Mexican Police Pulled Me Over - How It SHOULD Work
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- Опубліковано 11 лют 2025
- Mexican police have a reputation for being corrupt. BUT, not all police are corrupt in Mexico. Being pulled over does not necessarily mean you are going to get shaken down. This video shows what is SUPPOSED to happen when the police pull you over in Mexico. This is a proper police stop ending with me getting a citation for running a stop sign.
I've heard lots of people who are afraid to drive in Mexico because they are worried about being asked for a bribe (mordida) by police. In this video I share some tips about how to stay clear of that situation - even if it means getting a traffic ticket.
I encourage you to watch this video by Qroo Paul about what to do if you get pulled over and experience police corruption while driving in Mexico: • How I Handle Police Co...
And if you're in La Paz, I've compiled a few documents you might find helpful:
1) The official traffic regulations for the municipality of La Paz, updated in 2022.
2) A table of traffic fines.
3) A simple English language overview of traffic laws.
almostretiredi...
Support this channel by buying me a margarita over at www.buymeacoff...
The Mexico Relocation Guide is the perfect resource for moving to Mexico. We've partnered with them and you can get the guide here: mexicorelocati...
Hi, interesting video. In mex when you get a ticket you have to give them your licence, then at the next day you pay and you get it back. It is not the same in USA/Canada? btw, if you dont have a licence you have to give your registration, or one of your plates... =/
btw, in some cities the officer do have a device, in his car so you can pay the ticket right there even with a credit card. There are some cities where you can pay at the oxxo too.
Thank you for sharing this! I guess the credit card machine feels pretty legit - I don't think a corrupt cop would want to leave a paper trail!
In the US they don't take your license (or registration / plates) but if you don't pay / show up in court to deny the offense, then they can arrest you. I think I like the Mexican system better.
I've had cops pull me over in USA for CA stop that's a tapped breaks at Stop I told him he had a nice behind flirted got out of it
I know people in Mexico stopped by teen cops and adult cops you offer water and chex mix they let you go what if they seize your car I'm seriously considering Mexico and you give me a concern as come on cop on ATV what about scams how do you know they are REAL cops
You also say it's easy to break traffic laws you should speak some Spanish the US has street signs in Spanish and about ALL paperwork phone calls for health ins etc Press 1 for Spanish 2 for English seems Mexico as I really love the people they don't like gringos
We are retired looking to move to Mexico but their govt is run by cartels and say I purchase property and the govt gets upset with the US they could kick you out take your property Where do you get back your 700 thousand or your paying US taxes it's your country or Mexico now BUT they could force you to pay Mexican income tax and you still have to pay US so that's allot 😢
Great video Brighton! Thanks for making people aware of how things work in Mexico.
Happy to share!
Totally awesome video. I appreciate all of the work that went into making this. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it! It was quite an experience. The video had to be approved by the police chief.
I’ve never seen a single person make a full stop in La Paz
Yep, same here. Not only that, I've seen drivers become impatient with those who do. Very interesting, and good cautionary note.
I got pulled over for slowing down too much when I rolled a stop sign. On Olachea near the little market.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico You know, I thought you had said that in one of your videos.
@@davidmalone9022 Yup - I didn't catch it on camera, but it happened ;-)
I agree. I will continue to come to a full stop but I do feel less safe when people are behind me and I am concerned they will not expect me to fully stop. At least if I annoy someone, I believe it is much less likely to be the victim of road rage, especially involving a gun, in La Paz versus AZ or TX.
You make excellent video content. That is why I subscribed. Keep up the great work 🙏🏼❤️
Welcome aboard!
My opinion as a guy that lives in La Paz and has been "caught" running a 4 way stop, and one other time passing in a no passing zone. If you are guilty... Make it easy on yourself. Ask how much you can pay the officer, so that he can pay the court for you. Accept that amount and sin no more. For expats 500 pesos is the general thought, but for Mexicans 200 is plenty. Frankly it is easier that way. BTW I have never been pulled over when I was innocent.
This works, but perpetuates the problem. I recommend asking for the ticket (most cops don’t even have a ticket book.) But in certain circumstances I’d pay the bribe too. Each person needs to decide for themselves.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Agreed. I know it is offensive to many americans to pay the police what they percieve as a bribe. I look at it differently. I do not offer to pay the police a bribe, that is incorrect and probably illegal. I request the police officer to do me a favor and pay the judge for me. What the officer does with the money is not my business. Also if I was not guilty I would not pay anything. For me it's the easy way to solve the problem and get back on the road again.
