Has anybody had any issues crossing Lukeville?

[Gary fromm]

The news is predicting a lot of problems with kidnappings. Has anybody experienced anything in Sonora? Or on the way to Rocky point? There’s a one hour stretch from main rd to Rocky point sort of isolated very little cell phone service if any. I have not had any issues, I was wondering if anybody had any issues. I feel sorry for the Mexican that survive on tourist dollars, this can’t be a good thing watching the main stream news in the US. I’ll be going down in a few weeks of anything happens. I’ll post it.

 

[mondone]

Crossed Monday morning at 6:20AM. Town was quiet and no issues. Didn't even see any police vehicles at all.

 

[Southbeacher]

Like clockwork, annually the State Department (and thus, the news media) releases these warnings just prior to Spring Break. It never fails to invoke terror into the hearts of the wide-eyed masses (at least those who are planning their first trip on a well-travelled route like Penasco) and they run for the hills. On a positive note, I suppose it does serve to reduce the traffic for those of us who want a good seat at the restaurant.

 

[Jungle Jim]

Sorry South but I disagree....................

We have had an issue at the San Luis RC Sonora border crossing every time in the past six months.

No matter where we are in line with a green light or not we have been sent to their secondary inspection area. Last October before they fired all of the Aduanas (customs agents) we had some dumb-assed criminal bitch in uniform plant a bag of weed in one of our travel bags. I actually watched her do it in my rear view mirror. That cost us five hundred bucks after a threat to jail us both and take the truck.

We used to always take a milk crate or two of cut Mesquite for the barbie at our casita. Stopped that after being threatened to turn us back to the USA line for no excuse what so ever as to why or what law we were breaking. Now I just toss them loose in the bed and seems like they don't even notice.

Last time over they spotted a scuba cylinder in the back that we always carry for airing up the tires on our Jeep. They made another big scene with lots of threats.

This as all with the new Guardia National (GN) teenage soldier boys who now man the crossings. The PP municipal police still have their rip-off roadblocks twenty miles out of town on the coastal highway and specifically target young people. I see those grubby assholes completely unload their cars and trucks every time we travel back and forth.

The GN guys that man checkpoint Almejas on the road south are getting pretty cheeky now as well.

So to sum it up nothing has changed other than the uniforms. If you get the chance to chat with them ask when the last time that they captured any of those bad guys that are in the news now EVERY FUCKING DAY.

 

[JoseAz]

We go down every 8 weeks. Never had a problem except for an expired registration on a 4x4. We went back around, pulled up ServiceArizona on the web and got a current copy. Drove back through. I didn't have a hard copy but the officer looked at the image on my phone.

We introduce them to our dog, mother in law, grand kids...attempt to speak spanish..... All smooth

Ran into a little trouble back in the 80"s but kinda deserved that

 

[JonC]

Now you just gotta talk with them mostly friendly and speak English. Slrc is big pile of shiii like most borders. They do have alot of shit hitting the fan there recently...Sonoyta has been really quiet looks like all is locked down there and no current issues. I been thru day and night. The guys checking for imports are easy going and typically friendly than most of the jerks going back to the states in lukeville although its getting better with different agents..They wonder why I am the way I am towards them. Just look in the mirror only dealt with much worse growing up than most so I laugh when they ask stupid questions and act like tough guys.. mexican authority's have always been a delight to deal with on my clock. For reference where and when I grew up cops would kick your teeth in for looking at them the wrong way.. All kinds of things going on in the states too the news is publishing a quarter of it.

 

[Southbeacher]

Sorry South but I disagree....................
We have had an issue at the San Luis RC Sonora border crossing every time in the past six months . . . . .
So to sum it up nothing has changed other than the uniforms. If you get the chance to chat with them ask when the last time that they captured any of those bad guys that are in the news now EVERY FUCKING DAY.

Well, JJ, since I consider you to be highly credible, I stand corrected. My report was more myopic, concerning the Phoenix-to-Lukeville route, which – about once a month for 25 years – has remained pretty steady. I did notice a recent “changing of the guard” at the Lukeville border inspection, but they’ve seemed friendly enough. NOTE TO SELF: Tiptoe if taking the Coastal Highway and San Luis, and eagle-eye the the inspectors . . . .

 

[MIRAMAR]

We came down last night at 7. They wanted me to get out of our car but we had a big Doberman and Dutch Shepherd in the back. They're super friendly but I tell the guards the might bite ( never know) and they let us through immediately.

