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I was pulled over for speeding this morning (guilty as charged) and it made me think about this question:

You are driving down the highway, 25 miles per hour over the posted speed limit and you look up to see the familiar flashing lights of a patrol car in your rear view mirror. All things considered, would you prefer this happen north of the border or south of the border?

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

I was pulled over for speeding this morning (guilty as charged) and it made me think about this question:

You are driving down the highway, 25 miles per hour over the posted speed limit and you look up to see the familiar flashing lights of a patrol car in your rear view mirror. All things considered, would you prefer this happen north of the border or south of the border?

South. It's pretty difficult to bribe the highway patrol.

Down here it won't affect your insurance.

South. 25 over and a cranky cop can get you a Reckless Driving in some states. Not good.

South of the Border down old Mexico way is better .

If it has to happen South is better.:icon_lol:

And what percentage of the time would you guess that you are let go without paying so much as a single peso although you were guilty of the infraction?

I don't know about the guess, but I can relate my stories.

About 20 years ago I was going pretty fast southbound just north of San Miguel/Ensenada; big downhill>>small curve>>big uphill.

Got up some speed, rounded the curve...ARGGH! Radar gun.

Posted 40 KPH construction zone, I was doing a tad over 65 MPH. It was bike race weekend and they had a pretty good assembly line of infractors lined up for processing already.

Pretty low key cop; explained the situation, showed me my pop on the radar gun, asked me what I did for a living. Told him "electronics technician" and he chuckled about the radar "muy EXACTO, ¿no?"

So I was doing a little over 100kph in a 40 zone, and he asks me how I want to take care of it; explains the follow him to the station bit.

I looked at him with an earnest expression(with just a hint of raised eyebrow) and said that I'd like to do the "easiest thing." Another knowing chuckle.

He asked for 30 and accepted 20, but cautioned me to please not wave it around.

Of course not. Settled up and away I went.

What would that ticket have been up here?

Another pretty similar stop about 10 years ago on that big uphill in Tijuana northbound toward the top of the hill/border fence/Soler neighborhood. Had it totally wound out BLAZING up that hill a little over 60 MPH...

I sense an old Chebby van straining to pass; they hit the lights. Uyyyy.

We stop at the top of the hill right next to that surveillance equipment house; real latish/madrugada.

They motion for me to follow them down a real dark, deserted side street.

Negative, Señores. I turned it off and kept my hands in plain view.

They weren't real pleased that I wouldn't comply, but warmed fairly quickly when I was polite and contrite. They said it'd be like a hundred at the station...

I think they took twenty as well.

Those were my two well-deserved yet rather bargain-priced scrapes.

One time a long, long time ago I dropped some friends in Mexicali to take the tren. Coming back got lost of course, spied the border line around a corner of a building, but it was a short one-way section the wrong way for me.

Started anyway, and out steps a pleasant older man in uniform; tsk tsk. Asked me in very pleasant tone if I would like to pay a small fine.

Panicked and nearly in tears(gawd wut a *****) I couldn't find my wallet/forgot where I stashed it.

He took pity on my pitiable demeanor and wished me well. Freebie!

Kinda funny. Since I've read so many posts from folks who are (faux) outraged over the "crooked cop"- mordita thing. The poll puts the lie to that. Gotta say, though, with the incredibly low speed limits posted on the Mexican highways, who would actually be shocked to be pulled over for speeding?

Definitely South! Doesn't impact insurance rates & the fines are lower!

As to the second question, my initial response was to say 50/50, but in hindsight, I think one time they had me dead-to-rights, however they insisted they were keeping my Oregon DL & I wasn't willing to drive off without it. I asked them to just ticket me & I'd go straight to police department under my own recognizance to pay....and I meant it! This was on the malecon in La Paz; initially motioned over to the curb by 1 foot cop, who was shortly joined by two more foot cops, followed in short order by 1 motorcycle cop, and at the height of the discussion, a 2-man cruiser decided to stop & join in the fray. Not ONE of these 6 officers admitted to speaking any English; this was within 2-3 months of my arrival here & my total Espanol repertoire was maybe -10 words! I grabbed my cell phone to call an English-speaking Mexican amigo to translate for me & one handed me back my DL all six officers simultaneously told me...IN ENGLISH...to get out of there & don't ever turn off the malecon & make a kinda u-turn; after stopping at right curb without another car or pedestrian in sight; to get back to the malecon ever again! I had agreed to the ticket, just not to handing over my Oregon DL & then driving illegally until/if I got it back!

That was a trade-off for the time I was lead car through the intersection & the only US plated car through a green light that hadn't started flashing green until I was under it & 8-10 Mexican plated cars came through after me. The light was solid green when I entered the intersection, yet he ticketed me, the FIRST car through the intersection! My Mexican amigo argued with the cop & asked him why he only pulled me over when all those other Mexican-plated cars had come through after me. He accused the cop of discrimination against gringos & I finally asked him to lead me to the police station because I wanted to officially protest the ticket. We went all the way up to the head jefe's office where he told us that since the cop had already written the ticket, he couldn't void it, but he reduced the fine from $800 pesos down to $50 pesos. That ticket was totally bogus, but after arguing for a couple hours in the heat I caved & paid the $50 peso fine.

