A couple of ladies from Playa Encanto emailed me this, help!
There’s still a growing problem with the ongoing Harassment with the Police Department in Puerto Penasco and Sonota. We continue to get pulled over every time we cross the border and every time we exit. The Police officers demand money on the spot. Both of these Police Officers demanded money $80.00 from us at the border for something we didn’t do. Everytime I come down to Mexico they pull us over demanding money! This problem continues to be growing! What can we do? This is corruption and it needs to be addressed! We’re not breaking any laws they just want to scare you and take your money! I’m really getting tired of it!
Please let me know if there is anything or anybody we can talk to about this.
I've never had that problem, but plenty have. Of course they know better than to mess with the Green Valley Desperado.
I've also heard that if you say, okay, lets go see the judge and talk about it. If there are two of you, you have a witness. I'm
thinking they'll let you go. At least, that's what others have said. Good luck.
Over the years I have come to the conclusion that the best thing to do is to: JUST ACT DUMB.
Those thievin bastards certainly aren't stupid enough to assume every Gringo speaks and comprehends esh-pan-yole.
Even if you do, don't ever let them think that you do.
If they speak English or spanglish continue to "just act dumb", with a stupid fake grin just speak to them in clear concise English with a simple "I do not understand what you are saying to me".
Most times they will give up in frustration and let you go. If not, go ahead and let them take you the the police station. I've got that far a few times, then on the way to the station something more important comes up and they just blast away and leave you there in the dust.
One of their favorite ploys, especially on weekends is that the police station is closed for the weekend and joo-mus-pay-me-now. That just total BS since the police stations never close down there.
And by the way, the "Judge" does not reside in the police station.
Two of the last 3 trips through Sonoyta I was stopped before the 1st turn. (going exactly 40kph).
The 1st time I used Jerry's badge #18 question back to the officer and let us go with a warning.
The 2nd time I had someone traveling with me using my phone and videoed my trip through Sonoyta with the speedometer showing,
they stopped me said I was going 60kph.
I laughed and started to show my phone video to him, he walked back to his car and drove away.
Man 25mph(40kph) is all I will do in that corrupt little town.
This all started at Super bowl weekend. It is a pain to have to defend that you are actually obeying the speed limits,
It just starts the whole trip off on a bad note.
They know you now, I speak spanish and I tell them go to hell or take me to the judge, listen to the advice here, if you feed the kitty they will be back for more
Reality is most people don't read this forum. Take your average family coming down to RP, kids in the back of the car. Police pull you over demanding money, kids are scared, etc... Makes it easy to say now we play stupid, demand a judge, show them a recording... This crap just needs to stop if RP plans on being in the big leagues with a cruise port
Ben21 you are totally right. It has been nice hearing tourists are coming back and resorts are filled up but the past month we have been hearing from people that they finally decided to come back to rp and had a great trip, felt safe etc BUT were pulled over by the cops for no reason and hassled for money. The amounts they want are high and most do not know to go to court house and just pay it. It does leave a bad taste and has some thinking twice on coming back.
There is a phone number posted on a board coming through Sonoyta to call to report corruption. I do not have it but maybe someone coming down can see it and get the number. I have never paid at the curb either and most of the time, if I get stopped, they do not want to bother going to court so they let you go on about your business.
Lucky so far I haven't been tagged in Sonoyta, I'm sure just a matter of time. But what gets me is how RP doesn't have more power in preventing what's happening in the border town. Or is not yet a problem for RP, as they see it? Too bad Rosy doesn't come on here much anymore, liked to hear what she has to say about it.
But what gets me is how RP doesn't have more power in preventing what's happening in the border town.
That's like saying the reservation cops care what happens on the other side of the "boarder" from them. If you're on their property, you better watch your speed.
I have been down here full time for 2.5 years. I don't ever remember seeing a speed sign anywhere in town. For the last couple of week, I have been trying real hard to find one. Does anyone know where they are or is there a standard speed we should all just know.
As far as Sonoyta, I do the crawl.... Never more than 20 mph. I do pull over occasionally for those behind me. I have even had cops in the line behind me.. :)
What is the speed limit in Puerto Penasco? And does anyone know where the speed limit signs are anywhere in town?... I have been looking carefully for about a month but can't find any...
Today I was all prepared to duel with the crooked Policia in Sonoyta. Crossed Sat. at 3PM got the red light and after a couple of questions from
the agent off we went. I crawled through Sonoyta at 25mph (40kph) the shortcut is finished, looks and drives nice.
