lagrimas85
AKA Carnac
Dan, but its not unique to Mexico, there are plenty of people stateside more than willing have their palms greased. The former director of the port in Nogales, AZ. was sentenced for taking money and other things from the M.M.
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InkaRoads
cronopiador
the main problem is that most people believe that the US is not corrupted when in fact it is very much so, at many levels of government and businesses, what I find ridiculous are those people who think highly of themselves and then turn around and show how much twisted they are by being part of the corruption!! and I am not necesarily talking about donjames!
lagrimas85
AKA Carnac
In Mexico it used to not be looked as corruption but more like a tip as it is in the Phillipines.
PitiquitoRosy
Guest
I still say that the "custom" is the result of Americans being too quick to take the easiest way out of a situation by throwing dollars at it. The decision to pay or not pay when pulled over is a personal one, but one should always be aware that when you do that, you're assuring that the next gringo the cop sees will also represent an easy $20 bucks. This grows the problem and affects those of us who truly want to improve the system for everyone.
DonJaime, that you're an old man who has "paid his dues" doesn't change the fact that your original post is much more than just rife with misspellings and bad grammar. The worst part is that it's insulting and wrong-headed. Then you come back and call all who disagree with you "lame". Well, your post was lame. You might be capable of better input in the future, and I certainly hope so...but you scored low on this attempt. It was lame of you to step off on the wrong foot.
DonJaime, that you're an old man who has "paid his dues" doesn't change the fact that your original post is much more than just rife with misspellings and bad grammar. The worst part is that it's insulting and wrong-headed. Then you come back and call all who disagree with you "lame". Well, your post was lame. You might be capable of better input in the future, and I certainly hope so...but you scored low on this attempt. It was lame of you to step off on the wrong foot.
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DonJaime
Guest
I once was stopped for speeding in San Carlos. The Officer would not take the "M" and insisted I pay the Commisario. Well, 2 days later and 5 trips to the office I finally was able to pay. And, all of that time I was without my Drivers License.
Another time, coming south, 1/2 way to Guaymas from Hermosillo, I was stopped for speeding. The officer said "in order to pay the fine I must return to Hermosillo to pay the fine". I figured that would kill the day and I begged the officer to take my money on the spot.
Could something please be done to surmount the Mexican Bureaucracy? Then, perhaps, one can follow the letter of the law in a timely manor. Until then a person will be tied up with waiting until hell freezes over, just to pay a fine.
You folks who would get mixed up in the Bureaucracy must have all the time in the world to waste.
If I spend 5 hours to pay a 200P fine to save 100p then my time was spent @ 20p per hour...My time is more valueable than that.
Perhaps I am a scoff-law, But I am a happy scoff-law with time to enjoy myself; I choose to not spending hours and hours dealing with the Authorities over a $20 fine.
A person is not required to take my advice. A prudent person will naturally do what they feel is best in each situation. But, I believe that informed folks can make better choices.
Rosie, I respectfully disagree with you, we can not blame all of Mexicos woes on the "American". I bet you make a pretty penny off of them, NO?
Another time, coming south, 1/2 way to Guaymas from Hermosillo, I was stopped for speeding. The officer said "in order to pay the fine I must return to Hermosillo to pay the fine". I figured that would kill the day and I begged the officer to take my money on the spot.
Could something please be done to surmount the Mexican Bureaucracy? Then, perhaps, one can follow the letter of the law in a timely manor. Until then a person will be tied up with waiting until hell freezes over, just to pay a fine.
You folks who would get mixed up in the Bureaucracy must have all the time in the world to waste.
If I spend 5 hours to pay a 200P fine to save 100p then my time was spent @ 20p per hour...My time is more valueable than that.
Perhaps I am a scoff-law, But I am a happy scoff-law with time to enjoy myself; I choose to not spending hours and hours dealing with the Authorities over a $20 fine.
A person is not required to take my advice. A prudent person will naturally do what they feel is best in each situation. But, I believe that informed folks can make better choices.
