Stay Out of Mexico

[Phillyrube]

Interesting article.......

Nightmare
in Mexico
Texas border vacation turns into
costly ordeal for Limestone deputy

By Holly Hollman
DAILY Staff Writer
hhollman@decaturdaily.com · 340-2445

ATHENS — A local lawman has learned about life on the other side of the badge.

Being told not to talk. Spending 12 hours without a drink. Not going to the restroom.

Limestone County Sheriff's Department Deputy Chad Smith said because of that experience, he'll never again cross the Mexican border.

Smith and his friend Jason Sherman went to Texas on vacation at the end of February and first of March. They spent the last day of that vacation in custody.

News of their ill-fated trip made its way through Limestone County as slow as a Sunday driver, and as the story spread, the versions became more outlandish.

'They were being extorted for money'

"To hear it told, they did just about everything illegal you can imagine," Sheriff Mike Blakely said, "when really, they were being extorted for money."

Smith said Sherman drove them across the border in his 2006 Silverado worth about $30,000.

"When we'd go through checkpoints, we'd ask if it was OK for us to go on, and they just kept motioning for us to go," Smith said.

The two spent the night and visited various Mexican cities. The last day of vacation, they drove toward Chihuahua. That's when Smith, who works in patrol, got to see what it's like to spot a cop car in the rearview mirror.

"Jason got pulled over for speeding, but the officer didn't even have a radar detector," Smith said. "I don't think we were speeding. We had trouble communicating with him. He wanted us to follow him."

Blakely said Smith called his cell phone and asked whether they should follow the Mexican officer. Blakely advised them they should.

"Turns out they didn't have a visa to go into the interior of Mexico," Blakely said. "That didn't help."

Smith said the officer took them to an immigration office, where an official who spoke English told them police just wanted to ensure the truck wasn't stolen.

"We were told this would take 30 to 40 minutes," Smith said. "We were also told we'd have to get a medical check for some reason. We were taken to a guy who claimed he was a doctor, then we went to some holding facility to wait while they did their investigation."

Half an hour's wait turned into 12 hours during which Smith and Sherman couldn't drink water, go to the restroom or talk to each other. The authorities found Smith's badge but decided it was a fake.

"A guy who was like a district attorney came and said it would be $6,000 for us to get out," Smith said. "When he came back, that figure went up to $50,000, plus they got to keep Jason's truck."

When Smith reminded the district attorney the first figure he gave was $6,000, the district attorney said, 'Well, now it's $50,000 and the $6,000.' "

Smith asked authorities if he could call his father about raising the money, but he called Blakely instead.

"He wanted to know if he should get his father to raise the money. I said, 'That's bull. They're just trying to get money out of you,' " Blakely said.

The sheriff called U.S. Rep. Bud Cramer, D-Huntsville, who worked with the consulate to free Smith and Sherman.

"The consulate said the officers were being unreasonable, and that this happens frequently with Americans who drive past the border towns without getting their paperwork in order," Blakely said.

Smith said once the consulate got involved, authorities released him. Sherman had to pay what the authorities called "a $4,000 appearance bond," Smith said, and leave his new truck behind. Authorities drove them to the immigration office. There, an official got a taxi to take them to the airport.

"Even if I hadn't known how to get in touch with the sheriff, I probably would have gotten released because I wasn't driving," Smith said. "Jason, however, probably would have been sent to their version of a federal prison because if you don't pay whatever bond they name within 48 hours, that's where they send you."

Smith said Sherman is working with his insurance company to see if it will cover the loss of his truck. The truck had OnStar, a vehicle security system on certain models of General Motors vehicles.

"GM has tried to get a signal, but there's nothing," Smith said. "I'm sure the authorities there have already disabled it."

Blakely said others should learn a lesson from Smith and Sherman's misadventure and research what documentation is needed when crossing the border.

According to the U.S. Department of State's travel page, Americans do not have to have a visa or a tourist card for stays of 72 hours or less within the border zone. That is an area between 20 to 30 kilometers of the border. Citizens traveling as tourists beyond the border zone or entering Mexico by air must pay a fee to obtain a tourist card, also known as an FM-T. Those are available from Mexican consulates, Mexican border crossing points, Mexican tourism offices, airports within the border zone and most airlines serving Mexico.

With the exception of travel to the Baja Peninsula, tourists who travel beyond the border zone with their car must obtain a temporary import permit or risk having their car confiscated by Mexican customs officials.

Smith said he has better advice for potential tourists.

