Interesting article about possible issues facing tourists in Mexico..

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Bitten by the mordida in Mexico :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Travel

Not really the kind of publicity that Mexico needs as they try to recover from a horrible year for the tourism industry, but some very interesting info and advice if you plan on traveling there in the near future..

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I've never been stopped when driving in Mexico, but bribery is pretty widespread- not just with the police. Funny tho- I am more afraid of the police there than anyone else on the street. This problem has been around for a long time, and the best way to avoid it in Cancun is to use the local public transportation system of buses and cabs. It may also be that the west coast has more of a problem as occurrences are not widespread in the Cancun area.

[brother coony Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close brother coony]

My cousin and I was driving up to Canada in up state New York a couple of years ago,we stop to have some coffee, then pull out of the parking lot, the car could not have been upto 35 miles per hour, when we were pull over and given a ticket for doing 65 in a 55, on our way back from Canada we stop at the address on the ticket, it was a regular house,knock on the door, guy came to the door, we explain why we were there, and if we were at the correct place, guy says yes,look at the ticket, says $95.00 and nothing will be on your license, paid it and nothing ever showed up on my cousin's drivers license, we know it was a scam, but fighting would cost us time and a lot more Money

[regatta333 Member Find all posts View Profile Close regatta333]

We were scammed in just such a manner on a trip to Cancun in 2006. We were well aware of this problem and my husband was extremely careful about staying within the speed limit. On the night before we were to return home, we were on our way back to the resort after a long and tiring drive and my husband was passing a truck which blocked a sign posting a sudden decrease in the speed limit. Even though he was only driving 2-3 mph above the speed limit, we were pulled over and the motorcycle cop demanded what would have amounted to a $500 fine. After much back and forth, we finally handed over $50 in pesos and were on our way.

That was the final straw in a week of numerous attempted scams, from employees at the resort attempting to get us to pay in cash (at a cashless resort) for activities that were free, to gas station attendants attempting to get away with giving us the wrong change. We will NEVER vacation in Mexico again.

[davhu1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close davhu1]

My cousin and I was driving up to Canada in up state New York a couple of years ago,we stop to have some coffee, then pull out of the parking lot, the car could not have been upto 35 miles per hour, when we were pull over and given a ticket for doing 65 in a 55, on our way back from Canada we stop at the address on the ticket, it was a regular house,knock on the door, guy came to the door, we explain why we were there, and if we were at the correct place, guy says yes,look at the ticket, says $95.00 and nothing will be on your license, paid it and nothing ever showed up on my cousin's drivers license, we know it was a scam, but fighting would cost us time and a lot more Money

In the early 80's brother-in-law of my brother drove thru a small town in SC for going 5 miles above the speed limit. He was stopped and they took away his driver license. He had to see the judge in the courthouse in an hour to pay a fine and get his license back. Courthouse was the someone's house. The guy who answer the door was supposed to be the judge. When he said he did not have the money to pay the fine, he was put in jail "the bathroom", until he paid the $100 fine.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

In the 60's there were several "speed trap" towns on the southern east coast to Florida roads. The advent of the interstate and reports in the news pretty much wiped them out. I remember a town in Florida where they would change the traffic light manually in order to collect fines.

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

Same thing in North Florida...

In the 60's there were several "speed trap" towns on the southern east coast to Florida roads. The advent of the interstate and reports in the news pretty much wiped them out. I remember a town in Florida where they would change the traffic light manually in order to collect fines.

The original post wasn't intended to bash Mexico, but rather provide some information to help others avoid what I hope are rare instances.

Perhaps I'm just lucky, but I've been in Mexico several times and I've never experienced the problems reported here.. Each time I found the resort employees extremely professional and courteous, and when I went into the cities I found them very similar to every other tourist trap! I won't hesitate to return in the future...

There are always individuals who are looking to take advantage of someone.. Unfortunately, that's just a fact of life.. It should be expected that some of those work as police officers.

I grew up in a very small town in North Florida where tourists were often targeted for traffic citations.. US441 went through the middle of town (the only stoplight in the city limits).. The city police force consisted of two, and they paid for the department by focusing traffic citations on out of state traffic.

I don't believe they ever lied or trumped up charges, but a tourist who went just a few mph over the limit was certain to be ticketed.. Locals did not have the same concern.

Hopefully, the public exposure of these issues will create added pressure for them to be corrected. Mexico's public image has been hammered over the last few years with crime and health reports, but the reality is that Mexico contains some of the most beautiful locations in the Americas and should remain a top vacation destination year after year!

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

We have been to Cancun 6 or 8 times, and only rented a car 1 time because my cousin was with us. (2007) I got stopped in the Hotel Zone for sppeding. I innocently mentioned to the officer that in Illinois we post our license or cash as a bond to ensure our payment of fine or appearance in court. After a short discussion, he gave me a small book, told me to put something in it ($60), and proceed to the next bus stop. He followed me, took the book, and returned my license.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

I've never been stopped when driving in Mexico, but bribery is pretty widespread- not just with the police. Funny tho- I am more afraid of the police there than anyone else on the street. This problem has been around for a long time, and the best way to avoid it in Cancun is to use the local public transportation system of buses and cabs. It may also be that the west coast has more of a problem as occurrences are not widespread in the Cancun area.

It is true that it is not as much of a problem in Cancun and the Riviera Maya. Several of our Mexican friends that live there tell us that the authorities try their best to protect the tourist from crime and corruption because tourism is their only industry.

We only talk about the tourists being victims, but the Mexican people are victims also. In fact in Cancun, the Mexican citizens are far more likely to be victims than the tourists.