It's getting to be that time of year again... time
for involunatry donations to the Widows and Orphans
Fund, also known as a jacked up or bogus traffic
ticket.
There
are red flags to watch for when you are pulled over
by the police while driving in Mexicali. If you know
at what speed you were travelling and the officer shows
you a radar gun that displays a significantly higher
number (don't forget to mentally convert the number
from km/hr to mph), be wary. If, after you hand over
your license and paperwork and enquire about the size
of the fine, the office appears ambivalent about the
amount, then cites a Donald Trump Christmas bonus figure,
think hammers dancing with eggs. Something's wrong with
that picture. Then, if he refuses to write you a ticket
or doesn't take you to the police station to pay the
fine, it's time to reach into your glovebox, take out
your secret weapon (printable version obtained by clicking
on the tumbnail at the left) and lift it toward his
rapacious grin. If you were targeted for a quick shakedown,
the grin should disappear and you will most likely be
sent on your way. If, however, you were speeding, most
if not all the red flags won't appear and you will have
a ticket in your hand with the amount owed written on
it, or you will be led to the police station to pay
your fine.
Below is information copied from the Bajabound Mexican
Insurance website.
Did you know you can ask for a written ticket
from police officers in Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada
and Mexicali and pay the fine from the U.S.?
Many tourists do not know this and think they have
to go to the police station, etc. If you ask for a written
ticket, be sure to ask the officer to mark the amount
of the fine on the ticket. This is very important or
you will not know how much you owe. Remember to be courteous
and respectful. Below are the addresses where you may
send your fine in by U.S. mail. (This service, as far
as we know, is not available for tickets issued by Federales
on the toll roads).
Traffic fines vary by city, but the following will
give you a general idea of how much a fine could cost
you:
Offense |
Fee (Pesos) |
Fee (US $) |
Running a red light |
$243 - $730 |
US $23 - $69 |
Not using a seat belt |
$267 - $486 |
US $25 - $46 |
Using a cell phone while
driving |
$486 |
US $46 |
Driving w/o valid license/registration |
$243 - $654.75 |
US $23 - $46 |
Not giving pedestrian
the right-of-way |
$253+ |
US $23+ |
Driving in the fast lane |
$253 |
US $23+ |
Littering |
$464+ |
US $42+ |
Double parking |
$253+ |
US$ 23+ |
Parking in red zone |
$253+ |
US$ 23+ |
Expired meter |
$127 |
US $11+ |
Drinking in public |
$486 - $1946 |
US $46 - 185 |
Speeding |
$486 - $1460 |
US $46 - 139 |
DUI (and you will be detained) |
$1460 - $1946 |
US $139 - 185 |
Where to Pay Your Fine
If you are issued a ticket in Tijuana, Rosarito, Ensenada
or Mexicali you may pay the fine at the police station
or in the U.S. by mailing a check or money order to
one of the following addresses:
Tijuana
H. Ayuntamiento de Tijuana
416 W San Ysidro Blvd Suite L No. 725
San Ysidro, CA 92143
Make the check or money order out to: H. Ayuntamiento
de Tijuana
If you received a ticket in Tijuana and do not know
the amount of the fine, you may call the police station
at: 011-52-664-102-5477 or 011-52-664-902-3743 (for
calls from the U.S.).
Rosarito
H. Ayuntamiento de Rosarito
P.O. Box 439060
San Diego, CA 92143-9060
Make the check or money order out to: H. Ayuntamiento
de Rosarito
Ensenada
Municipio de Ensenada
PMB 147 P.O. Box 189003
Coronado, CA 92178
Make the check or money order out to: Municipio de Ensenada
Mexicali
H. Ayuntamiento de Mexicali
P.B. 6027
23 Paulin Avenue
Calexico, CA 92231-2646
Make the check or money order out to: H. Ayuntamiento
de Mexicali
This service is not available for tickets issued in
San Felipe or Tecate. In those locations, you will have
to pay them in person at the corresponding police station.
Filing an Appeal
If you feel that you are unfairly being fined you may
file an appeal. This is done with the municipal judge
inside the police station. An appeal is called un recurso
de inconformidad. The tourist hotline operated by the
Baja California Secretary of tourism (dial 078 in Baja
California Norte) can give you further information regarding
this. In addition, they want to hear from tourists who
have complaints regarding misconduct of public officials
and law enforcement officers.