Is Mexico Safe?

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by McFoil

I got hassled in Mazatlan in 2011 by a municipal cop for carring a locking folder. It was going to be a shakedown no matter what I had on me, but he was particularly interested in making a big deal out of the knife. Said it was a "big problem". Lots of talk about getting in the car and going down down to take care of this, "big problem". Wait......wait.........here it comes........"or, I could just pay the fine to him and he would handle the paperwork." and I did. Then the cop gives me back the knife, a couple of lefties I had on me and tells me to carry my knife in my crotch area, because the cops don't like to check there. Same trip, my ridding buddy bought a big ole machete and rode all around Mexico with it strapped to his sidecase. We went through several military checks with not a word said.

Been told by Mexican attorney that it's not a crime to have it on you, but if your carring during the commission of a crime, everything gets bumped up to the Mexican version of a felony.

I think I'll still carry, the damn things are too useful.

What's a lefty, Amigo? A joint?

If that's the case then you probably just validated my post of my experience en Mazatlan A decade ago ;)

Trice and Mike are right. Small pocket knife probably isn't an issue but of you are obviously carry for defense or especially assault then you might have trouble.

Two more data points:

* on that Mazatlan trip one of the rent a cops in the Golden Zone (tourist area) was openly carrying a large knife. I asked him about that and his comment to me was that a gun might get you several years in jail but a large knife was only 6 months

* one of the Mexican guys that posts here who shall remain nameless carries several BIG knives in a top case in what looks like a kitchen knife block. They go camping and use them for camping. Those guys are a bit more savvy than I am but they have a logical reason for carrying a set of Arkansas Toothpicks ;)

Comparable to this but without the ugly orange:

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by SchizzMan

Pretty good idea you got there for copying the passport. Think I'll adopt that one myself.

Data points:

* Photocopying your documents and hiding your originals was the advice given to RVer's and such a decade ago. It's probably a very good idea.

* I do know a character from my times in the RGV that had his passport taken away from him by two big guys that barged into his hotel room in Mexico City. They took his passport and told him to leave the country immediately.

Now, Joey a/k/a Jose is the stereotypical crooked businessman and bar owner and owes money to half of Hildalgo County, and was, I am confident, doing strictly business in Mexico without the proper visa, something that I have been warned repeatedly will get you in trouble if you don't comply. But it does happen.

* Dirty little secret, and don't spread it around, but as recently as last December I crossed into the USA without a passport. Mexico is requiring anyone outside the border zones to have a passport, and the US *expects* you to have a passport or a passport card, so get one. But if your passport is lost or stolen you can still get back in if you have US government issued ID.

[SchizzMan]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

Data points:

* Photocopying your documents and hiding your originals was the advice given to RVer's and such a decade ago. It's probably a very good idea.

Been doing same for 10+ years myself. Both soft and hard copies. But not laminating a color copy of my passport picture page and presenting that instead of the actual passport. New trick for this old dog.

* Dirty little secret, and don't spread it around, but as recently as last December I crossed into the USA without a passport. Mexico is requiring anyone outside the border zones to have a passport, and the US *expects* you to have a passport or a passport card, so get one. But if your passport is lost or stolen you can still get back in if you have US government issued ID.

Probably less of a secret among savvy travelers than just a point some don't want to publicize. I, for one, won't cross the border with anyone lacking a passport. Getting your papers "in order" is way too easy and the potential hassles are pointless.

[MikeMike]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

last December I crossed into the USA without a passport.

The solution is...don't leave, just stay!

[tricepilot]

[McFoil]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

What's a lefty, Amigo? A joint?

If that's the case then you probably just validated my post of my experience en Mazatlan A decade ago ;)

Trice and Mike are right. Small pocket knife probably isn't an issue but of you are obviously carry for defense or especially assault then you might have trouble.

Two more data points:

* on that Mazatlan trip one of the rent a cops in the Golden Zone (tourist area) was openly carrying a large knife. I asked him about that and his comment to me was that a gun might get you several years in jail but a large knife was only 6 months

* one of the Mexican guys that posts here who shall remain nameless carries several BIG knives in a top case in what looks like a kitchen knife block. They go camping and use them for camping. Those guys are a bit more savvy than I am but they have a logical reason for carrying a set of Arkansas Toothpicks ;)

Comparable to this but without the ugly orange:

Happy to be a "bad example". again.

[tricepilot]

[tricepilot]

[PirateJohn]

Schizz, I missed the part about laminating a copy. Not a bad idea. Although - and this is just a hunch - most modern color copiers have software that will do various things if you try to copy money. Sometimes they shut down until a tech is called and sometimes they keep records. So I have to wonder if there will be issues with color copying a passport.

When I was in the RGV I thought that I had lost my passport and that's how I found out about the loopholes in the system. Then again, I am a regular crosser at several ports of entry and I suspect that when they scanned my driver's license the guy immediately saw a steady history. Someone who hasn't crossed for 25 years may well be detained until they determine whether they are citizens or not.

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by MikeMike

The solution is...don't leave, just stay!

Trust me Mike, if I could figure out a way to accumulate $$$ as quickly in Mexico as I am doing out here in the Texas desert I'd be there. I am really hoping that I can spend some time in the Costa Esmerelda or Poza Rica, perhaps in January.

You guys go riding in the mountains. I am going to sit by the ocean, write, and stagger to the cantinas and get fat(ter) on grilled lobster ;)

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by McFoil

Happy to be a "bad example". again.

That's usually my role around here - the seamy underbelly of vice and border towns ;)

[tricepilot]

I and the Schizzman had wonderful tacos in Cuetzalan, prepared by the skilled hands of this woman.

[tricepilot]

UPS Man stopped by for our man SR and left some goodies at Casa Tricepilot:

[SR]

Excelente! Those will work! I bet it's starting to feel like Christmas over at Casa Trici!.

Now I just have to figure out how to sneak them past the Mexican Aduana.

[acejones]

Originally Posted by PirateJohn

Schizz, I missed the part about laminating a copy. Not a bad idea. Although - and this is just a hunch - most modern color copiers have software that will do various things if you try to copy money. Sometimes they shut down until a tech is called and sometimes they keep records. So I have to wonder if there will be issues with color copying a passport.

When I was in the RGV I thought that I had lost my passport and that's how I found out about the loopholes in the system. Then again, I am a regular crosser at several ports of entry and I suspect that when they scanned my driver's license the guy immediately saw a steady history. Someone who hasn't crossed for 25 years may well be detained until they determine whether they are citizens or not.

No issues color copying a passport. I've done it many times.