Corrupt Cops on Coz?

[LimitedVIZ]

On our latest trip to Coz this year, my 19 yr. old son, 20 yr. old daughter and 21 yr. old son-in-law had rented scooters for an afternoon on the "other" side of the island. On their way accross (about half way) they were stopped by a couple of motorcycle police officers. Soon more police showed up. They informed my kids that there had been a report that they were speeding and driving recklessly (including passing vehicles on the right) and that they would have to accompany the cops back to the police station and pay a $150.00 US fine each. I can assure you this did NOT happen. You would have to know my kids. They adamantly denied the charges and after much discussion and some posturing by the cops, they settled the fine by taking $50.00 US and letting them go. Once they arrived to a restuarant on the eastside, they told the proprietor their story and he was very upset and said that the cops will kill his business if this stuff continues. The day after the incident, we spoke to our DM on the dive boat and he told us to NEVER stop for the cops. He said, "what are they going to do, shoot you?" He said that a lot of this kind of stuff happens, even to the locals. He told of an incident where he was illegally parked and his license plates were removed from his car. He had to go to the courthouse to get them back, but not in the courthouse, he had to meet a cop near the courthouse and make a cash payment to him personally to get his plates back. Is this kind of thing true? I am somewhat hesitant to "ignore" the request by a police officer to stop for any reason and especially as a visitor to their country. We absolutely love Cozumel and the people there. Thanks.

 

[freefall2]

We lived on Cozumel for five years and saw a lot of those tricks. One of their other favorites was to have a cop directing the tourists to make u-turns on Raphael Melgar and then another cop extorting money because they made the illegal turn. We never stopped for cops when they were on foot.

Because we were there on a big US registered yacht we were a regular target for extortion by the port captain. We paid mordidas in the thousands for made up offenses. Cash, US$ and never with a receipt. Except for the biggest one. We insisted on paying it at city hall and getting an official receipt. We were threatened with jail but there was no way he was going to get a christmas bonus that big!

We always begged our visitors not to rent scooters there. The cops are the least of your worries. We saw a lot of bad wrecks and scraped several tourists off the pavement. Rent a jeep and buckle up.

Liz

 

[Texas Diver]

Sorry to hear about what happened to your kids. At least none of them were roughed up or worse! I guess you have to just consider it an unexpected "vacation tax."

 

[whitedragon13]

When I was in Mexico visiting my exchange student brother, he told us not to carry all of our cash in our wallet. That way, if we were pulled over we could give the cop "all the money" we had and drive off.

 

[IslandHopper]

edited to remove my own inflammatory comments

 

[divenut2001]

I don't drive when I'm in Mexico. Alot of insurance companies won't cover you there. If a cop stops you you're at their mercy. It's cheaper to take a cab and less risk...

 

[GPdiver]

I have paid off the cops 4 times for not wering helmuts while on scooters
The X did a U- turn in the middle of town and paid off I think it was a chief in front
of Pro-Dive
I Have learned to play the game
they ask where you are staying and for how long.tell them some cheapo place for only
a couple of days and they expect very little. However if you tell them you are staying
for two weeks at Presidente it will cost you.

 

[ggunn]

I ain't often right, but I never been wrong...

It seldom turns out the way it does in a song...

In my head, I'm Dead. ;^)

 

[Christi]

It is definitely true and no secret about it. However, there are efforts to stop it by higher ranking officials. If you pay the cops off and do not report it, it only continues and gets worse for the next person. What I find very funny, is that all of the government offices have posters with an apples and a slash through it saying " no alimenta la corrupición" which means "Don't feed the corruption." These are the very entities guilty of corruption (besides the taxi drivers).

LimitedViz:
There are road blocks set up on the highway going in each direction around/across the island, and you are obligated to stop if requested to. They are checking for drivers licenses, helmets, drinking and driving, and underage drivers. I am all for this effort that is now being made. If you knew how many accidents we have involving tourists on mopeds and drunk tourists driving, you would understand.