"I don't recommend going to border towns," Smith said. "I don't recommend crossing the border at all. I'll never go back again."

[bygdawg]

I've been into Juarez about five times and never had any problems, but that's just me.

[SupraSabre]

Interesting article.......

Nightmare
in Mexico
Texas border vacation turns into
costly ordeal for Limestone deputy

><Snipped><

Smith said he has better advice for potential tourists.

"I don't recommend going to border towns," Smith said. "I don't recommend crossing the border at all. I'll never go back again."


I have never, nor will I ever have any desire to go into Mexico or even Baja. :mad:

[tricky_micky]

OK

No problems on that none from hereLOL

[Bora20]

hmmm, didn't get the right paperwork and paid the price. ****ty deal, but that is the way it goes.

[bygdawg]

Of course, I never drive across. I always take a taxi to the international bridge and then walk across. I don't carry a ton of cash with me when I go across either, but I've never had any problems. I'd go back again. Although, it's probably not smart to go across with a $30,000 vehicle or a nice bike for that matter. They drive like maniacs over there. There's a little place called Tequilla Derby just across the border from El Paso. The cover is $10.00 and the drinks are free all night. (This includes mixed drinks as well as beer). I had a blast at that place. :bow1:

[vintagemxr]

One of the guys on Adventure Rider.com bit it hard down in Mexico very recently. Here's a snippet of his experience in the hospital as he lay there with a broken back (yes...he's paralyzed now) :

"When I got to the hospital in Mexico, I asked them to go on the internet for the number to my Med Jet Assist insurance, to provide me with medical transport back home. The hospital did not have internet. I asked them to make a phone call but they wouldn’t let me unless I gave them money to go buy a phone card. I gave the guy the about $40 US in pesos I had in my pocket, he took forever to get the card, and I was finally able to contact my mother for about a five minute call. When I asked to make another call, the man refused until I gave him more money, so I directed him to a $100 US bill I had hidden in my wallet. This bought me about another five minutes to Med Jet Assist. After that, I wasn’t allowed any more calls, and was generally ignored. Simple requests were refused for no apparent reason, and I would sometimes spend long periods saying, “Por favor?” while lying on my back in the hall, until one of the many hospital staff around would decide to stop ignoring me for a moment. I want you all to know about this, because if I hadn’t had that insurance, something even more horrible may have happened to me."

Link to the message thread there:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136505&page=3

A great trip ended in a terrible way, happens on this side of the border too, of course, but here I don't think you have to give people $140 so you could make a phone call or two to your family.

I've lived in the Southwest most of my life and have visited Mexico on occassion. Have not felt much need to go there for a long time now.

[wb5tty]

I think we should treat all the illegal mexicans who sneak over here the same way. If they don't have the $56,000 they can work it off doing community service while they pay for their jail cell to sleep in. Also we take all of their property they have gotten while over here illegally. We should use their law as our model to the letter. Sure they would be good with that since it is their law. :eek:

[DataHawk]

Interesting article.......
Nightmare
in Mexico
Texas border vacation turns into
costly ordeal for Limestone deputy

I've traveled to Mexico a couple times this year to visit the dentist. If you stay in the border towns near the border you don't have any problems. They want the US money so they don't want to cause problems for the tourists.
The town I visit you see more Americans than Mexicans
The only time I ride across the border is during the yearly border to border ride and then it is usually for less than 2 minutes. Everyone has been very friendly and helpful.

[CrashTestDanny]

Been there many times and every time, if you want to work with any official - like to get all that paperwork in order to go into the interior - you have to bribe the officials or wait an unreasonably long period of time. With the way Fox runs (well, fails to run, really) that place, I have no desire to go back.

[Jamie Z]

I'm planning a ride to Mazatlán in July. These stories don't phase me. I could dig up just as many terrible stories about travel in the US as well, or any other place.

Entering Mexico, or any other country, without proper papers is a bad idea. I once had a somewhat scary encounter in Moldova when we stepped into Moldovan territory for just a few minutes to share a beer and say we'd been there. Although it was a remote farming area, we had, I think, six uniformed officials standing in mud questioning us. Finally one guy with some sense agreed that we were harmless and told us to go.

Traveling in unfamiliar areas requires lots of sense and quick thinking, and small risk of problems. For many, that's the draw.

Jamie

[Ken]

Went once. Won't go back. All the precautions and quick wits in the world won't save you against one of the most corrupt governments in the world. You take your life in your own hands in most third world countries. If I want to ride out of the country I take the north border to Canada, thank you! :)

[BigTom]

Jeeze, I have never had a problem. I go probably once a month, mostly just to a border town. I have friends that live there....