Guess what happened!!!
Nada, only accosted by the Bomberos, gladly gave them $2 to safely pass.
Sadly, We weren't held hostage by anyone, disappointing. Guess we have to struggle through the next week with only boring
Puerto Penasco at it's best. ;)
Only real threat is that the internet and cell phone service are overwhelmed currently, can't wait for all the Gringos to go home.:D
rolled through in a 3 vehicle caravan on 6/4. myself and vehicle in front of me (my brother) both got the red light crossing into mex. asked what was in our coolers and sent us on our way. no issues going through town. My brother had some beer cans that had dogs on them and they thought was possible dog food, then they thought it was beer for dogs. pretty funny but they sent us happily on our way.
If headed to Miramar from Tucson via Maraposa I figure 5 and a half hours...great shopping ( home depot,Sams) toll road and Highway 15 super,really good plant nurserys,superior restaurants,cheaper groceries...the occasional gun battle but you can't have everything..
I've done it in 3:15, door to door. That is from 51sr ave and Baseline, so i did have a head start being fairly South and West of Phoenix.
Was years back, on an early morning with zero traffic. Usually the I-10 is the roughest, slowest part of my drive. I drive much slower now that I am getting old. It takes me about 3:30 normally without traffic and border delays.
Like some of us have always said, the drive to and from PP is where the danger lay's, not in town.
Mex Hwy 8 between Sonoyta and Puerto Penasco belongs to the drug cartels after dark - AVOID! Sonoyta is a focal point for cartel drug smuggling into the US. Many murders, that are unreported in the media, occur there due to competition from other cartels for US drug routes. If the border were secure, this would not be a happening.
From Chandler to Maricopa using dead cow road to Gila Bend, stop at Subway in Gila, gas at OXOX in Sonoyta to North Beach 223 miles door to door 3 hours and 45 minutes every time, we make the trip. 5 mph over speed limit all the way.
From Chandler to Maricopa using dead cow road to Gila Bend, stop at Subway in Gila, gas at OXOX in Sonoyta to North Beach 223 miles door to door 3 hours and 45 minutes every time, we make the trip. 5 mph over speed limit all the way.
Have you any knowledge if Howard Israel is still around North Beach....he was super burned in the project around 2002
Mex Hwy 8 between Sonoyta and Puerto Penasco belongs to the drug cartels after dark - AVOID! Sonoyta is a focal point for cartel drug smuggling into the US. Many murders, that are unreported in the media, occur there due to competition from other cartels for US drug routes. If the border were secure, this would not be a happening.
Jack muchof the border is Tohono land and they will not put a 20 ft. Fence up that would separate the tribe...and they will fight the feds with guns if necessary if one is forced on them...
Left tempe at 7 on the dot after picking up friends and the trailer.
Wife and friends hungry in Gila Bend, LOOSE 30 minutes at McDs.....
15 minutes at Duty free store thus missing a 20 car group, turned out lucky. Went through border no one in front or behind. 3 female and 1 male agent look at me and waved us through..... Nothing! First time.
Drove by the auto zone coming into town at 11:30 on the dot.
Minus downtime actual drive time 3hours 45minutes.
Can not complain 1 bit.
dang Hill, I left the condo in rocky about 9:15 hit the border around 10:15 with a 15 min. wait to get across. I'm sure we were passing each other at one point!
dang Hill, I left the condo in rocky about 9:15 hit the border around 10:15 with a 15 min. wait to get across. I'm sure we were passing each other at one point!
ED
We should all have some thing on our car roofs that say "Rocky Point Talk". Lol, like the Pizza signs.
I say record the speedometer on your phone from the minute you cross the border. If they pull you over for speeding let them take you to the police station and show the judge or show the policeman that instant. It's worked before. Good luck!!
We got green light and had no problems going thru town. Also no problems coming back. Didnt see anybody getting pulled over.
Maybe they are busy at the moment looking for El Chapo. Wow, law enforcement doing what they actually get paid to do...hunt down criminals. There's a thought.;)
I seen something odd coming back. I stop at LV gas station to fill up. I see the car next to me, Mexican lady with older and younger kids in car. She is peeling the tint of the windows mexico plate on car. She took off before me and at the first check point in the U.S. she is having here car looked thru. Odd.