So it looks like my answer would have to be 100% of the time was I let off scot-free when I deserved the ticket!

I've been stopped twice by highway patrol for no tail lights. Both times told to get them fixed in next town.
Stopped once by highway patrol for speeding (along with 2 Mex. plated cars). Told in broken english about speedlimit - 35k vs my speed 55M+. Then told me to slow down and go ahead. He walked back to the Mex cars and started writing a ticket.
Stopped 4-5 times for not stopping at stop sign. Went to station and paid 80p to 130p fines.
Stopped once for speeding 40m in 25K zone - went to station and paid 128p fine.
Never have been stopped for something I hadn't done.

bajalou, sure glad you don't live in La Paz!

I voted south, but it's purely hypothetical because I've never been stopped in either country, and I can't recall ever driving more than a few miles over the speed limit anywhere. Based on other people's reports, I'm figuring that here in La Paz I'd just have to go over to tránsito and pay a fine, while in the US I'd probably face a huge hassle. Maybe I'm wrong?

The reason I started this thread was that it occurred to me how different it can be with traffic stops when compared to north and south of the border.

I have had three traffic stops north of the border in the last five years. In the first one I was guilty as charged of doing 75 in a 55 zone. The second one involved a drop in the speed limit crossing an intersection and the speed limit sign indicating the 45 to 25 mph change was blocked from view and naturally there was a motorcycle cop / radar gun awaiting me. I had no camera with me to document the fact. Since I was technically over the speed limit I gave up on the idea of protesting and just accepted my fate. The third one involved a CHP who clocked me going the other direction on his radar gun and radioed a unit going in my direction who cited me for going over 80. Strange since I had my cruise on, well under the unspoken 10 mph over the limit. Again, arguing was useless.

In Baja I have been stopped countless times as I tend to pretty much drive like the locals. (Yes, riding with me could be hazardous to your health so buckle up) I am usually guilty of the offense as charged and when I first moved here I would just give them anywhere from 100 to 200 pesos to just make it go away.

In recent years I have changed my strategy. I bought a Baja plated vehicle and obtained my Baja drivers license. I have noticed that I get stopped a lot less. When I do, I simply disarm the officer by immediately owning up to my infraction (speeding - running redlight/stop sign - illegal u turn). I then apologize, hand him my Baja driver's license and my vehicle documentation and ask for my ticket. This usually catches them off guard and most of the time they just give me a polite lecture and hand me back my license and paperwork, wishing me a nice day.

Yesterday was no different...

As I drove away it occurred to me how I have spent nearly a thousand dollars on tickets north of the border in the last five years plus the $$$ ding to my insurance premium. Down here in Baja it hasn't cost me even a hundred dollars, with many more stops along the way, mostly deserved.

The best part to me is that the cops down here are usually much nicer than those I have encountered north of the border. Don't believe me? Try arguing with a cop north of the border and see how long before he is threatening to arrest you. Down here it is considered a part of the culture. I think the cops are even a bit disappointed when you don't...

That brings to mind a question. The last time I was stopped, it was on I-8 headed toward Calexico. We were heading to San Felipe. It was a radar thing, at the bottom of a very long, steep grade. Like shooting fish in a barrel, unless you frequent the area. I was wondering. I see roadside signs in Baja that claim radar. Has anyone actually been stopped as a result of radar?

The Policia Federal de Caminos got me on the road between Tecate and Mexicali on radar a couple of years ago. I was doing 90.

It was late at night and the road was deserted and they were siting on the side of the road with radar awaiting. It took them about ten minutes to catch up to me. They gave me a verbal warning and asked me to just slow down "a bit".

I have heard of others getting caught on the coastal toll road between Playas and Rosarito.

It is especially bad in California right now as the government is going broke and they are looking for any means to raise more cash. A friend got a jay walking ticket from a motorcycle cop in a low traffic area last week in National City. My guess is that it will get worse. I prefer the Baja traffic cops any day over the ones north of the border line. Even when they have their hand out. At least they know how to smile.

I have family in law enforcement and they have shared with me that their superiors are putting a lot of pressure on them right now to be much more vigilant about watching for traffic violations; ie "writing tickets".

The good news is that I am driving better now when in the states as I know "they" are watching us much closer. I really don't know how California is going to solve their financial problems right now.

It is a mess and going down hill fast...

Originally Posted by BajaGringo

And what percentage of the time would you guess that you are let go without paying so much as a single peso although you were guilty of the infraction?

Two out of three we were warned and told to have a nice day. When we did have to pay, we were not paying the VERY polite officer, he just agreed to pay the fine for us so we could go on our way. It was holiday time.

He apologized that he could not give us a receipt, but he said it was all be recorded by the camera on the outside of his car. John was standing outside, so he smiled and waved at the camera.

One difference that I wonder if anyone else has noticed. North of the border, the Highway Patrol appreciate it when you put on the brakes when you see them and an insult if you don't, but south of the border, they seem to take it as an admission of guilt. Just an observation.

CA stops more out of State people and it is to balance budget!!!!! Much worse than the Honest Cops down south. the efeect is the same less cash. I avoid CA and my opinion is much less than I am representing about the CA slime!!!!!!