Playing Red Light Green Light at Mexican Customs
 

I've been through Mexican customs at several land and air ports-of-entry and have always gotten the GREEN light (pass through w/o inspection).

For those who may not be familiar with the process, customs has a "traffic signal" set up at the inspection station. You push a button and the signal randomly lights up green or red. I've never seen a red light but it happened to my sister-in-law at MEX last week. Turned out to be an expensive experience for her, most of which I think was her own fault. Her story to me went something like this:

Apparently she pressed the button and it flashed ALTO. The customs officer asked for her customs declaration form where she (Mistake #1) indicated that she had nothing to declare. The customs officer proceeded to inspect the suitcases that my sister-in-law, her father, and son were traveling with (I think there were some 6 suitcases between them). Mistake #2 was telling the customs officer that since she pushed the button and got the red light only her suitcases should be opened and not those of her son and her dad.

Customs officer didn't agree with her interpretation of Mexican customs regulations and proceeded to open up everything. Sister-in-law et.al. had brought several gifts for our family in Mexico City, some of which were (Mistake #3) expensive and electronic (as in a small flat screen TV, DVD player).

Sister-in-law was less than amused with all of their suitcases being unpacked right there in the airport and (Mistake #4) asked to see El Jefe de la Aduana (Chief Customs Official). El Jefe came over to the inspection table, looked at the assortment of goods recently purchased at Best Buy electronics, and said that some impuestos (duty) was obviously in order.

This did not go over real well with Sister-in-law who proceeded (Mistake #5) to inform El Jefe that what he was asking for was nothing more than una mordida (bribe).

The customs officer and El Jefe confered for a moment and basically told her that she can call it what she wants, but if she didn't pay US$700 in duty that the only option was to confiscate the gifts.

She paid the US$700.

I got the red light in CUN once, which resulted in a quick but thorough search of my bags and, as I had not recently been to Best Buy, nothing more.

Your sister-in-law doesn't sound like much of a diplomat. If she'd offered $300 and then shut up, she could've been out of there.

I think the key was to first shut up then offer the $300.

They are getting better as far as mordida (bribes), they don't do that anymore. You need to find someone who is truly old school to get away with that.

Some people say that the red light is manually activated when they see someone with too much crap with them, as in her case.

It's no longer the good old days ;)

You can bring almost anything into Mexico, but you have to pay a fee.

I distinctly remember noticing the green light going on just before MrsCP touched the button ahead of me. To be sure, I reached out to touch and stopped about an inch short until I saw the light go on, then pressed it. No, I didn't make any wise remarks - I'm not that stupid.

My little trick in Bogota is to just walk out past the secondary screening lines. It's so chaotic they don't even notice. Of course, this takes some courage :)

Next time,when 3 passengers are traveling complete 3 decleration forms. Clear Customs seperately. Would RED come up Three Times in a Row?

Nobody said you were.

The conspiracy theory is that if they see you, they press a button, so you are guaranteed to get a red light.

Kinda like in the movies with the roulette ;)

I seen it go red 2 times in a row, never 3.

Was she hispanic looking, by chance?
 

I travel to Mexico several times a year, by both air and personal auto (crossing the 20Km interior customs control post). I never get bothered, even when I've received the red light (yes, they make an inspection... but it's extremely cursory). I believe that I get somewhat of a free pass because I am a light skinned caucasian.

It always appears to be they are on the look out for people bringing in substantial gifts for Mexican family and friends... more than likely, these people are hispanic. The only people I ever see getting really hassled at Mexican customs are either Mexican nationals, or those who are Mexican in appearance.

Yep, she is 100% Mexican (but now a US Citizen).

I was in Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, and the red light came up every 8th or 9th person, completely random, but it was so long ago that I can't remember what airport it was.

I wanna say the Tijuana car crossing is 1~20 or so cars, but that crossing gets so packed, it could be 1~50 or even more. I never stood out and counted, but also never waited in line that long :)

That's what I figured. I have quite a few Mexican friends and they tell me all sorts of horror stories about Mexican customs. Indeed, in the last couple of years (I'm not sure if they're doing it currently), the Mexican government went so far as to organize federal police escorts for convoys of Mexican nationals visiting the country from Texas (as I recall, they ran the escorts from Nuevo Laredo to Monterrey). The idea, basically, was to get them through the initial border crossing, the 20 km checkpoint, and any "random" inspections without undue hassle.

A lot of imported goods are substantially more expensive when purchased in Mexico rather than the U.S. This creates substantial incentives for Mexicans to purchase abroad, and great opporunities for Aduana to hit the paisanos up for "tips." Not so nice.

:confused:

We just came back from one week in Los Cabos - when we got to SJD, we pressed the botton and the GREEN light came up. So all three of us (myself, wife, son) started to walk - this is when a lady stopped my wife and asked to check her bags. I politely told her we got the green light - she absolutely didn't care. It almost looked like she was looking for something that she can take. No matter what I said to her, she completely ignored me. It was frustrating.

Coming back to LAX was a very pleasant experience - fast, friendly immigration officer. I was glad to be back home.

:)

Well, most people don't realize that the green light merely means that you may be skipped for an inspection. But ultimately it is up to the customs agent to decide whether he/she thinks you have been honest on your declaration and let you go, or whether you look suspicious and merit an inspection regardless of your green light. The red light OTOH means compulsory inspection.

Yup, US citizens have it easy. Foreign visitors on the other hand....