Military Checkpoints While Driving in Mexico

[Zorra]

While driving in Mexico you will need to stop at military inspection checkpoints

Perhaps one of the most intimidating experiences for the first time road traveler to Mexico are the encounters with military checkpoints along the Mexican highways. In an effort to control drug trafficking and other illegal activities, the Mexican government has installed a number of military checkpoints along many of the major highways throughout Mexico. In Baja alone, there are about a half-dozen military checkpoints between Tijuana and Cabo San Lucas.
What to expect:

When approaching a military checkpoint, you will see a handful of young men (often under the age of 20) dressed in green military uniforms and armed with automatic rifles. There will usually be some sort of building structure, but the military folks will usually be standing on both sides of the road waiting for you.
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If they do request to inspect your vehicle, just politely step out of your vehicle and let them do their job. A typical inspection usually involves opening the glove compartment, checking under the seats, popping the trunk, and perhaps inspecting the contents of one or two of your travel bags.

NOTE: The possession of any type of firearm in Mexico is illegal. US and Canadian citizens have been thrown in jail for possession of just one single bullet. If you own any firearms, you should check your vehicle prior to entering Mexico to make sure your vehicle is completely free of any materials associated with firearms

In order to control firearms and crime, the US could set up checkpoints at every road that crosses a state border, and on every road that leads to a major city.

What do you think about doing something like this in the US?


On edit: I have lived in Mexico, and go there almost every year. The checkpoints are always frightening, you never if a searcher will plant something and then arrest you for it. Sometimes they steal things, too. Last winter they stole my $80 lock knife that I use for camping/other.

But these inconveniences are simply things we must put up with in order to keep us safe in Mexico.

[flamingdem]

1. South of the border driving from Arizona someone I know was shaken down

by police at a road block. He didn't have much to offer. It is probably preferable to have the army do this, they're less corrupt.

[Still Sensible]

2. While I suppose there are more of them now

military checkpoints in Mexico are not new. I used to travel down to Guaymas and San Carlos Bay for vacations and long weekends in the late 60s and early 70s and at that time there was always one between Nogales and Hermosillo and another between Hermosillo and Guaymas.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I will add one between Chilpancingo and Acapulco

At that time it was part of the AG inspection for citrus.

And those of us who live in border land are very familiar with the Border Patrol ones.

[Zorra]

4. They are all over the place now, particularly on roads to and from the US border. nt

[BanTheGOP]

5. What is your POINT??

How Mexican nationals approach a problem that is caused by the American republican party's insatiable passion for greed and guns is not ANY of our business!! The best way to get soldiers with guns off the streets in Mexico is to ban the GOP in the United states, as problems that are caused by their destructive, terroristic policies are eliminated. This is key.