Job Discussion Forums

[Samantha]

More words to the wise after seeing this scenerio a time or two. Always ask to be taken to hospital immediately (based on what your injuries may be) from the scene of the accident because the foreigner is generally ALWAYS is found at fault and the alternative Saraswati describes is unpleasant. The situation will almost always be sorted out with you in a hospital room rather than the less attractive holding area Saraswati describes. Here there is a police guard placed at the door, and that's okay.

We not long ago saw an American friend through this when he hit a pedestrian on his moto (a local woman walked out from the front of bus into his path - no crosswalk - no intersection). He skidded, fell and hurt himself. The traffic police clearly intended to fault him from the get-go, and impounded his bike and kept an eye on him in hospital until friends rallied and ponied up the money her family demanded.

Another American friend who was a passenger in a vehicle that ran a stop sign got held for Judge's decision. She had not been driving, but she did have a broken ankle. She sat for hours in pain without medical treatment as the case was decided. And here, yes, they are ugly holding cells for the 72 hour waiting period. The big house (main jail) is something else! And the Immigration jail is yet another pit-stop for some "lucky" foreigners. On the bright side people get fed better tacos there.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[saraswati]

The other party in the accident was an off-duty policeman on his motorcycle. He dented my car, barely, so there was no way I could even pretend to be injured. The cop hopped off his bike as he laid it down but he claimed to have been injured. What really was "injured" was his bike. One of the side-view mirrors was damaged.

[Ben Round de Bloc]

[scottmx81]

Mexican president acknowledges human rights abuses of Central and South American migrants
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/mexico/20061213-1321-mexico-migration.html

In case anyone still wasn't convinced......

[cummings93]

Goldrush-if you are still in need of a fm-t
Go now to the Palacio Federal in Gaudalajara (I beleive it on 16th de Septiembre) and prepare for alot of a pain in the a$$. If you are still in Guadalajara that is.
Also, don't lie and say you lost it or something. Just tell them straight up you were never given a toursit visa.
This happened to me and it sucked. I hope your experience is easier.
BTW-it is on the 4th floor.
Best of luck.
I think it was like 40 pesos.

[cangringo]

Story about the visa situation...

We drove down to Monterrey from Vancouver after doing our research and knew that we had to pay a deposit for the car and get our tourist visas. Unfortunately we didn't have a clue where to do this in Reynosa and we were green lighted on the way in. We kept driving knowing full well we were supposed to have papers but unsure of where to get them. Anyway got to the military checkpoint and were stopped because of the vehicle. Luckily we just got turned back and then stopped on the other side while men with guns started searching the van. They quickly realized that with all the crap we had stuffed in there it was going to be a very long process and told us to go on. We got back to Reynosa and while sitting in line for the border again noticed a sign for vehicle permits - trying to turn around once in line was a bitch - and went in the right direction. With the grace of god we finally found the official office to get our visas, permit and car insurance. It was rather frightening, being the first time I've ever been stopped by Mexican military but it was all fine afterwards. We did know full well that it was our fault and were apologetic and very nice to the military men and everything was fine.

[scottmx81]

Stopping and talking to the military and even being searched by them is normal and nothing to worry about. The military are the good guys -- it's only the municipal cops you need to worry about.

I don't know why you would go back to get in line at the border again. But I guess once you know the drill, it will be easy and pretty much the same next time, no matter where you do it. I've gotten car permits at Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo and Reynosa, and the process is pretty much the same everywhere. The first 20 or so kms in from the border are the free zone, and people in this area have lower taxes, lower gas prices, lower vehicle prices, etc., and a tourist card isn't necessary for short visits to these border regions.

So it is set up the way it is because a very significant amount of the visitors coming in across the land borders don't need to get these papers at all for their short trips. All things considered, the system really isn't that bad.

[cangringo]

We only got back in line at the border because we didn't know where to get all the papers and we couldn't see an office anywhere - we knew it wasn't right but thought we could at least ask there. We were very stressed at the time

Now we know the drill so it's ok and the ya the military checkpoint was fine but it's the first time I've been through that sort of thing.

The transitos are the bad ones here, you get pulled over for 1 km over the speed limit if you have out of country plates and well, one of the bribes cost us way more than it should have. We now know what to say but the first few times we had no idea. You may say but you could have just paid the ticket - but they kept trying to take our papers and we didn't know what else to do because everyone says dont' let them take your papers. Anyway we are more careful and we have the code to use now - also photocopied driver's license. Oh and the reason for getting pulled over was the damn school zones, there are thousands here I swear and at first it was hard to see them because we were too busy trying to get around the city.