Problems on the U.S. Side

[tmotsinger]

We just bought a place in Las Conchas at the end of April. Both my wife and I drive down and back separately often (we have a U.S. business that one or both needs to attend to). We've noticed a spate of problems/delays on the U.S. side since we've become frequent crossers.

My truck gets selected for search every time. While detaining me, they ask me questions about my business, etc., then ask her questions about my business when she crosses. This week, they kept my and my daughter's passport when done inspecting my truck, then at the first CBP checkpoint in Arizona told me that they'd have my wife pick it up when she crossed a little while later. This is when they asked her the questions about me that I'd just been asked. Weird.

A worse experience has involved the Pima County Sheriff officers. Shortly after crossing (and, naturally, getting an inspection), three officers in three different trucks pulled me over for no reason at MP61. The officers searched my truck and found four empty beer bottles in the very back (they were from my guests the day before). Cited and arrested me for open container violation after verifying that I was perfectly sober. I suspect CBP may have alerted them ahead about the bottles--do CBP and PCS coordinate? Once PCS determined I hadn't been drinking, I kinda think they felt they had to justify deploying three officers and three $60k trucks, and maybe teach me a lesson about leaving the Mother Country. Don't really know what's going on, but thought I ask what forumers think.

Oh, and be sure to discard any beer or wine bottles you may have before crossing, even if they're empty. I didn't realize the little residue left in the bottom allows law enforcement to count them as open containers in Arizona.

 

[rockyptjoe]

Are you involved in quarter horse racing??? :rofl:

Sorry. couldn't resist!!! I don't understand why they kept the passports...and by what authority, since they didn't find any reason to detain you.

 

[jerry]

My guess is they thought you were picking up a few square grouper between the border and the mile post. Maybe the vin rang a bell.Did you buy it used?

 

[mexicoruss]

Motsy, sorry that happened. They are bent on making your trip to Mexico difficult. Open your remote office at the beach house and screw em!

They have told both my wife and myself that we have no rights in the border zone. I thought they singled us out because of the Sonoran plated cars that we drive. I guess not. Dont let the iron fist cause you grief do what you love! Love what you do! We will see you next time you are in town!

On edit, thanks for the reminders on getting rid of the bottles and cans, as you know my van fills up with empties all the time but they are like 40 feet behind me . It just tells me to empty it out before I cross the border.

 

[Stuart]

Hell, I regularly have 3/4 case of Pacifico empties in the back of my truck and nobody ever says boo about it, even in secondary. They're returnable for deposit on the next case. But, they are truly in the back of my truck -- in the bed and under a camper shell -- no way to get to them from the cab. Any judge would throw an open container citation right out of the court room door, especially if you have not been drinking.


Sorry to hear they're putting you through that kinda hell. Obviously, they don't have much to do. I have been stopped in Ajo and was told I had a brake light out. "Gee honey, would you mind stepping on the brake pedal so I can see which light is out? That's odd Mr. Sheriff po-po, they both seem to be working now, don't they?" Same outside Gila Bend one trip. When asked why I was stopped, I was simply told - "You fit the profile." I do? What profile would that be? Tourist? Fisherman? Mexican? Drug smuggler? Or just plain Smart Ass? I thought it was a violation of civil rights for the police to stop you based on a profile. Apparently, not on the way to/from the border.

What Russ said. You have no rights within a 100 miles of the border. They can stop you for any imaginary reason they want. I just laugh and play the game. I don't drink and drive, I don't speed, so really, what in the hell can they arrest me for? And unless you are arresting me, you can hand my passport back to me right now. Thanks.

 

[Roberto]

Talking about it here won't make things better. This is stuff to brinng up with US authorities. Document time, date, names, video, photo, audio and have Moore represent you!!

 

[tmotsinger]

Don't worry, Russ...a little time in the Ajo jail won't dissuade me. Only makes me want to be in Mexico more! For all our benefit, here is a lawyer's summary of Arizona's open container law. Note that it does include empties.:

"Arizona is one of 43 U.S. states that outlaws the possession of an open container of alcohol while operating a vehicle or while within the passenger compartment of a vehicle. While an open container violation does not carry the same consequences of a DUI, the state of Arizona does have one of the harshest open container laws in the country.
It is against the law in Arizona for a person in a vehicle to have an open empty container that once contained an alcoholic beverage or an open container with an alcoholic beverage still in it. According to Arizona Revised Statute 4-251, a person that violates the open container law can be found guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor, which is punishable with a fine of up to $750 and up to four months in jail. Other states simply have a fine that is less than $50 for such a violation."

My truck's a three-row-seat LR3, and the 4 bottles were in the way back. I was alone, so I couldn't possibly reach them. But they were literally in the passenger compartment, I guess.

