In its March, 2001 update of the consular information sheet on Mexico, the US State Department (http://travel.state.gov/mexico.html) includes the following:

"TRAVELING TO/THROUGH NUEVO LAREDO: Tourists are very vulnerable when visiting the local "red light district," particularly if they are departing alone in the early hours of the morning. Municipal and traffic police are aware of the danger and regularly check the area for persons carrying weapons or drugs and for drunk drivers.

"U.S. citizens visiting relatives who reside in the outskirts of the city and who walk or drive in deserted areas or particularly dark streets with which they are unfamiliar may also be victims of random violence."

Granted, this isn't 100% coherent, but it sounds to me like they are warning mongers driving in cars BOTH about crime AND about the policia. I don't think the warning really applies to mongers taking a cab back to the border.

Does anybody have any stories of mishaps on the way back?

Personal experience here, about 2 or 3 years ago so it's not recent.

When going back to my hotel on the Mexican side I was stopped by 2 young transit police. They tried to shake me down. I did not offer a bribe. I sensed they were after money.
They searched all my pockets and my wallet.
Again, I did nothing wrong. They had no reason to pull me over. Only charge was being a gringo in my car at 4 PM or so. I suppose they would not go low enough to TAKE money from my wallet, but if I were to offer they would have accepted. They were very young, about as polite as can be expected with the situation. I went on my way after a tense 15 minutes.

Moral to the story. Don't be caught by your self in the early morning hours.

Other times I've been taken for $20 for traffic violations which I was 100% guilty.
(changing lanes incorrectly and speeding).
They were so nice to take my money and pay the fine for me (yeah right!!!)

rodetrip

That should have been 4AM above, not 4 PM

Balam - Thanks for posting this. Maybe this advisory is normal for TJ or Mexico City but I'm guessing that it is very unusual/new for Nuevo Laredo.

You guys that visit NL should read & think about this issue.

Rodetrip's experience shows how one can be shaken down (& fortunately my friend escaped without any damage) but in some cases apparently some of us americanos are being thrown in jail unjustly according to this advisory.

The part of the advisory that you quoted "TRAVELING TO/THROUGH NUEVO LAREDO: Tourists are very vulnerable when visiting the local "red light district," particularly if they are departing alone in the early hours of the morning. Municipal and traffic police are aware of the danger and regularly check the area for persons carrying weapons or drugs and for drunk drivers"

Here is a link to a related article -
http://www.crimelynx.com/jailmex.html

This story although tragic is relatively typical in terms of the amount of support that a US citizen will get from the US government when a US citizen is thrown in jail in a foreign country. Essentially you live and die by the laws in the foreign country. The US consulate will stop by every 6 months or so to see if you are still alive but don't count on them for anything more.

The US consulate generally never issues any sort of warning,etc. The US consulate first priority is never offend the native country. The fact that the US consulate is issuing this advisory means that they feel that there are numerous guys that are in jail in NL that are there for ridiculous charges.

We've all heard countless stories about the corrupt cops in TJ but in general we don't hear many stories about corrupt cops in Nuevo Laredo. If a corrupt cop is setting you up, then I don't know how you can avoid trouble.

I think Balam's observations that if you're in a cab, then none of this is likely to happen is probably true. I think that it is good advice. In my case, the way that I've avoided trouble (and being set up) is to only order tacos, cervesas, & mujeres while in Mexico. And I also take cabs to and from Boystown especially late night. But all kidding aside, be careful.

As Rodetrip's experience shows we all need to be very careful; you don't have to do anything wrong to get in trouble.

In April,2000, just over a year ago at the Redsnake
monger convention in Nuevo Laredo, I walked all
over the downtown section of Nuevo Laredo on
Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights and
observed no problems at all. A few police
would gather at the downtown clubs to handle
the drunks and other than that there were no
police around. There is a Red Zone in the
downtown area which is also where alot of the
locals come to party which is separate from
Boystown, whichis some 7 miles from downtown(an
estimate)(rodetrip knows for sure). Generally
no one could get in any trouble going to and
from Boystown because you either have to drive
or take a taxi because it is so far away from
the hotels where you are likely tobe staying. I understand that a bus goes close to Boystown but
there is not much information on it.

I plan a trip down to BT 6/21 - 6/22 . I have not been there is a year. Generally I feel safe as a new born in BT. Nothing like TJ where you can feel the danger if your in the wrong place. This US State Department warning http://travel.state.gov/mexico.html) has me concerned.
Are there any other changes I should be aware of in BT? Has the new government made waves there? Is anyone going down there 6/21 or 6/22.

I traveled down to Nuevo Laredo this past Memorial Day weekend and did not fear for my safety in the least. I stayed at a hotel on the Mexican side of the border near boystown and walked to boystown in the evening after dark. Maybe it helped that I'm hispanic and could speak spanish, but I didn't notice groups of suspicious looking mexicans standing around looking to prey on Americans. Also the police presence in boystown was also minimal. I didn't see them harassing anyone.

What is the name, location and price of the hotel you stayed at that is walking distance to BT?

TIA

I've lived in Nl for a year now and have never had the hint of trouble from anyone. Compared to Juarez, This place is paradise!