Mordidas?

Mordidas?

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Have you paid one in Lakeside? If so why, what for, how much, and were you guilty of the offense? T.

Mar 4, 2011, 1:39 PM

Post #2 of 37 (1955 views)

Re: [T] Mordidas?

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Nope, I just insist on the ticket, after about the 3rd time you tell them they give up and say "no ticket today" with a big smile.
www.chapalaweather.net

Mar 4, 2011, 1:51 PM

Post #3 of 37 (1950 views)

Re: [stevebrtx] Mordidas?

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In Reply To

Nope, I just insist on the ticket, after about the 3rd time you tell them they give up and say "no ticket today" with a big smile.

You are talking strictly Lakeside, correct?

Mar 4, 2011, 2:31 PM

Post #4 of 37 (1929 views)

Re: [Bennie García] Mordidas?

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Yes, my post is directed to only folks that live in lakeside. T

Mar 4, 2011, 2:40 PM

Post #5 of 37 (1921 views)

Re: [T] Mordidas?

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I was asking Steve.

Mar 4, 2011, 2:44 PM

Post #6 of 37 (1917 views)

Re: [Bennie García] Mordidas?

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Yes you were. my oops. T. Please do not allow me to interject my thoughts into my post. Grin. t

Mar 4, 2011, 6:45 PM

Post #7 of 37 (1882 views)

Re: [Bennie García] Mordidas?

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In a word "yes". The parameters of the OP's post were quite unambiguous, I answered in kind.
www.chapalaweather.net

Mar 4, 2011, 6:57 PM

Post #8 of 37 (1877 views)

Re: [stevebrtx] Mordidas?

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Outside of the OP's parameters, do you refuse to pay a bribe?

Mar 4, 2011, 7:02 PM

Post #9 of 37 (1874 views)

Re: [Bennie García] Mordidas?

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You are off topic, ask a question re: the OP's post and I'll answer.
www.chapalaweather.net

cookj5

Mar 4, 2011, 7:15 PM

Post #10 of 37 (1869 views)

Re: [T] Mordidas?

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We have lived here just a bit less than 4 years. We own a car and drive regularly in the Lake Chapala area and also over a good bit of Mexico. Never been asked for a mordida here or anywhere else in Mexico. Once we had a Chapala cop who stopped us for a legitimate violation and suggested we might have to pay a large fine. I interpreted this as an indirect way of soliciting an "alternate solution". We didn't blink and said we'd be glad to pay the ticket. After making this clear, he let us go with no ticket--even though we were guilty of a violation. Every other police or other official we have encountered has dealt with us honestly and with a reasonable degree of efficiency. Are we having some sort of freaky luck in this? Perhaps, but I tend to think the mordida problem is grossly overstated these days, whatever the case may have been in the past.

Mar 4, 2011, 7:30 PM

Post #11 of 37 (1863 views)

Re: [stevebrtx] Mordidas?

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Ahhh, so only the question in the original post may be posed on this thread? Even though it is closely related?

T, can I ask if anyone has paid mordida outside of the Lakeside area on your thread?

Rolly

Mar 4, 2011, 8:19 PM

Post #12 of 37 (1844 views)

Re: [Bennie García] Mordidas?

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Ahhh, so only the question in the original post may be posed on this thread? Even though it is closely related?
T, can I ask if anyone has paid mordida outside of the Lakeside area on your thread?
Starting a thread does not give one ownership rights, nor the right to restrict responses.
While we would like to avoid hijacking, letting a thread wander a bit is often quite productive.
But most of all we want to avoid personal attacks and insults. Discuss the subject not the participants.

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

playaboy

Mar 5, 2011, 6:44 AM

Post #13 of 37 (1783 views)

Re: [Bennie García] Mordidas?

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Not at Lakeside, but I have paid Mordida many times. Each and every time it was for a traffic violation I deserved. I always thought it was cheaper to pay it now instead of at the police station. The simplicity of living in Mexico.

Gringal

Mar 5, 2011, 7:32 AM

Post #14 of 37 (1766 views)

Re: [playaboy] Mordidas?

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Never paid a mordida anywhere in Mexico, though there was one motorcycle cop in Lakeside who followed our CA plated pickup fairly frequently, looking for smog stickers and the windshield sticker. He looked a bit hungry, but I guess he never could find a good reason to pull us over...and didn't. That was the guy with the little mustachio. Haven't seen him around lately.

I think (?) it was on the local Chapala.com board and probably still in the archives, but "Intercasa" posted the list of fines for various violations. Waaay cheaper to pay the ticket in Chapala than the usual mordida. We copied the list and keep it in the car.

The only way the mordida system will reach a natural end is if people insist on the ticket.

Mar 6, 2011, 12:55 PM

Post #15 of 37 (1606 views)

Re: [cookj5] Mordidas?

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Thank you for your reply. I have been here six years and have had the same experiences as you. I have been stopped twice by the police. The first time, I was panic stricken and offered the officer 500 pesos. He became enraged and threatened me with jail time for bribing an officer of the law. I was shaking in my boots, had tears in my eyes and he sent me on my way telling me never to bribe a police officer. Lesson, well learned. T.

Mar 6, 2011, 1:00 PM

Post #16 of 37 (1604 views)

Re: [Bennie García] Mordidas?

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Bennie, you are absolutely welcome to start a topic of your own, but I want to know specifically about issues here, where I live, in Lakeside. Thanks for your understanding. T

Mar 6, 2011, 1:26 PM

Post #17 of 37 (1589 views)

Re: [Rolly] Mordidas?