Rosie, I respectfully disagree with you, we can not blame all of Mexicos woes on the "American". I bet you make a pretty penny off of them, NO?
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playaperro
El Pirata
If you travel anywhere you should always carry a duplicate drivers license hidden just in case.
lagrimas85
AKA Carnac
Hey Playa, you farming now out in Kennedy?
moore_rb
Stay Thirsty My Friends
I don't see any posts in this thread suggesting that Americans are not corrupt, or even that they are less corrupt than Mexicans- and I would even go so far as to declare that there are very few Americans left who are not at the end of their patience with the level of corruption that has infested American institutions of government and regulation.
Typically, the only people who fail to identify corruption are themselves corrupt. I agree with Dan- the Mordida has existed since the days of the Conquistadors, it is not an invention of Americans; Ugliness does not have a national origin, nor does it wear a skin of a particular color.
and the best way to conduct yourself is to take the position of moral righteousness. If a cop (whether corrupt or not) saw you infringe on a law or statute, then you have a case to settle with the people that the gov't represents, so go take it before a judge.
I won't argue that the Mordida is more convenient, but I will argue against its righteousness based on the argument that "this is the way it's always been". Changing wrong to right does not happen by continuing to do things wrongly.
moore_rb
Stay Thirsty My Friends
I'll also add my own opinion/point of view:
I have paid LESS money in fines since I have started asking to go to the station. Typically the cop does not want to escort you back, so they cut you loose with a warning.
Now, I concede that this is likely due to the fact that they feel that they stand a better chance of earning a shakedown from the next chump they stop, but hey, at least I get to move on my way with out guilt...
I have paid LESS money in fines since I have started asking to go to the station. Typically the cop does not want to escort you back, so they cut you loose with a warning.
Now, I concede that this is likely due to the fact that they feel that they stand a better chance of earning a shakedown from the next chump they stop, but hey, at least I get to move on my way with out guilt...
I guess I should find out what you people have been doing to generate all this police contact. I've never been stopped. I'm sure I've spent far less time driving in Mexico than most others on this board, but I've never heard any accounts from other Tucson travelers about encounters with police going to, from or around Rocky Point, negative or otherwise.
Maybe this is a good time to ask about speed limits. I consider the posted speed limits between Sonoyta and Rocky Point and Las Conchas and Mayan Palace to be unreasonably slow, and nobody seems to abide by them. I try to drive about 60 mph from Sonoyta to R.P., where the max posted speed is 90 k (about 55 mph), but often much less than that, and I always get passed a lot. I never see anyone pulled over for speeding.
Maybe in the past these highways weren't as good as they are today, or maybe there used to be free-ranging livestock along certain stretches, in which case lower speeds might have been approrpiate. But I can't understand why they would want you to drive 43-54 mph (70-90 k) under the conditions I see now. When the Mexican government gets around to asking for my opinion, I'll suggest they set reasonable speed limits and enforce them rather than posting unreasonably low speeds and letting everyone ignore them.
My suggestion for a speed limit for most of the way from Sonoyta to Rocky Point would be 105 KPH, or 65 mph, with a few short stretches of 50 or 55.
Maybe this is a good time to ask about speed limits. I consider the posted speed limits between Sonoyta and Rocky Point and Las Conchas and Mayan Palace to be unreasonably slow, and nobody seems to abide by them. I try to drive about 60 mph from Sonoyta to R.P., where the max posted speed is 90 k (about 55 mph), but often much less than that, and I always get passed a lot. I never see anyone pulled over for speeding.
Maybe in the past these highways weren't as good as they are today, or maybe there used to be free-ranging livestock along certain stretches, in which case lower speeds might have been approrpiate. But I can't understand why they would want you to drive 43-54 mph (70-90 k) under the conditions I see now. When the Mexican government gets around to asking for my opinion, I'll suggest they set reasonable speed limits and enforce them rather than posting unreasonably low speeds and letting everyone ignore them.
My suggestion for a speed limit for most of the way from Sonoyta to Rocky Point would be 105 KPH, or 65 mph, with a few short stretches of 50 or 55.
