Posted by KRICO on March 20, 2001 at 14:56:44:
In Reply to: Friday at about 4 a.m. Don't mess with TJ cops because ..... posted by horndogg on March 20, 2001 at 11:10:39:
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A few weeks back I was walkin' back to my hotel about 9 PM after a whole day of imbibin' and copulatin' at Las Adelitas. As I crested the summit, at the intersection of Articulo 123 and Constitución, two TJ cops approached me and hauled me over to the high-curbed northeast corner, where that guy has his taco cart. I was semi-blasted, or at least I seemed to myself so to be. They spoke no English other than "I.D. plees..." which they said several times. I gave'em my driver's license and started to chat'em up in Spanish, and the one guy says "Habla espanol?" I said, " Si, pero solamente un poco...". So the one cop then orders me to put my hands up against the wall. At first I couldn't figure out what they wanted, but it soon became evident that this was more than just an "I.D. Check"...They frisked me, went through my pockets, pulled out about 25 bucks worth of one-dollar bills, a few 2 peso notes, a disposable camera, a notebook, a few pens, and small mini-Maglite flashlite. The one guy is looking at the money ( which is all wadded up...) and the other guy is looking through the viewfinder of the camera pretending to take photos of the Articulo 123 nightlife. Then the other guy looks at the flashlight and says, " Policia?". I told him no, but that the Mexican comic "Policiaco, de color" was my favorite. He chuckled a bit and then turned dead serious. "Tiene drogas?" ( Do you have drugs?") At this point I was getting nervous. A small crowd had gathered around to watch the gringo get it. My hands were still up against the wall, and I stood splay-legged. I thought to myself, this is when they plant the drugs and really get down to business. I told'em, "No tengo drogas." ( "I don't have drugs." ) "No uso drogas." ( "I don't use drugs.")"Solamente uso cerveza..." ( "I only use beer..."). This is, in fact true, even though I probably match the stereotypical hippie look of that "Golden Era"... So, thinking that the worst was about to happen ( drug implants) they proceeded to give me back everything - the guy didn't even unwad the money...and sent me on my way. Since I had read a few reports prior to that experience indicating a "shakedown" trend, I really thought I was on the verge of such...but nope! I've been treated way worse by cops in California when being frisked or detained. So, for my first serious confrontation with the law in TJ I can only say, they were extremely professional and polite. Que buena suerte, supongo.... KRICO |
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