Helmet Law?

[Flappy]

Saturday afternoon, at approximately 4:30pm, my family and friends were riding ATVs near the Reef. We were pulled over by Policia truck number 045. The officer claimed it is the law that all riders wear helmets. My kids were wearing helmets but I have never heard of a law requiring head gear for adults. He took $40 of our cash and let us go.

Is there such a law? I appreciate your feedback.

 

[mondone]

I don't know of any law, but it may exist. Your mistake was paying a fine directly to the officer. You should have requested to be directed to the Police station and paid your penalty there with a receipt given to you. Odds are you wouldn't have paid a dime.

 

[brokenwave]

Inflation, it used to be $10-20 for the "Mordida". Policia #045 now has lunch money for awhile.

 

[Roberto]

I beleive there is a helmet law on the books here. The rental places all supply helmets. Enforcement is spotty but yes go to court, most of the time when you say you want to go to court they let you go with a warning. They do not want to waste time sitting in court when they could be out collecting from someone else.

 

[AZRob]

Saturday afternoon, at approximately 4:30pm, my family and friends were riding ATVs near the Reef. We were pulled over by Policia truck number 045. The officer claimed it is the law that all riders wear helmets. My kids were wearing helmets but I have never heard of a law requiring head gear for adults. He took $40 of our cash and let us go.

Is there such a law? I appreciate your feedback.

Try this next time a cop tries to shake you down. "what, I cant under stand you, what????" Do it about 3 times and he will let you go.

 

[Flappy]

Thanks for all your input. We thought about going to the police station but in reality, $40 is a small price to pay to keep riding and not waste a few hours. We were pulled over around 4:30pm on a Saturday. Is the courthouse even open that late? Would they potentially make us stay there until the next business day?

 

[Stuart]

If it's any consolation Flappy - three of my fishing buddies got taken for $40 this weekend, too -- not for helmets, but for the infamous "phantom" stop sign. They said take it to court, cop took drivers license and led the way. On the way, the cop pulled over and re-approached them with "Are you sure you don't want to work this out NOW for $40?" They gave in and paid him.

I thought Penasco had weeded out most of this mordida crap from their police force. Apparently not. We only know about those willing to post here; I'm sure there's even more of it we never hear about.

 

[mondone]

Thanks for all your input. We thought about going to the police station but in reality, $40 is a small price to pay to keep riding and not waste a few hours. We were pulled over around 4:30pm on a Saturday. Is the courthouse even open that late? Would they potentially make us stay there until the next business day?

The only way to stop this nonsense is not paying on site. I too, thought this mordida crap was pretty much nipped in the bud. I guess not.

 

[Roberto]

I don't pay them but it serves a purpose here for the locals. If they get stopped and taken to court many cannot pay the fine and the vehicle is impounded, they they can't pay the impound fee and lose the vehicle. They pay a smaller amount of course. Friend was stopped, no tag. A working family man he needs a vehicle. He had a total of 5 pesos on him. They took it and let him go. He still has the vehicle and is working.

 

[mexicoruss]

The only way to stop this nonsense is not paying on site. I too, thought this mordida crap was pretty much nipped in the bud. I guess not.

I don't think this is mordida in this case, it is a convenience fee. He stated 40 was a good deal not to go downtown so it was obviously a meeting of the minds. I once bought breakfast for a Federale and his wife so that I didn't have to retrieve my registration in San Luis 4 days after my trip......mordida or convenience?

 

[Mexico Joe]

I don't think this is mordida in this case, it is a convenience fee. He stated 40 was a good deal not to go downtown so it was obviously a meeting of the minds. I once bought breakfast for a Federale and his wife so that I didn't have to retrieve my registration in San Luis 4 days after my trip......mordida or convenience?

Russ, you're the king of JUSTIFICATION!