Last week I got pulled over outside of Puerto Vallarta. The cop said he would hold my license and I could get it back at the office when I pay the fine. I said I preferred to pay the fine now if I could, and $150 cash later I was on my way. This is not the first time something like that has happened in Mexico, but that was more expensive than usual. 😂
Please tell me that was pesos! I’ve heard most cops (at least here in La Paz) will accept $200 pesos to clear things up on the spot. But I’ve also heard of lots of tourists paying $200USD on the highway to Cabo.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico US dollars. The cop became so relaxed and happy after I gave him the cash. We fist-bumped at the end of our happy chat. A friend says he brings an extra drivers license when he goes to Mexico and he doesn’t mind the cops keeping it.
This is the "real" scenario. I got stopped passing through a border town. He was saying $1000 fine(speeding). I switched to Spanish, things got better, I said I was in a hurry, and can I just give him the 500 peso fine so I could get going. It was all good. AND before you do-gooders criticize, my time is worth more than going to police station and paying. I would rather that police officer got the money than the city. I got a 70-55 speeding ticket in California. By the time I was done with on line traffic school, on line payment, every person in California adding a tax, my ticket was $400+. Let me give the Mexican Cop $100 and let me get on my way, money well spent. Usually when you get stopped, you have done something. Speeding, rolling stop, etc.
Please don't do that you gotta help us break the cycle
Great video Brighton. In all my Mexican driving I have never been stopped... Just a matter of time as I love the 'rolling stops' in La Paz.
I would love to see a video about Google translate. I recently had dinner with my Mexican hosts - she was using Google Assistant to translate (not the app) and the English translation was terrible. I wonder how accurate the English to Spanish app is for accuracy?
Crossing my fingers for your continued luck with the “La Paz stop.”
That’s a great idea about Google Translate! Thanks - adding it to my list!
So they take your license, and give you a paper that lists the infraction for driving without a license... guess what, you now owe that infraction as well.
I got a ticket in CD Constitution 15 years ago for speeding paid the fine 400 pesos to the officer. I have 2 other friends who have had there license plates taken for illegal parking. The high fine for parking in a bus zone is because there's alot of people who depend on the bus system and the violation impacts many people hence the higher amount.
I've wanted to do a video about illegal parking where I purposely park illegally and film them taking my plates, etc. But I haven't been able to find all the fines to choose the cheapest place to illegally park. Definitely not a handicap or bus parking spot!!!
We were pulled over in La Paz in Februrary by the motor cycle cop. We ran a red light, although we couldnt see it due to a truck in front of us. He asked for my licence and registration but not insurance. He put the license in his pocket and then showed me a list containging the cost of the infraction. I let him know that we did run the light and we would go to the station to pay. He asked if we wanted to pay right now, but I declined. He then said "Just a warning" and gave back my license. It helped that we live localy and were respectful for his service, admited we did break the law and were sorry. On we went with our day.
That’s perfect! Glad it worked out. A bit of mea culpa goes a long way with the police in Mexico.
Excellent video! Hopefully it will help people to be more calm if they get pulled over.
That is my goal! Thanks for watching Cindy
Great video. Thanks for the information.
Happy to share! Pass it along!
And of course, there's one thing that goes for every traffic stop, everywhere. When they ask, "Do you know why I pulled you over?", always say "No." When you reply by giving the reason, you have just confessed and they now don't have to prove anything.
Or you could get it wrong and end up with extra charges. “Do you know why I pulled you over?” “Yes, because I was talking on my cell phone and drinking my beer.” “Actually, you have a taillight out, but…”
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico lmao
Another great video Brighton, thanks!😅
very informative and good to know
Glad it was helpful, Sergio!
So you can have a US plated car in La Paz if you are a permanent resident? We thought we couldn't have a US plated car once we became residents of Mexico. Thx!
In Baja California and Baja California Sur, RP’s can drive foreign played cars and no TIPs are needed. At least that’s how it works. I’ve never been able to find the law that makes it legal here…
Hahaha, I thought that it was set up, awesome 👏
I drove down to Puerto Vallarta but had no issues with the police.
Glad to hear you had a police-free trip down!
Just watched a video label "Dangerous " from UA-cam "Less junk more journey " where a guy was robbed by 3 police officers in LA Paz.
Wow - I guess it happens everywhere!
He even had a dash cam. They took the SD card.
Good video, I live in Tijauna and they stole some Pesos out of my wallet after shaking me down, searching me, my car, and my wallet yesterday and I still have no idea for why they stopped me if they had a legal reason to do so. They did not even tell me why they stopped me when I asked and they eventually just let me go after they shook me down and searched my vehicle. My lawyer who helped me get my temporary residency told me that it is illegal for them to be doing this when I asked about this common scam when I was in Mexico City obtaining my residency. My situation was I was trying to translate into Spanish on my phone when they stopped me so I can speak with the police officer but they seemed more interested in shaking me down after having me step out of my vehicle, trying to see if I had any drugs, and eventually searching my wallet so they can steal some of the very little money in Pesos that I have so I am stuck eating Ramon's at home until I go back to work in San Diego on Saturday night where I can withdraw more cash and exchange them for pesos. I might also get some legal codes printed up so I can hand to them when they try to pull this crap again.
