jun 16th, 2008 05:43 pm |
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In many tourist communities throughout Mexico there are 'tourist police'.
These officers will assist non locals of the rules of the road +++ and offer warnings. But not here.
The days of shakedowns are not over....but unfortunately you just encouraged this behavior. Giving mordida is illegal in Mexico and the local Comisaria has printed flyers encouraging tourist not to give $ to his officers.
Please contact 622-226-1400 or 622-226-0004 and at least make a phone complaint.
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TC
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Posted: Mon Jun 16th, 2008 06:19 pm |
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And if language barrier is mentioned in the complaint, it would be best to approach that with something along the lines of "Regrettably, I don't speak Spanish..."
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jcloughley
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Posted: Tue Jun 17th, 2008 05:03 am |
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Sorry we must have overlooked the flyers. We requested to visit the police chief and were told that he was having lunch and was unavailable. 30 minutes of discussion on our part, about the lack of signs and the safety of our turn. Fairly comprehesive Espanol on our part.
Thanks for the constructive input on mordida. What would you suggest a person in our position do differently?
I will call in a complaint. thanks
I don't know about a glorietta. We were on the paved exit from Pilar. There is a pass through from the frontage road.
All in all, we had a great visit to SC.
Water was still too cold for fishing.
Wind blew 6 of 9 days.
Tony's truck broke down and we missed the chance to stock up
Sad to see so many property for sale signs but far less than my home town.
Border crossings a breeze
Checkpoint Charlie was the best ever.
No TIP needed for the boat
Marina is better than anything on the Pacific coast
Great hardware stores.
Loved the "no hassle vehicle zone"
Fuel at 2.80/gal vs 4.60 in San Diego
Only the one sore point. No whiners!
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No Sniveling
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| Joined: | Thu Oct 27th, 2005 |
| Location: | Rio Rico, Arizona USA |
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Posted: Tue Jun 17th, 2008 05:20 am |
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It is still a country with laws subject to definition; not by a Supreme Court, but by the Official at hand...
It just happens to be the BEST DAMN FISHING YOU CAN DRIVE A CAR TO!
Last edited on Tue Jun 17th, 2008 02:28 pm by No Sniveling
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Dom
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Posted: Tue Jun 17th, 2008 05:02 pm |
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What is one to do if pulled over for a bogus infraction (if not altogether bogus, at least VERY questionable!)?
Do Mexican laws allow officers to collect the "fine" on the spot?
If so, how do you distinguish between it being a legitimate "fine", or mordida?
Now if the infraction WAS a flagrant violation (running a stop sign, for example), what happens to a tourist that is in SC for a weekend of fishing? Hauled before a court of some sort and made to pay the fine?
Since I have never been in this situation (knock on kitchen table), I would like to have some idea of how to handle it should I err enough to catch someone's attention!
Thanks,
Dom
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Jimmy
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Posted: Tue Jun 17th, 2008 05:33 pm |
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The lawful way to go from Pilar to SC is, as you are coming from Pilar and just before the SC road, Take the road that veers off to the left. When you come to the main road you will then take a right, then move to the left and use the return at that glorietta.
If you come from Pilar and drive straight ahead (instead of veering left) to the main road you will have to take a right and go down quite a ways toward Hwy 15 before you can make your U turn. If you turn left at this intersection you are going the wrong way against traffic. Even if there are no on comming cars you are still driving the wrong way on the wrong side of the road.
If you entered the SC road correctly then you did not break the law and there surely was a shake down. If you broke the law then it was a legal fine for the infraction. By paying on the spot you saved yourself the time and trouble of returning to the Commissar to retrieve your driver's license.
Last edited on Tue Jun 17th, 2008 05:42 pm by Jimmy
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TC
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Posted: Tue Jun 17th, 2008 05:37 pm |
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I've never been in this situation, either, at least not for about 30 years, but the advice I've read in several places goes something like this.
The cop is counting on the gringo being in a rush and/or not knowing what to do, flustered and befuddled in a foreign land. So the procedure is to request a written ticket that you then settle at the local police station or insist on going to the police station immediately with the cop. Supposedly the mordida attempt will usually lose momentum at that point. And if it's a genuine infraction, at least it will presumably be handled properly.
Makes sense, but I don't really know how much of this is folklore and how much is good advice. Perhaps someone who's been through this a time or two or three will chime in to speak from experience.
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repsilon
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Posted: Wed Jun 18th, 2008 02:44 am |
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| Jimmy explained it right. Did you mess up?
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Susan C
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| Joined: | Wed Oct 26th, 2005 |
| Location: | San Carlos, Mexico |
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Posted: Wed Jun 18th, 2008 02:55 am |
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Fines are never paid to the officer.
Proper procedure is to follow the police car back to the police station where you pay the fine and receive a receipt.
This process is not time consuming here in San Carlos.
Insisting on following the officer back to the station (and if he isn't in the mood to go) will usually get you off with a warning.
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Dom
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Posted: Wed Jun 18th, 2008 03:22 am |
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Susan C wrote: Fines are never paid to the officer.
