Mexico - Shook Down by Mexican cops. Have you ever been, if so where?

This has to do with our lack of seatbelts, which we generally do wear. This whole incident could have been avoided had we had our SB on. My brother and Sister in law were following in another vehicle behind us.

This past Thursday (Thanksgiving), Mrs Lufthomie and I crossed the border into Mexico at Lukeville Az,. We were excited to be heading to Rocky Point for 4 days. It was out 1st long vacation in quite a while so neither of us paid attention to the huge sign in Sonoyta (Mexican border town) that said "Cinturon Obligado" or Seat Belts Mandatory.

Passing thru a check point towards the main highway, the Mexican traffic officer ask us to pull to the side. I'm not one to argue with a couple guys with guns and badges so we pulled over and he informs us neither of us had our seat belt on (which I agree, our bad) and that he was going to issue us a ticket to which he's got his book out pen ready to write my DL info into. When I ask how much the fine was he said $28.00 U.S. each for a grand total of 48 big gringo bucks.

Then he tells us we need to follow him to the station to pay the fine.
Mrs Lufthomie can't believe it and questions the Mexican who then says, "Ju can pay the fine on the spot for $20 eesh wan of ju".

At this point I don't care, I just want to get to Rocky Point. I don't see any end to the hassles if I dont give this guy what he wants so I just give him the
dough say Muchas Gracias, Adios and go on my merry way.

The rest of the trip was great, that is until we hit the 3 hour line to come back across Sunday Morning. Other then those two issue a fun time had by all.

Just curious if anyone else has been shook down and how you dealt with it or if you were able to negotiate your way out?

Adios Muchachos, and remember in Mexico, Cinturon Obligado!

I wouldn't say you got "shaken down"....you were actually in violation of the law (by your own admission) and paid the fine of your own accord directly to the police officers to avoid the extra time involved in the actual procedure. At least, that's how I read your post.

A shake down is when you do nothing wrong but still get threatened with jail/fines unless you pony up the cash. Doesn't sound like that was the case from your post. JMO. :)

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Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

If you wanted Mexican justice to follow it's legitimate and lawful course. You should have followed him to the police station. That is how it is legitimately supposed to work and more than likely you would have been dealt with more or less fairly and the Mexican government would have legitimately received any fine that was paid. I also highly doubt it would have cost you $48 USD. Then again it almost certainly would have cost you more than $20 worth of your time so YOU chose the easy way out.

But I half way bet that if you had just called his bluff and agreed to follow him to the police station he would have changed his tune and let you off since he doesn't really want the hassle either if their is no profit in it for him.

If you were legitimately innocent you could complain. If you were FORCED to pay mordita you could complain. But if you were legitimately guilty and CHOSE to pay mordita to get out of the hassle of handling things the legitimate legal way......well..... Doesn't seem like to much basis for complaint.

I've had encounters with Mexican cops, fortunately, not when I was driving. Tijuana is the worst place. I've also had the same thing happen in Costa Rica too. It's part of live, and while no fun, it's not that hard to deal with. At least they didn't plant drugs on you. ;)

It's such a shame you feeded the long time idea of the innocent "gringo" from whom the police can get a quick buck. I firmly believe our police would be more legit if we were more legit.

I know it is very difficult. I confronted a similar problem in Acapulco when I didn't see a stop light and the police asked me to follow them to the police station. I agreed, and then they let me off, as Mabuk said.

I was shaken down for $80 for an illegal left turn in Tijuana. At that point I was so exhausted and ready to leave Mexico that I paid without complaint. However I have since learned that the "fine" is negotiable. ;)

As others have noted, it is a time v. money factor. For most of us, we don't want to spend hours of precious vacation time navigating the Mexican judicial system when we could be soaking up sun. Your choice.