Howard wrote:
> "JerryB" wrote in message
> news:1143262049.507744.12510@g10g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> > Just returned from my annual trip to Mexico driving over 6000 miles
> > this time. Most of the stories you hear about driving in Mexico have
> > been going around for ever and most have no relavence for the past 20
> > years including banditos, cattle, morditos, most foods etc. One
> > exception being I still do not recommend driving at night unless you
> > know the road, not because of banditos, but poor markings when the road
> > is in disrepair and the unmarked Topes (speed bumps).
> >
> > Oddly enough I haven't paid a mordida in many years until I arrived in
> > Acapulco three weeks ago and had to pay two morditos in a 30 minute
> > period. Needless to say I moved on to other venues.
> >
> > Most of the highway along the Pacific coast are very good in the north
> > as most sections offer toll road options, but less toll roads and the
> > general disrepair as you go south of Mazatlan. Busses are an option as
> > the bus system in Mexico is excellent.
> >
> > If you take your car, get the mexican insurance before entering the
> > country. Just google
> > Mexico auto insurance and shop around. You will also need to have some
> > proof of ownership and if the car has a loan something from the bank,
> > Check with the local Mexican consulate prior to travel. When you enter
> > the country you will post a bond at the banjercito via a credit card.
> > The bond is to assure you will return with the car. The bond is aorund
> > $15, not $400 as someone else quoted.
> >
> > Expect to take at least four long days driving time.
>
> I think all the old hands would agree that driving at night in Mexico is not
> for the uninitiated. I think too, that as we give advice to the newbies we
> all prefer to err on the side of caution.
I like the sound of that.
I tend to go that rout with all things all the time.
Makes for a more harmonious outcome. ;-)
>While I feel I know where I can
> drive at night I wouldn't recommend that a newbie do it. Keep in mind that
> on any given day in mexico there are probably a few thousand gringos driving
> around the country. 95% of them will return home incident free, perhaps
> having paid a mordida here or there for an infraction real or imagined.
Well, replace mordida with fine, and I get worse odds then that just
driving in Tulsa Oklahoma USA ;-)
> (Though I already stated that every time I've paid a mordida in the last
> twenty years , I EARNED IT !) That would include speeding, driving in the
> left lane ( which is posted, "for passing only", one way street
> violation,illegal U turn, and last but not least, entering the DF with a
> lisence plate that was not allowed to circulate that day! (US $100.) Guilty
> as hell every time.....most cost US $20.
How does one go about handling this sort of thing.
Do I make an offer of something like $5 and let him bid me up?
Do I ask him if I can just pay him a "fine" and let him tell me what it
would be?
This entire concept would get me stuck in jail if I even considered it
in USA, so I have no clue how to approach it in Mexico where it is
standard operating procedure.
>Also of that group of thousands,
> there are liable to be a couple of horror stories. But its not always becuse
> you're an American, its simply the odds. A similar number of Mexican
> travelers would probably yield almost identical numbers.
Actually, I know of some small Oklahoma towns where anyone, regardless
of where they came from (so long as they did not live in that town)
would get hassled as soon as they were seen.
So, this sounds pretty much like standard operating procedure to me,
other then the mordida stuff.
>So, newbies, if
> some of us seem overly cautious its because we would be remiss if we told
> you simply to "go for it" without at least some stern warnings, but at the
> same time I doubt that any of us would tell you don't do it. In my case at
> least, I guess its a case of "Don't do what I do, do what I tell ya".
This sounds great to me.
I prefer to be a little cautious and get pleasantly surprised, rather
then not cautious and get the shock of my life. ;-)
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