Did your kids have helmets on?

It is true, I don't know your kids, but you would be amazed at what I see on a daily basis with people on mopeds, particularly kids/teenagers, whether intentional or accidental. Some actually race each other, and others simply don't know how to operate them and lose control, and/or they don't understand the roads, they don't know where they are going so they make illegal turns/last minute turns, they aren't paying attention to the rest of the traffic because they don't know where they are, etc. Any of this can be and is interpreted as wreckless driving, even as unintentional as it may be.

I am not defending the police if this is in fact what happened. If this is what happened, it should have been reported to the police station and the US Consulate.

For what its worth, I would NEVER allow my children to rent mopeds here or in any foreign country. It is too dangerous for MANY reasons.

Removing license plates from illegally parked cars is protocol here. In order to get your plates back, you have to go to the Municipal Building and pay your parking fine. You are also given a written citation on the windshield. If you continue driving around without your plates and you are stopped, they can impound your car until you pay both fines.

As far as not being covered to drive in Mexico...I have NEVER heard of an insurance company not covering you in Mexico. It is true that most of them will only reimburse you, you cannot file a direct claim. That is to be understood since you are dealing with foreign systems and practices. That is also why the car rental companies here offer insurance, and some require you to purchase the insurance. If your insurance company will not cover you driving abroad, then I would change insurance companies.

"No alimenta la corrupición"
DON'T FEED THE CORRUPTION and be safe whether you are driving or riding a moped (NOT RECOMMENDED)!

 

[divenut2001]

It is definitely true and no secret about it. However, there are efforts to stop it by higher ranking officials. If you pay the cops off and do not report it, it only continues and gets worse for the next person. What I find very funny, is that all of the government offices have posters with an apples and a slash through it saying " no alimenta la corrupición" which means "Don't feed the corruption." These are the very entities guilty of corruption (besides the taxi drivers).

LimitedViz:
There are road blocks set up on the highway going in each direction around/across the island, and you are obligated to stop if requested to. They are checking for drivers licenses, helmets, drinking and driving, and underage drivers. I am all for this effort that is now being made. If you knew how many accidents we have involving tourists on mopeds and drunk tourists driving, you would understand.

Did your kids have helmets on?

It is true, I don't know your kids, but you would be amazed at what I see on a daily basis with people on mopeds, particularly kids/teenagers, whether intentional or accidental. Some actually race each other, and others simply don't know how to operate them and lose control, and/or they don't understand the roads, they don't know where they are going so they make illegal turns/last minute turns, they aren't paying attention to the rest of the traffic because they don't know where they are, etc. Any of this can be and is interpreted as wreckless driving, even as unintentional as it may be.

I am not defending the police if this is in fact what happened. If this is what happened, it should have been reported to the police station and the US Consulate.

For what its worth, I would NEVER allow my children to rent mopeds here or in any foreign country. It is too dangerous for MANY reasons.

Removing license plates from illegally parked cars is protocol here. In order to get your plates back, you have to go to the Municipal Building and pay your parking fine. You are also given a written citation on the windshield. If you continue driving around without your plates and you are stopped, they can impound your car until you pay both fines.

As far as not being covered to drive in Mexico...I have NEVER heard of an insurance company not covering you in Mexico. It is true that most of them will only reimburse you, you cannot file a direct claim. That is to be understood since you are dealing with foreign systems and practices. That is also why the car rental companies here offer insurance, and some require you to purchase the insurance. If your insurance company will not cover you driving abroad, then I would change insurance companies.

"No alimenta la corrupición"
DON'T FEED THE CORRUPTION and be safe whether you are driving or riding a moped (NOT RECOMMENDED)!

Christy,

Thanks for the insiders look at this matter. It puts alot into perspective. You implied that the taxi drivers are corrupt. Can you lend any advise when using them? Thanks...

There was a very good recomendation on another thread of a taxi driver who is a former DM who was used like a tour guide of the island. It sounded alot better than renting a car and exploring on your own...