Proper procedure is to follow the police car back to the police station where you pay the fine and receive a receipt.....
Thanks Susan,
Sounds like that is from personal experience..?? Anyway, now I know!
Thanks,
Dom
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Jimmy
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Posted: Thu Jun 19th, 2008 04:22 am |
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It has been my experience that the officer takes the drivers license on the spot after a minor infraction (major infractions you go directly to the jail house and sort it out there). I then have to go to the Office to pay the fine and retrieve my license. The Officer does not always go directly to the Office with the license (sometimes he waits until the end of his shift) and then the Jefe is not always there and one must wait for him, this could be some time.
Just by habit I always ask the officer if he can please take the money for the fine for the infraction and pay it for me! I CONSIDER THIS A FAVOR TO ME! Compared with the fines up North 200 Pesos is a cheap price to pay to save the greater part of 1/2 a day waiting for things to be Officially Done on Mexican Time!!
Also, I am man enough to admit it when I am caught committing an infraction.
Last edited on Thu Jun 19th, 2008 04:25 am by Jimmy
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beegees2
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Posted: Thu Jun 19th, 2008 03:42 pm |
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| How do you legally go to the office without your driver's license? I am not willing to give up my dirver's license in Mexico for an hour or a day for a minor infraction.
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TC
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Posted: Thu Jun 19th, 2008 04:07 pm |
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beegees2 wrote: How do you legally go to the office without your driver's license? I am not willing to give up my dirver's license in Mexico for an hour or a day for a minor infraction.
Only guessing, but it stands to reason that the drill would be the same as it is (or was) for some infractions in some U.S. states: the ticket or some other piece of paper -- with license info recorded -- functions as a substitute license until the matter is settled.
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Timothy B.
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Posted: Thu Jun 19th, 2008 08:50 pm |
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Good afernoon,
Both Jimmy and TC have great advice.
I do not always do the correct thing, but what is easiest. I will quote Jimmy on this one.
"Just by habit I always ask the officer if he can please take the money for the fine for the infraction and pay it for me! I CONSIDER THIS A FAVOR TO ME! Compared with the fines up North 200 Pesos is a cheap price to pay to save the greater part of 1/2 a day waiting for things to be Officially Done on Mexican Time!!"
If you don't need to be morally correct, I think this is the easy out.
One time before Christmas, a friend (Mexican) and I were at a private mining property off of a dirt road, parked, having a cold one. Two city police pulled up and asked for id and went back to their car. My friend starting laughing as he overheard them saying that they could not fine us for anything and what were they going to do. He finally brought back our ids and wished us a good day. I told my friend to go over to the car and give them each a 100 and tell them it was for Christmas. Day had a happy ending for all.
Timothy B.
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Jimmy
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Posted: Thu Jun 19th, 2008 10:15 pm |
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beegees2 wrote: How do you legally go to the office without your driver's license? I am not willing to give up my dirver's license in Mexico for an hour or a day for a minor infraction.
For Gods' sake!
You are in MEXICO!!! You are not in Kansas any more Toto (or Canada, for that matter).
Please be aware...Mexico is a Foreign Country. They have their ways of doing things! If they don't do things your way then too bad for you.
If they want, they can carry you, Kit and Kaboodle, to Jail for that minor infraction and keep you there untill they feel like letting you go.
Mexico uses Napoleon style Law. Ie, you are guilty and must prove you are innocent.
Life for you in Mexico will be a lot more pleasant if you Learn how we do things here and Adapt!~
I am so sick of hearing..."Well, thats not the way we do it back home".
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beegees2
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Posted: Thu Jun 19th, 2008 11:17 pm |
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| Man, Jimmy, chillout!! I never said that and I don't think it. I am as confused as everyone about the way things are done in Mexico and only want to know what is the proper procedure. Giving my driver's license for someone (who is a police officer but with questionable and inconsistent practises) does not make sense to me. Cool your sensitivites a bit. Just asking that's all.
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beegees2
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Posted: Thu Jun 19th, 2008 11:19 pm |
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| And, "ADAPTING" as you yelled at me, is a matter of understanding what to adapt to. And is it illegal to drive without a driver's license in Mexico? If so, then how do you go to the police station to retrieve it?
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bud32
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Posted: Fri Jun 20th, 2008 10:02 pm |
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| Just to get back to the beginning of this post...we've stayed in Pilar condos for over 20 years when in SC. Since the road was paved, if one exits "straight ahead and turns left", YOU ARE WRONG! You are on a one-way side road and are proceeding AGAINST traffic. Some of us have done it because, otherwise, one must drive towards Hwy. 15 for a mile and then make a U-Turn back toward SC. Obviously, you make damn sure no traffic is approaching from the left. But, when we cheat we know that Policia have every right to stop us and enforce the law. Were I a Mexican Traffic Officer reading some of this, I'd say "if my friends enter the US illegally, the gringos scream law & order! If I enforce OUR laws, they scream SCAM"! Hypocrisy is in bad taste...and how many American cops speak nothing but English?
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