Sorry that happened to you! Good that you only had a few pesos. I have a dashcam that recordings inside and outside my car, so I'm hoping if that happens, I will have proof.
Also, someone created a printable sheet that you might want to use: keelhauler.org/mexico/MexicoPolice.htm
Thank you I was looking for something like this to print out.
ln March (last month) I was pulled over in Cabo San Lucas at 10pm. It was late and no other cars were on the road. I was going the wrong way down the one way. There is a street in Cabo that is one way for one block. It was not marked. I will never make that mistake again. The officer would not give me a break and he took my drivers license as collateral until the fine was paid. On the Right side of the INM office in Cabo is where you pay the fine and you take your receipt to the police station outside of town to retrieve your license. I paid early, so you get a discount on the fine. $97 US. undenounced to me, he put 2 charges on the ticket. Pay quickly! The fine would have been $150 US. The second charge was reckless endangerment??? There were no other cars on this street and he detained me for a long time before deciding to issue me a ticket. Odd encounter.
Sorry you had that experience! There’s a street in La Paz that turns one way with no signs. With no other traffic. It would be impossible to tell.
Glad you got a discount! Did he suggest you “pay him so he can pay the fine for you”?
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico I'm a retired police officer and when I informed him of that....that's when he acted funny and didn't know what to do. Try to get me to pay or let me go or give me a ticket. I felt he wanted money but was afraid to ask for it. I told him "no harm, no foul". In this situation , in my home state, in USA, I would have told him to be careful and let him go. He said no, and I would have to maybe get a ticket. I refused to offer money. I got a ticket with a extra charge. $500 pesos would have made this thing go away but I couldn't in clear conscience offer it.
@TheMoncada1 I've heard that 200 pesos is the magic number in La Paz. But I've never paid it either. I just ask for the ticket and agreed that I did something wrong and would never do it again. They need to save face if they don't get a bribe, so they need to wag their finger and you need to grovel.
I’ve been living in Tijuana for the last year. And nobody stops at a stop sign including the police! lol
Same here in La Paz. I was actually pulled over once for going too slowly thru a stop sign. The police said I could cause an accident.
Being pulled over by the police is scary anywhere you live!
Yes! And more scary for some people than others based on skin color in the US.
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Tell me about it!..and the thing is,they're always right true or not.
I was told by quite a few people to offer him a bribe
Best not to offer. If they suggest you can “pay the fine on the stop” you can choose how to proceed.
Awesome video ❤
Thanks 🤗
I wanna know more about the kittens!!!!
Got it - more kittens!
Well, this does not fly in central mexico, btw.... Some cities you can expect to be extorted for small infractions...
Oh, that happens in this area too. But I could only get the police to agree to a “how it’s supposed to work” video ;-)
This is stage. there are many corrupts cops in Mexico. Holding your driver's license by Mexico police, its like your DL is gone
It should end up at the police station. I haven't heard of anyone losing their license. But I'm sure it happens.
Worst thing you can do is argue with the policemen or have a disrespectful attitude to them. Just take the ticket and go away.
Exactly. But sometimes it’s a challenge to get them to write the ticket in Mexico. Many prefer to “handle it on the spot.”
What happens when they take your license, can you still drive? If so, what if you get pulled over again before you get your license back?
I forgot to ask about that. But I guess you’d have a paper citation you could show them. Thanks for watching, Mark.
Show them your ticket, maybe?
when you get the ticket, it says there what document the transit police took as a garantee, so if you have another transit officer stops you, you show your ticket infraction.
Just give them $200 pesos and you're good they will leave you alone 😂
Hello saludos 🤗🤗🙏🙏
Saludos
I'm against your video camera filming, you should try working as a police officer, they don't like to feel like criminals for doing their jobs!.. They protect us and it is very impolite for you to do so and I would say that if I was him I would be very very upset to be assaulted that way!
Ok... Pretty sure that was staged. Otherwise there'd have been a Rav racing down the road chased by an ATV. Kind of a Mexican Bullitt. 😁 PS did you remember to announce the next meet up ? P n D
I totally could have outrun that ATV!
We actually cancelled tonight’s happy hour - and this was the last one of the season. I’m currently in La Ventana drinking margaritas and watching kite surfing!
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico Enjoy. Colour us jealous. P n D
@@davebaker489 🌊🌊
@@AlmostRetiredinMexico 🏝🏜🏖
They only stop gringos $$$$😅😅
I’ve seen them stop plenty of locals too - mostly those driving nice cars :-)
First, try to talk yourself out of a ticket. But, If it comes down to money, I think it’s easier to pay the .🎉
My opinion only.