 

[MIRAMAR]

I did have a problem in Algadones with my FMM. The customs agent wanted me to pay for it. I told him in Spanish it's free. He said we absolutely have to return it to his office. Made my husband hand it to him. I'm going to get a permanent residence card and avoid the hassle.

 

[Idyllwild]

I crossed at Lukeville two hours ago and had an unusual (very good) experience. Line was maybe 15 minutes long. As I crept up to the overhang, a female Mexican officer in uniform, standing 30 meters north of the border waved me over. She asked if I had narcotics, over $10,000 in cash or a pacemaker. When I said no, she said drive straight ahead, and you won’t be stopped. I assume I drove through an x-Ray, but I drove straight through the left lane and was waved right past. Saved a lot of time.

 

[audsley]

Has their been any change in agency responsibility at the border itself? I understand some of the checkpoint officers you encounter entering Rocky Point or past the Mayan are under a different agency and have been more aggressive about searches and questions. Wondered if the same was true at the border especially when traffic is light and they have lots of time to mess with you.

 

[Jungle Jim]

The government customs agents (aduanas) are gone like in terminated and as everyone knows they were the first level of so-called "law enforcement" for their own citizens and travelers entering the country. Ripping the border crossers off was SOP and always has been so on both sides and in every country on earth since days long gone by. From the border south still leaves a gauntlet of many other forms of LEO's with the local power to do anything they want since they have the guns.

The new guy in charge took an already existing group known as the Guardia Nacional (GN) under his wings with new power over all others to "enforce" the laws with fresh new group of "trustworthy" young men. As I'm sure all of you have seen by now they are all outfitted in the new grey digital cammo uniforms, the latest weapons, body armor, helmets and a shitload of brand new trucks.

You can most certainly expect the thousands of terminated LEO's to be getting greedy, hungry and cashless. Where will they go to feed the need?

Many of them have homes right here in Yuma! In fact the commanding officer of the Mexican army from the SLRC post was busted smuggling guns into Mehico not long ago. They found out that he had eight expensive homes with wives and kids to boot! Of course everyone knows that its dangerous to invest your hard earned cash in Mehico.

 

[Old55]

The government customs agents (aduanas) are gone like in terminated and as everyone knows they were the first level of so-called "law enforcement" for their own citizens and travelers entering the country. Ripping the border crossers off was SOP and always has been so on both sides and in every country on earth since days long gone by. From the border south still leaves a gauntlet of many other forms of LEO's with the local power to do anything they want since they have the guns.

The new guy in charge took an already existing group known as the Guardia Nacional (GN) under his wings with new power over all others to "enforce" the laws with fresh new group of "trustworthy" young men. As I'm sure all of you have seen by now they are all outfitted in the new grey digital cammo uniforms, the latest weapons, body armor, helmets and a shitload of brand new trucks.

You can most certainly expect the thousands of terminated LEO's to be getting greedy, hungry and cashless. Where will they go to feed the need?

Many of them have homes right here in Yuma! In fact the commanding officer of the Mexican army from the SLRC post was busted smuggling guns into Mehico not long ago. They found out that he had eight expensive homes with wives and kids to boot! Of course everyone knows that its dangerous to invest your hard earned cash in Mehico.

Yeah this “everybody can own a silenced assault rifle” stuff sure is working out!

 

[goodtoeat1000years]

Can anyone give any advice on the route from Rocky Point to Calexico in terms of safety or any recommendations for border crossings? In about 2 weeks we'll be driving from Tucson to Rocky Point, stay for a week, and then heading to Irvine in So Cal. It looks faster to drive through Mexico rather than back track through Lukeville to Interstate 8. But I also don't want to take any foolish risks to save an hour driving time. I've driven from Tucson to Puerto Vallarta before without any trouble but that was 20 yrs ago, and things change... Thanks!

 

[Idyllwild]

Can anyone give any advice on the route from Rocky Point to Calexico in terms of safety or any recommendations for border crossings? In about 2 weeks we'll be driving from Tucson to Rocky Point, stay for a week, and then heading to Irvine in So Cal. It looks faster to drive through Mexico rather than back track through Lukeville to Interstate 8. But I also don't want to take any foolish risks to save an hour driving time. I've driven from Tucson to Puerto Vallarta before without any trouble but that was 20 yrs ago, and things change... Thanks!

I prefer driving up to San Louis Rio Colorado and going through Yuma.

 

[goodtoeat1000years]

I prefer driving up to San Louis Rio Colorado and going through Yuma.

Thank you!