I've never had any problem getting a Turista Card, either. You get the paper work at the Turista office, then you go to the bank to pay for it. To keep the workers from ripping you off.

It is probably slower than the same process going the other way (You'd best have your tourist visa before you get to the US, though), and if you have a passport, it is pretty quick.

Remember, the US and Canada have an 'open border' policy, nearly unique in the world. Isn't the same, isn't supposed to be. I do note that everything is in Spanish in Mexico, no 'bi-lingual' problems, there.

[STeveGray]

A Sheriffs Deputy from Texas does not know that he needs papers to travel more than 25 kilometers into Mexico. He was not ripped off he was fined for being criminally STUPID.

I wouldn't phrase it quite like that but, to go into a foreign country without a clue as to their requirements isn't real smart. Anyone who has the hubris to think that another country either does or should operate just like ours simply isn't paying attention.

My youngest daughter and I did about 1500 miles through Mexico on my ST about 3 years ago. Yes we got tourist visas, yes we got a temporary import permit for the motorcycle, yes we had Mexican insurance on the bike, yes, we were stopped at checkpoints periodically, no we didn't have any problems. I went to a Mexican consulate here before I left to get information on everything I'd need.

What's the point of traveling if all you're going to get is a duplicate of what's here except the geography and architecture?

[Horst]

I don't think it's that cut-n-dried ....

Thousands of Canadian tourists go there every year and come back safely ... two did not as was widely covered a few months ago ... been to Tijuana, Mexico City, and Mazatlan without incident.

Small border towns may be different, for sure ... but I think Baja is still on my list of places to do, especially on a bike.

Get Clem Salvadori's book ... :)

:biker:

[bygdawg]

I still like Juarez. It's a place you can get into trouble or not get into trouble. Most of the time the decision is yours either way. :)

[Louie Louie]

I lived In Mexico City when my Dad was working for a Dutch Co.. I know the culture and country.. Its is not a good time to go. I would like to cruise to Rosarito but simply wont. Its getting nasty in TJ. The upcoming election will cause unrest.
Stay away frtom Mexico for now!!

[texxter]

I have been to Mexico by car a dozen times, always into the deep interior. I have had minor hassles *every* time, from bribes to long car inspections. But I have never felt afraid or had a major problem. Thankfully I never had a car wreck, or broke the law, so I guess I was lucky. One thing that helps quite a bit is to speak the language, which I do - I deal with corrupt cops politely and normally talk myself out of situations for $20 or less. I have enjoyed my adventures in Mexico very much! It's sad that places like Mexico D.F. and other cities are plagued with crime these days...

Breaking the law in Mexico and being a non-Spanish speaking American is a recipe for disaster. Even a minor car accident will land you in jail, they say. Mexico is not an easy place to navigate if you don't speak the language and don't know the rules. But if you have some common sense, understand the people and how things work, and are a bit lucky, you can have a great experience driving or riding in the interior of Mexico. It's a beautiful country.

These days I fly there with my children, I rent a car and travel for days with preschoolers, and I never have anything other than minor annoyances. I do understand that some people get in serious trouble, and neither my experience nor theirs is universal.

I totally understand some people not wanting to go there... it can be dangerous.

[Simmons1]

I spent 2 weeks a month for 2 years in Mexico setting up a factory in a fairly large interior city.

Never had a problem any where any time in the all time I spent there. I stayed in a variety of Hotels at first and then had an apartment when I was going there every other week.

People drive pretty crazy compared to here so not many of the people from the US I was working with would drive there. I had access to either a car or the company van. I had no problems driving, went through a few road blocks, dropped people off and picked them at the airport etc. In fact I was the first one to have drive the company car. I drove it for 2 weeks with no plates. All I had was letter written in Spanish from where we bought the car. No problems, none.

My Spanish consists of being able to order a beer, ask for the check and point to something on a menu.

Except for the language barrier, I lived and interacted as though I lived there.

I think if you go to any other country except maybe Canada, and you can't speak the language and have an I am an American, I better than you attitude you are asking for trouble.

[motorcyclelarry]

I have been going to mainland and Baja for over 25 years now, spent a month in a small village south of Guadalajara and left a $100,000.00 boat in La Paz Baja for 1 1/2 years. Never had a problem once. Two weeks ago I drove my bike to Bay of LA in Baja and went through all the military check points and all and no problem.

