Earlier this year there was a thread about the new educated Mexican Border personnel. Has anyone crossed recently and seen any difference in procedures? Last couple of years there was a motorhome lane with the Red/Green light. We've always had a green light so dont know what to expect.Any recent experience?
We crossed at Parker/sonoyta yesterday and had no problems. Customs stopped one of our caravan and had him open his jockey box and they looked in the 5th wheel for a min. No major tearing appart and we were out of there in mins. At Km 19 or 21 where you get all your import permits it took us 1hr and 15 min for 4 vehicles to get through and we had to get tourist cards and 2 vehicle permits as it was our first yr. Be pleasant and "patient" as it will only help the proccess.They are just doing there job and holiday travelers have nothing to fear.
The only difference we noticed was they spoke English and were friendly. Very fast, we left Nogales WalMart at 6 AM, and were done with the FMT thing in 20 minutes. No inspection.
Crossed at Los Indios last week. No issues, they asked to look at the truck & trailer permits at the border and checkpoint. Very polite brief look through the trailer.
On the USA side, US Customs is stopping everyone. Asking where are you from, where are you going and why? There are two lanes, right lane for trucks, left lane for cars. I would take anything of size thu the truck lane as there is a slight Z in the car lane that could be a problem if you don't align correctly as you pass thu.
Mexico side, nothing different. Got the green light like everyone else while the Mexican agents were standing/sitting and watching. Didn't see a single person pulled over.
In Nogales, we went by the bank to hit the ATM. I have never seen armed military with bullet proof vest guarding the Bank. Not one but two, there were police in the intersection and every place you turned. Very strange. Made us a little uncomfortable as we have been going to this bank for 6 years and never more than a single security guard. Better 3/4s just told me she saw two other that I missed come out of the bank.
Diesel was 7.81/lt. With the conversion we got today, this is $2.23/gal USA.
Bought our usual beef, booze, coffee and more. USA Customs always laughs when we show them our purchases. They never realize there is a difference in brands until we point it out. Took us 1/2 hour to cross going North with nothing different in process.
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico
* This post was
edited 11/09/09 04:32pm by rocmoc *
To supplement yesterday's show of force in Nogales, Son., MX, today we went North on Hwy 19 thu the normal Border Patrol Check point. Only today it wasn't normal, there was DHS (Dept of Homeland Security)Police and TSA. This have NEVER happened before. There was even a dog with Id on it's back identifying it as a DHS Police dog. I asked what was up as I am a local and knew this was not normal. They just tried to laugh it off by saying they were there for me. I pressed again and again they said they knew I came thu on Tuesdays so they were waiting for me. This did not appear to be training as they were not rookies. Very Odd with the show of force across the border the day before. There was a bunch of them. Nogales has in the past been the quietest and safest of the large border towns. Hope it isn't changing! Did you even know there was DHS Police? I didn't!
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