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The reason that I started this topic is that I know of folks who have paid mordidas of 300 to 500 pesos. I will never pay a mordida. Ask for the folio. What I want all of you to know is that I got hit with a ticket for going the wrong way on a one way street. This is the highest fine possilbe for a traffic offense. The cost is 500 pesos, but reduced to 250 if paid within five days, which I did. Never, ever pay a mordida, take the ticket and pay it within five days.

By the way, your car will never be impounded for a traffic violation. . If you do not have a camera with you, when you are asked for a bribe, simply get out of your car with a pencil and paper in hand and start writing down the officer's badge number and the license plate number of his vehicle. I promise you that they will go into panic mode, wish you a nice day and will want to get the hell away from you as fast as possible.

Bennie, got my topic pretty much covered. Please post a new topic with your issues, which seem slightly different from mine and we will be there for you. T.

Mar 6, 2011, 4:45 PM

Post #18 of 37 (1556 views)

Re: [T] Mordidas?

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Is that you, Stuart Smalley?

Vichil

Mar 6, 2011, 4:53 PM

Post #19 of 37 (1554 views)

Re: [T] Mordidas?

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Your post sounds like a post from a person who has not much experience with the traffic police. People who brag to have never and will never pay a mordida remind me of people who say are great riders and never have fallen from a horse.

I can assure you that many cops I have met in Guadalajara amd Mexico City do not go into a panic mode. Some are experts at intimidation and getting money out of people. You just have not gone too far from home if you can write a post like you have.

I am not easily intimidated and can speak Spanish and can tell you some cops are very very convincing and do not take no for an answer.This said we have not been stopped once since we got a Mexican plated car 8 years ago.

The little moustached guy tried but I was ready for him so he backed off. It is way easier to fight back during the day and in your home turf.

(This post was edited by Vichil on Mar 6, 2011, 5:32 PM)

Mar 6, 2011, 5:40 PM

Post #20 of 37 (1540 views)

Re: [Vichil] Mordidas?

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This said we have not been stopped once since we got a Mexican plated car 8 years ago.

Surely you're not suggesting "profiling" here in MX - the dreaded stuff of gringos?
www.chapalaweather.net

Vichil

Mar 6, 2011, 7:09 PM

Post #21 of 37 (1511 views)

Re: [stevebrtx] Mordidas?

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Sorry Steve, I am not an American and not PC ... of course they are profiling, they work "smart" and go for the easy target and it is easier to push around people who are not likely to know their rights or speak the language. They do go after Mexicans too. Foreign plates are just their number one target.
Another one of their favorite target seems to be dark skinned people as indigenous will pay off to get rid off them quickly. I have quite a few indigenous fiends and it is shameful the cops are taking advantage of them. They are easy victims as well as they will pay rather than fight in the majority of cases.

Mar 6, 2011, 7:24 PM

Post #22 of 37 (1504 views)

Re: [Vichil] Mordidas?

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So, they're not only profiling, but racist as well? This will come as a great shock and disappointment to many on the forum I'm sure. This is in direct conflict with the dreaded 1070 law forbidding both.

Of course I was just "baiting you" to bring out what we all know happens here. The last time I was stopped it happened so quickly that the Federales could only have seen the MX flag front plate on my car and possibly my gray hair. Of course I had done nothing wrong and was happy to provide my "papers" which answered their interests completely - much I believe as would happen in AZ to anyone legally in the US.
www.chapalaweather.net

Mar 7, 2011, 1:21 PM

Post #23 of 37 (1427 views)

Re: [Vichil] Mordidas?

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I was stopped one time by State police. Do not remember what state, as I was on my way back to the border, as my tourist visa was about to expire. Was headed to McAllen to leave my car with friends and then fly to Orlando to visit other friends, then come back and drive down to Ajijic.

I was barreling down the road. Was going at least 90 mph. Hit a rise in the road and as soon as I hit the crest, saw the cop with a radar detector giving me the finger to pull over. Shit. I was guilty as hell. Had no idea that they really had radar detectors here, just thought they had bogus signs. I pulled over and the officer showed me what he had clocked me at on his detector. I figured he was right on, but feigned surpise.

He spoke no English, I spoke no Spanish. Then the fun began. At first, I thought he was telling me to get in the back seat of his patrol car, so I got out and headed for his vehicle. He screamed, no, no, no. I went back and got in my vehicle.

Then I decided that he wanted a mordida, so I pulled out 500 pesos and offered it to him. The screaming and yelling got louder and I think he was threatening to arrest me for bribery of a police officer, which we all know is a felony.

By this time I was quaking in my boots.

Finally, he got so frustrated at our inability to communicate, that he sent me on my way.

I have had a US plated car for the six years that I have lived in this fascinating country. I have never felt targeted. It surprises me for you to say that many of your dark skinned indigenous friends have been targeted. Based upon what little I know of the history of Mexico, dark skinned people are not known for their wealth

Our experiences have been very different. Glad I had mine. Sorry about yours

T.

Mar 7, 2011, 1:29 PM

Post #24 of 37 (1422 views)

Re: [stevebrtx] Mordidas?

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I was pulled over coming out of the airport last Sunday between the parking area and the highway. The PFP sit alongside the road just past the traffic circle. My vehicle is Mexican plated. There was another Mexican vehicle being checked out at the same time.

They also like to check the papers of foreign plated vehicles because probably 99% are what are called "chocolates" which are foreign plated vehicles that stayed long after their temp import permits are expired.

See! You ain't so special.

Mar 7, 2011, 2:12 PM

Post #25 of 37 (1410 views)