 

[moore_rb]

have Moore represent you!!

No, don't do that...

 

[Silvia]

When I first signed on to forum I didn't think I would be spending so much time on here on first two days on the fishing forum I asked about fish lic boat permit and about the dangers we here about up here some one replys danger danger will robinson etc I should have included what about other problems like what is being talked about here as for the subject at hand here now you don't want my husband to offer you his thoughts on this I can tell you he says the law is the law he also says that if any one ever hits us because of drinking or has evidence of drinking he says that the driver had better kill him in the crash because if he can get to them he will we are now taking a pause and rethinking our trip down and considering all aspects it is obvious now that there are many things to consider before going to rocky point we understand that there are two sides to every story but one thing that is certain we will always side with the law

 

[rockyptjoe]

Ouch...my eyes...punctuation??

Sorry....

Silvia, there is a lot of joking/teasing that goes on here...but.....it is safe to go down to Penasco....the only thing to consider is that you are going to a foreign country...different laws and regulations. The only thing I worry about driving around in town is that the red lights and stop signs are only "advisory" for the locals! :rofl:

 

[az-dan]

Silvia once you make it to Mexico you'll be safe, they like us there.

 

[mis2810]

When I first signed on to forum I didn't think I would be spending so much time on here on first two days on the fishing forum I asked about fish lic boat permit and about the dangers we here about up here some one replys danger danger will robinson etc I should have included what about other problems like what is being talked about here as for the subject at hand here now you don't want my husband to offer you his thoughts on this I can tell you he says the law is the law he also says that if any one ever hits us because of drinking or has evidence of drinking he says that the driver had better kill him in the crash because if he can get to them he will we are now taking a pause and rethinking our trip down and considering all aspects it is obvious now that there are many things to consider before going to rocky point we understand that there are two sides to every story but one thing that is certain we will always side with the law

Silvia, you're taking a lot of this stuff way too seriously. Most of it is joking amongst long-time members of the forum. Without a doubt there is absolutely nothing to worry about in Rocky Point. Not sure what made you start talking about drinking and driving, but that can and does happy everywhere - in every country on the planet. There are other forums specifically for RV'ers in Mexico and you'll get a lot more specific information from them. Also, you might want to read the "People's Guide to Mexico" by Carl Franz. It's got absolutely everything in it for first-timers and RV'ers to Mexico - or people traveling by car. It's not Rocky Point specific, but it's a wealth of information. Here's a link to it: Peoples Guide to Mexico

 

[jerry]

The law is an ass
"The Law is an Ass"

This proverbial expression is of English origin and the ass being referred to here is the English colloquial name for a donkey, not the American 'ass', which we will leave behind us at this point. Donkeys have a, somewhat unjustified, reputation for obstinance and stupidity that has given us the adjective 'asinine'. It is the stupidly rigid application of the law that this phrase calls into question.

When I first signed on to forum I didn't think I would be spending so much time on here on first two days on the fishing forum I asked about fish lic boat permit and about the dangers we here about up here some one replys danger danger will robinson etc I should have included what about other problems like what is being talked about here as for the subject at hand here now you don't want my husband to offer you his thoughts on this I can tell you he says the law is the law he also says that if any one ever hits us because of drinking or has evidence of drinking he says that the driver had better kill him in the crash because if he can get to them he will we are now taking a pause and rethinking our trip down and considering all aspects it is obvious now that there are many things to consider before going to rocky point we understand that there are two sides to every story but one thing that is certain we will always side with the law

 

[Nmots]

I feel a lot safer in Mexixo than I do in what the ACLU calls the "Constitution-Free Zone." Take an area where you have no rights and staff it with xenophobic, testosterone-addled government officials? Good idea.

I'd always noticed I get more questions when I travel alone than I do when I'm with the family or kids, but now that I have a house there and am crossing the border so often, the level of scrutiny is starting to get a little spooky. Border control came up to my car (while I was still three cars back in line) with my husband's and daughter's "forgotten" passports. When I got up to the booth, the border guard looked at every page of my passport and asked me about several of the stamps, the State Department embossed seal you get when you add extra pages to your passport, and what my husband - not in the car - did for a living. I am not the type to be paranoid, but it's kinda weird.

I'm assuming they'll eventually learn I'm not smuggling drugs or illegals. Or open containers.

 

[PintoPoint]

I come from California and cross the border at the closes crossing. I find there are less hassels traveling on the Mexico side. That wasn't the case win I first started comming down.

Rick
Cholla Bay

 

[mis2810]

I love it when I'm in the car with my Mexican husband who is a Legal Permanent Resident and we roll up and the CBP Officer Gonzalez, who speaks English with a heavy accent (obviously a Naturalized American Citizen), asks me if I "know" the man sitting next to me! LOL I am an uncontrolled "eye roller" so of course I get that look on my face like, "Don't start with me!". Next thing I know we're in secondary and they're taking all our stuff out the car. I must have been asked at least 2 more times if I knew the man in the car with me.

