Posted in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua
Baja has changed a lot over the years, This blog covers what you should do to prepare for your trip and what to do if you get pulled over.
My tips do work and doing everything that is written below and if followed you should never really be pulled over or have any issues. Let me know how your trip goes, remember good karma is the only way to travel, I know.
Before leaving and crossing the border check the following:
- all brake lights work.
- Turn signals work.
- You have all three mirrors, not cracked and the centre one it is possible for you to see cars from the back if possible. This is a big one for not being stopped by a cop.
- You have all your info on your car registration / tags are up to date and insurance papers, best to have a folder for these doc.
- You have had your car / truck checked for this trip, hoses and fuel filter for sure.
- Clean windshield and have extra bug removal in a bottle you’ll need it.
- Toilet paper a must, and always nice to have a small shovel has well. to bury stuff right and other things you might think of to have a happy weekend vacation.
- check tires, have spare checked for air pressure
- Have flash lights and game plan if your car / truck breaks down
- Extra warm clothes never hurts to have
- Have most of your cash in your sock or a designed location
entering the border:
- Make sure you buy Mexican insurance, it is cheap, and if something happens to you, you are in the clear, if you don’t have insurance, then watch out, your day may become a nightmare.
- don’t bring your own fire wood they will hound you about it
- if they stop you and check your food and you have eggs, they may send you back!
- make sure you buy your booze in Mexico.
- If you are bringing anything over the border in large quantities or if it looks like it could be sold make sure you have a receipt for it otherwise they will be hassling and hassling you for a receipt.
- Be nice to the border agents, and they will do the same back! Treat others as to how you want to be treated!
If you get pulled over, but you are following all the rules of the road, pull over and have your papers in hand and ask why you were pulled over? The cop will then tell you why, and if its bullshit, explain why he is wrong ( nicely) if it goes further and he demands money or to give a ticket. Ask to go to the police station to talk with his captain over this matter.. Now he will either go on and on or say follow me and he will disappear. If you actually get to a police station, and talk with the person above this officer, tell them about why the cop was wrong and either you will win or lose, but the price is cheap for a moving violation there.
Now if you feel you just want out of this conversation and want it over with, either take the ticket or pay him off, it could cost you between $20-60 dollars. If you were in the right take down his badge number and his licence number too, and report it when you return home.
On the exit to get to the USA there is a number to call if you have problems or suggestions. It will be above your head on a large sign, call that number and report it. Most will receive their money back, but if you were wrong and deserved the ticket , just take care of it and go on your merry way.
To the Toll road , its quick and easy and SAFE, it takes 8 minutes or so. And the cost is about $2.35 at each one and the last toll booth if you actually go that far is about $2.50 or so now.
That’s it for this blog, follow my rules and have a safe trip to Baja. Till my next blog. Bajabill bajasurfadventures.com
BION I’m imrpessed! Cool post!