Once in Mex. I was extorted 40 bucks for a bogus speeding ticket but that's Mexico. My older daughter when she was 7 got a very nasty cut in her leg from a faulty pool ladder in Loreto and the hospital we went to stitched her up fine. The scar is still nasty but that is because they use one type of suture in Mexico and don't try and cosmeticly make it look good. You may have spoke with her she works for me now (Jenny) and is leaving to go to Cancun in 2 weeks. I have no worry except maybe from Hurricanes for one major reason. She doesn't drink almost at all and is very polite to people in authority. If she was like I was when I was 22 I would not let her go.

Larry
MCL

[BlackKnight]

I have been to Mexico at least 30 times, the last time in 2004 with 3 friends , we stayed in a very small village about 200 miles in from Eagle Pass, one of my friends decided to go and have a few drinks, he never came back.

3 days looking for him and asking everybody in town if they saw an American 6.4 250lbs with blonde hair. We found him in a hospital badly beaten to the extent of brain damage.

Long story short, it only takes one time out of 100, so to those who enjoy Mexico good luck

P.S. Friend did not remember incident, took two weeks to have him moved to US medical care.

One of the worst times in my life.

[g17]

funny thing, all those mexicans wanting to cross the border to get into the US and we have folks wanting to go there to sight see. BTW, good luck to them on getting the insurance to pay for the vehicle.

[Polovision]

Another reason I never cross the boarder.

[Hayduke]

I've traveled extensively in Mexico, and ridden my ST- Planning another long trip in Oct. Never had a problem and it is a wonderful country. I'm actually glad most most Norte Americano's are scared to go- more great riding and experiences for me. :a13:

Don't go to Mexico. Live in a bubble- it'd be even safer. geez...

;)

[Ken]

Don't go to Mexico. Live in a bubble- it'd be even safer. geez...;)
Thank goodness it's a huge bubble...

[sherob]

This thread was started to warn about riding in Mexico... let's keep it that way. There is no need for any kind of racial overtones or stereotyping!

Thanks!

[Polovision]

We have members from Canada...do we have any from Mexico?

[Mellow]

We have members from Canada...do we have any from Mexico?

No but we do have members from a hispanic background, such as myself. :D :eek:

[sherob]

No but we do have members from a hispanic background, such as myself. :D :eek:

Portuguese here ;) :eek:

[Coop]

I've eaten alot of chips and salsa can I be an honorary hispanic? My ancestors came from a part of Europe where men wear skirts and frankly, I don't think I could ever learn to walk in heels. LOL!!

[illzoni]

If you're at all uneasy about exploring Mexico, explore the United States.

My somewhat limited overseas travel have highlighted one fact for me...
The United States is tremendously diverse in itself. You don't have to leave the country to experience a full breadth of climate, terrain, ecology, history, culture, etc. Enjoy it!

[EdsST]

I made it into Mexico near Del Rio - stayed a whole 45 seconds - it cost me $2 to leave the USA and $2.20 to leave Mexico. When I came back across the border the and the Border Patrol asked me how long I had been in Mexico, when I said 45 seconds she looked at me - then ran a license plate check on me:p:

[mayner]

Sorry to here so many folks have had problems in Mexico. I have found that if you have all your ducks in line things will tend to go smoother, but, you never know.

I've driven my car and my bikes down there and never had a problem other than getting lost one or two times. I also make sure I have everything I'm supposed to have as well.

Are there corrupt cops and other "professionals"? Yup. Do these corrupt buttholes outnumber the good folks down there? No. Nice, firendly people far outnumber the bad ones.

The safest way to experience Mexico is with a reputable tour group, and there are many of those. It's a lot better down there now than it was 20 to 30 years ago.

[STumpy]

I have also been to Mexico many times and without problem. The worst case I ever had was once we hit a road block. Federales were stopping all vehicles and asking if they had firearms. We said no, and they told us we might want to consider going back to town and purchase one! :eek:

Apparently the roads south of the road block were in control of banditos and they were advising all travellers that once you pass that point, your on your own.

We did anyway and never saw anything or had any problems. However a few years later my partner's wife was returning from Honduras, where she was visiting family, with their son. She was stopped at the border and was told that she and the boy had a disease. For about $3000 they would let them go. This was in Mexicali. Fortunately we have friends in Mexicali, and placed a couple of calls. They were released within 24 hours.

It's hit or miss. I think most of the time it is ok though. I have relatives in Argentina, and I think they are more screwy their than Mexico. :hyp1: