Job Discussion Forums

[jfurgers]

Do any of you living in DF have a vehicle with tinted windows? I bought a 98 van that I'll be driving into Mexico with and the windows are tinted. The driver and passenger windows are OK. We can be seen, but the rest of the windows are pretty dark and I've heard that we won't have any problems and I've also heard that we may get stopped a lot.

What say you?

[scottmx81]

Technically, tinted windows are against the reglamentos de transito of many states. So for having tinted windows is a legitimate reason for you to be pulled over by the traffic police officers. In my opinion confusion over this issue is behind some or many of the old "a corrupt traffic cop pulled me (or my friend, or a friend of a friend) over and hit me up for money for no reason at all!" type stories that we've all heard. But I've checked it out in the actual reglamentos de transito of several states, and it is definitely something that you can be fined for. Probably, if you keep your cool and don't go accusing the cop of corruption over it, he'll let you go after he takes a quick peek inside and has a short chit chat with you. In a country where it is not an uncommon occurrence for carloads of hit men to travel around armed to the teeth, it is understandable that tinted windows can be seen as a security threat.

[Snowmeow]

They must be very brave cops, to be willing to take sneak peaks into carloads of hitmen armed to the teeth

Sorry, just had to say that

P.S. Are these not uncommon carloads of hitmen known to take foreign hostages?

[dixie]

[jfurgers]

Thanks for the info all.We're thinking about taking the tint off before we leave but we're not sure. Anyone ever drive to DF with the starting point being Neavo Laredo? Any good highways around there?

[Samantha]

http://www.cityoflaredo.com/LCVB/crossing.html

[TheLongWayHome]

Take the tint off. Many of my students have been fined for having tinted windows out here in the sticks (SLP).

[MELEE]

Texas actually has fairly strick laws about tinted windows (my dad was stopped there once for this ) so if it's legal there...

[Prof.Gringo]

[Guy Courchesne]

[Phil_K]

I did hear about 2 Scots that had this experience, but as has been mentioned before, statistically Mexicans are a more likely target...

...maybe 'cos statistically there are more Mexicans than foreigners!!!

Can't be too careful though.

[Snowmeow]

I don't want to derail the OP's topic and I'm probably making more work for the moderator, but I see now that this sort of crime is mentioned specifically in the Travel Advisory for Mexico by both the US and Canada. I'll quote Canada's since I'm Canadian.

http://www.voyage.gc.ca/dest/report-en.asp?country=184000
Kidnappings

Kidnappings occur frequently in large urban areas. The most common practice involves thieves working in cooperation with, or posing as taxi drivers. The thieves force victims to withdraw money from ATMs with their debit or credit cards in exchange for their release. Kidnappers target both the wealthy and middle class. Foreigners are not specifically targeted.

Theft
Thefts occur regularly. You should dress down, avoid wearing or carrying expensive jewellery, and carry only small amounts of cash. In resort areas, leave your passport and valuables in your hotel safe, not in your hotel room or on the beach while you are swimming.

You should withdraw or exchange money at Automated Banking Machines (ABMs) or exchange bureaus (casas de cambio) during daylight hours only, and inside shops and malls rather than on the street. Keep your credit card in sight when paying.

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It's good to know that Guy doesn't know any foreign workers who have experienced this, because I figure Guy knows a ton of people