Passing Checkpoints

Passing through checkpoints in Mexico is usually fairly easy. They are run by the Mexican military, and they are there for two reasons…guns and drugs. If you don’t have these things with you and your vehicle is legal, you have nothing to worry about.

When you first encounter a checkpoint, it can be fairly intimidating. There will usually be cones breaking down the lane and forcing you to the side of the road. (flares at night). There will be bunkers along the roadside as well as soldiers armed with machine guns and machetes. As you come to a stop, a man will approach you and ask you first and foremost if you are carrying either GUNS or DRUGS. After you tell him no, he may or may not ask for the paperwork on the car. Otherwise, his main questions should be A) Where are you coming from? and B) Where are you going? Have logical answers to these questions somewhat prepared. Be relaxed and be honest and tell him about your surf and travel plans.

It isn’t common, but they can and do randomly search a car for no reason. You will be asked to get out of the car and to stand back. Searches can range from a light search, which consists of a quick check under the seats, in the glove box, trunk, etc, to a medium search, in which they might poke through the contents of the car…opening bags, storage compartments, etc, to a heavy search, where you drive your car on to a ramp and they give it a full search from top to bottom, as well as search your person, emptying pockets, removing shoes, etc.

And it is all seemingly random. Some days they’ll simply wave you through with everyone else. Some days they’ll pull you out of a dozen cars and give you a full search, while another two-dozen cars get waved through behind you. If you are going to travel with contraband of any kind (and we know that you are), our best advice is that you HIDE IT WELL! That and don’t have a lot. If you are going to travel with some weed, for example, just have enough to get you to your next destination. You will most likely be able to find it again later, so no need to be too stocked up at any one time. It can be done, just be cool and be careful.

We highly advise that you just plain DON’T TRAVEL WITH FIREARMS, of any kind, at any time. However, I have usually traveled with both my hunting knife strapped to the dash and my machete in sight in the back and have had no problems.

If for some reason you do get caught with contraband of any kind, the best thing that you can do is to find out how the situation can be handled RIGHT AWAY. Tastefully and tactfully ask how much the “fine” will be…how much it will cost to handle it RIGHT NOW. And negotiation is not at all recommended. Pay what they tell you and be happy to drive away safely. Even a pack of rolling papers is reason enough for them to shake you down completely, and a small quantity of grass can range in a “ticket fee” of between $50 and $300. And this is just from experience. Don’t disregard the possibility that a screw up on your part could result in some jail experience. Again, this isn’t meant to scare you. Just be smart and be cooperative and it’ll be a safe and easy journey.