But, when we roll up and it's an Anglo, Gringo, white, whatever you want to call it, CBP officer we have absolutely no problems. Reverse discrimination much?

 

[Roberto]

Silvia Sez: we are now taking a pause and rethinking our trip down and considering all aspects it is obvious now that there are many things to consider before going to rocky point we understand that there are two sides to every story but one thing that is certain we will always side with the law

The things you should consider before coming to Penasco are the same things you should consider before taking a trip anywhere. Please note that the comments and issues discussed above here occurred in the US, not in Mexico so they might occur on a trip from your home to Phoenix or Albuquerque.

I for one am having difficulty understanding what the several law enforcement entities operating near the border are trying to accomplish. Just asking and wishing someone could explain, someone who actually knows, not a speculator. I'm thinking the multiple jurisdictions aren't talking to each other too much, other than to nail those empty container transporters.

 

[DMAC]

I am a layman, so take my advice for what it's worth, but in my research on the topic, you do not need to answer any questions at the border as to where you have been, what the purpose of your trip was, who your daddy was, etc. The fact is that you have a fifth amendment right and can use it at the border, but most likely the CBP clowns will take you to task for doing so. As a matter of international law, the CBP clowns cannot refuse to repatriate a US citizen. They will make your crossing uncomfortable as possible, but if they're doing that already, why not just give them a reality check on their ego-driven power trip?

As for the internal CBP checkpoints, the USSC decision allowed for brief stops at checkpoint to engage in "consensual conversation". CBP has been abusing the hell out of this, mainly busting people for simple weed possession. The checkpoints are supposedly for immigration matters but the truth of the matter is they are really part of the failed War on Drugs. Again, you do not need to co-operate with CBP at these checkpoints. For some tips on how to deal with them, this fellow has been fighting the fight for years now:

https://www.checkpointusa.org/

He has some great videos on YouTube that will demonstrate how to deal with these jackboots. He also has a civil suite in court right now for civil rights violations at one such checkpoint.

To be sure, if you take these guys on you risk being falsely accused and arrested, and perhaps even getting a beat-down by the roid-heads, so you need to assess how much you are willing to put yourself out there to assert your rights.

Again I stress I'm a layman so this advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

[MIRAMAR]

I would NOT advise not answering they're questions. My husband's cousin is a tax attorney in New York, and while traveling from Buffalo to Canada, he said exactly what you said, "I don't have to answer that question". Well, he was cuffed, detained for several hours, and now EVERY trip to Canada (his mother has a summer home there), he is detained at least an hour. You (and he) may be right about not having to answer questions, but it's not worth it. Unless they're asking me questions my doctor would ask, I'm answering them!

 

[jerry]

When i crossed iat Sasabe last Saturday i had a little fun with Mr. Hardass with the gay Moustache
Him were you coming from?
me the beach
Him were exactly? (he starts to get pissed)
me not sure my Garmin gps maps really suck.Do you know it received 4 stars on Amazon and..
Him where were you and where are you headed
me (my truck is pretty hoboed out) I lost my job when that socialist Obama ruined America and have been living on the beach.It didn't work out so I'm headed to Alabama,
Him have a good day sir.

I am a layman, so take my advice for what it's worth, but in my research on the topic, you do not need to answer any questions at the border as to where you have been, what the purpose of your trip was, who your daddy was, etc. The fact is that you have a fifth amendment right and can use it at the border, but most likely the CBP clowns will take you to task for doing so. As a matter of international law, the CBP clowns cannot refuse to repatriate a US citizen. They will make your crossing uncomfortable as possible, but if they're doing that already, why not just give them a reality check on their ego-driven power trip?

As for the internal CBP checkpoints, the USSC decision allowed for brief stops at checkpoint to engage in "consensual conversation". CBP has been abusing the hell out of this, mainly busting people for simple weed possession. The checkpoints are supposedly for immigration matters but the truth of the matter is they are really part of the failed War on Drugs. Again, you do not need to co-operate with CBP at these checkpoints. For some tips on how to deal with them, this fellow has been fighting the fight for years now:

https://www.checkpointusa.org/

He has some great videos on YouTube that will demonstrate how to deal with these jackboots. He also has a civil suite in court right now for civil rights violations at one such checkpoint.

To be sure, if you take these guys on you risk being falsely accused and arrested, and perhaps even getting a beat-down by the roid-heads, so you need to assess how much you are willing to put yourself out there to assert your rights.

Again I stress I'm a layman so this advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.