I have been driving in Rocky Point for 37 years and I have NEVER been stopped! I've had a Dodge Colt, A Triumph Spitfire, a big Dodge Van 250 Tradesman, 2 Cherokees and my present vehicle, a Jeep TJ. I don't know why others have been stopped........I never got stopped with the Spitfire, even tho I was young and pretty.....Go figure....
moore_rb
Stay Thirsty My Friends
Let the record clearly state that I have only been stopped in Mexico for speeding- about 5 times over 20 years. The first time I was 19, and it was about 11pm on the highway 5 miles north of RP, The cop "suggested" that it would be easiest to pay him $10, so I did. That was the one and only time I submitted to the gratuity, but being late at night out in the middle of nowhere, I was motivated simply to resolve the situation and be on my way. I got stopped in Sonoyta once for speeding in a "Zona Escolar" during a weekday, and I was guilty as charged- I was not paying attention to the signs, and I told the cop I would pay the fine at the police station, so he escorted me back and I ponied up the $30 fine.
Every other time I have been stopped, I've contested the cop's observation and asked to go and see the judge. Every time, the cop has let me go.
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DonJaime
Guest
Thank you all for a lively and spirited debate!
Kenny
Guest
Audsley, I had to run into the back of a truck down by Santo Tomas to get any attention at all, and even then it was just a $25 fine. Maybe our new friend can give me lesson's on how to get stopped, as well as how to pay the M. How can they tell the difference between myself, and our new friend? Hey! Maybe if I put a sticker on the back of my Jeep saying I was here in the 50's that would help.
Oh my!! I'm so sorry if that sounded like I'm a low life, but I sleep under trailers, not in them.
Oh heck, I was here in the 50's.:roll:
Oh my!! I'm so sorry if that sounded like I'm a low life, but I sleep under trailers, not in them.
Oh heck, I was here in the 50's.:roll:
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DonJaime
Guest
Get over it! Sounds like Bitter envy!
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rockyptjoe
Guest
DonJaime.....Bitter envy? For what? Breaking laws that result in police contact?
Regardless of whether some of the people that have posted agree or disagree with mordida, you got jumped on for the attitude that came across in your original post!!!
Would I pay it?....that depends on the situation. Definitely if I could have avoided spending 3 days in Penasco after my accident (fault was with the other driver) to get my truck out of impound and get an estimate for the damage, that I really didn't need to get, and having to take that time off from work.
Kenny
Guest
Bitter envy is a touching sentiment LOL
Why do I say things like "I was here in the 50's", as if I was in Mexico as I wrote that?:???:... OK, I was here in the fifty's, but I was here and there as well.:grin:
Bitter envy is a touching sentiment, and it's all about the I I I me me me, in our new friend.
There is one common, well almost, denominator in all who popped up to almost brag about the amount, and times they've paid bribes. Anyone care to guess what that might be?
I thought about it for a second, but quickly came to the conclusion that my time was way to valuable to spend time thinking about it.:notme:
Why do I say things like "I was here in the 50's", as if I was in Mexico as I wrote that?:???:... OK, I was here in the fifty's, but I was here and there as well.:grin:
Bitter envy is a touching sentiment, and it's all about the I I I me me me, in our new friend.
There is one common, well almost, denominator in all who popped up to almost brag about the amount, and times they've paid bribes. Anyone care to guess what that might be?
I thought about it for a second, but quickly came to the conclusion that my time was way to valuable to spend time thinking about it.:notme:
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InkaRoads
cronopiador
Kenny, I hate it when you make me think, I will rake the rocks from under my trailer so you will have a bad night sleep!! oh wait you should not be talking to the riff-raff trailer trashers!!
PS: corrupt americans might be the answer!! oh no, no it is suppose to be corrupt mexican cops!!
oh wait you should not be talking to the riff-raff trailer trashers!!PS: corrupt americans might be the answer!! oh no, no it is suppose to be corrupt mexican cops!!
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