 

[Mexico Joe]

I don't think this is mordida in this case, it is a convenience fee. He stated 40 was a good deal not to go downtown so it was obviously a meeting of the minds. I once bought breakfast for a Federale and his wife so that I didn't have to retrieve my registration in San Luis 4 days after my trip......mordida or convenience?

In every case a mordida is convenience, that is exactly what it is! SMH just because it's convenient doesn't mean that it isn't a MORDIDA and not frowned upon! ​SMH

 

[brokenwave]

Probably a convenience, better than the $200+ traffic school time it would cost in the states.

 

[GV Jack]

Hey, Roberto...Where was this convenience and mordida stuff when I got pulled over? Of course there were three cops, all pre-puberty and well armed.

They knew they had the Green Valley Desperado so there wasn't any monkey business. At the time I was a bit concerned but now as I look back on it,
it was quite an experience and I chuckle to myself every time I think of it and the joy it has given you over the years.

 

[dry heat]

Russ, is it against the law for law enforcement to accept payment on the spot?

 

[Jim]

FYI, a stop sign violation is now $1200 Pesos at the station. A local friend got pulled over and went to the station to pay it. The increase in fines came as quite a shock.

 

[mexicoruss]

Russ, is it against the law for law enforcement to accept payment on the spot?

I honestly don't know, this happened on the way to Tijuana on a toll road south of San Luis, I WAS speeding. As is customary they take your license and registration to the commandante until it is paid. I was going to be in TJ for about a week and couldn't afford to drive without my documentation. It was impractical for him to follow me for the 40 miles or so then I could pay the court and keep going. He was still on duty. I offered for him to write me the ticket (600 pesos) and mark it paid and then I could have my paper work in hand for my trip to TJ. He said that was a hassle and waived the ticket. Gave me a warning and sent me on my way. I asked if there was anything he needed in return and he said he would love to take his wife to breakfast later.....I gave him a 20 and he said thank you over and over again. This was not mordida this was a thank you for giving me a warning instead of the hassle of going to court when I was in the middle of an important trip. MexicoJoe the only black and white in this life is your disdain for me which I don't understand at all.

 

[GV Jack]

FYI, a stop sign violation is now $1200 Pesos at the station. A local friend got pulled over and went to the station to pay it. The increase in fines came as quite a shock.

Wow, my stop light was $55.00. But that was three or four years ago.

 

[dry heat]

FYI, a stop sign violation is now $1200 Pesos at the station. A local friend got pulled over and went to the station to pay it. The increase in fines came as quite a shock.

Jim,

Something does not seem right. I paid a speeding ticket at the court 3 months ago (going 5mph over). I paid $30 for the ticket. $100 or so for a ticket seems like some corruption was going on. It would be great since you are on the ground floor if you could research with the courts what typical tickets cost and the procedure for paying them. Maybe something to add to a future newsletter. I know we are all confused.

 

[mexicoruss]

I came home from the dump one day a couple weeks ago. I offloaded my trailer into my garage. I quickly parked my jeep in front of the house. I went in to use the bathroom and I heard the honking of the police truck. I came out and he was writing me a ticket for parking the wrong way on a public street. It couldn't have been parked wrong for more than 5 minutes. He stated that he had already started writing the ticket so it had to be. I threw a fit and turned my jeep around, (mind you I live on a dirt street in a typical neighborhood) we had a few words with each other as I thought this was just crazy. I went to the police station to complain and se the judge, the girl at reception informed me that the judge doesn't review non-moving violations but that I get a discount if I pay that day. The ticket was 1350 pesos, so 675 would be the fine. I said that it was un-just and that I won't pay it until I talk to someone. She secretly told me to go talk to the city treasurer office and see what they can do. I drove down to the office and explained my situation. They said they didn't have the power to waive the ticket in it's entirety but that they would further discount it as it seemed out of order. I had to go back and pay 130 pesos to the police for a ticket that was just silly. FYI park the right way on the streets all the time even if no one else is. By the way all the fines are clearly posted in the police station lobby!