police preying on rental cars

[Ron in South Texas]

I was reading another message board and came upon the following post:

We have been going there for years. Just got back and will NEVER go again! The cops have taken over the 307 HWY from Cancun to Tulum. If they see a rental car they will pull you over, take all your money and make it look like they did you a favor! It was not just us, met two other couples with the same story and another emailed me after we left that they got shook down on the way to the airport!

Have any of y'all heard of any problems like this. I'm returning to Cancun in July after an eight years. I'm having reservations about renting a car if stuff like this is going on down there.

Thanks!!!

[raretail]

Yes, the police have taken over the highways and anytime they see anyone who looks like an American driving they pull you over and take your money. It is true. You should believe everything you hear. :roll: Come on. This is silly. I drove a rental car here for 5 months and took trips to the south and never got pulled over. I got pulled over once in town but it was because I was on my cellphone while driving. That is not allowed here. Anyway, I paid no fine and I received just a warning. From a very polite and respectful traffic enforcer. It is the only ticket in my life I have ever gotten out of.

Whoever posted that message should just...nevermind.

[lambert13]

that is just not true at all. Yes if you get pulled over down there you might end up paying a "fine" on the spot to take care of things. But that is not every time, and its not all of your money. If they paid more than $10-$20 to get out of a ticket (which would have never been written anyway) they probably panicked and just gave their money away.

[RiverGirl]

I think that you are more likely to get pulled over by the cops if you are driving a rental. I attribute this to the fact that tourists don't take the time to learn the driving rules in Mexico and so they often end up driving poorly here. But it's probably also true that sometimes cops think that tourists are easy prey.

Mexico is a country with a lot of corruption. So bad things do happen. But Mexico has also passed a lot of laws to combat corruption. If you ever have a cop ask for a bribe be sure to write down his name and then report him.

Corruption takes two, the cop has to ask for the bribe, but you have to pay it. If you refuse to pay on the spot then the cop will write you a ticket, which you can fight later.

[Steve]

Kim's post is pretty much spot on.

I've been driving for over 3 years here (admittedly not a rental car) been pulled over once (my fault - but didnt have to pay anything) and had one parking ticket (my fault - parked partially blocking a cyclepath, ticket cost me $6).

There are some corrupt cops here, but if you can call their bluff and insist on the ticket then they'll probably send you on your way, it's not worth their time to process it. I wouldnt let this one report put you off from hiring a car, but I would carry a spare $20 in a separate pocket just in case. Worst comes to worst make up some story and tell him the $20 is all you have.

[T.J.]

Here is the deal as I have experienced it:

1. It gets worse at Christmas time as they need extra money but this applies to anyone driving here.

2. When I rented before I brought a car here I ALWAYS removed the bumper stickers from front and rear with the name of the car agency.

3. Never pay more than $50 PESOS, about $5 US for anything. They may pass a booklet in your window and ask that the money go in there.

4. Do not talk on your cell phone while driving and always have your seat belts on. These are the #1 reasons you normally get stopped.

5. They will ask for your driver's license which is OK. But when they turn up the heat looking for the bribe, they will tell you that you have to go to the police station to pay your outrageous fine AND to retrieve your license. At this point you get aggressive. You tell them that you are ok with going to pay your fine but that THEY MUST GIVE YOU BACK YOUR LICENSE RIGHT NOW AS IT IS THE PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA GOVERNMENT AND THEY CANNOT KEEP IT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. This may or may not be true, probably not but it works everytime. My friends and I have used this more than once and it baffles them. The important thing is to stick to your story and do not let them leave with your license. They can take your plate but who cares. If they give you trouble DEMAND that they call a supervisor. Pull out a pen and write down the name on their badge. I had a guy actually toss my $50 pesos back in the window and tell me to "just go" one time. Once I took a photo of the guy with my cell phone. It was so late it was daylight and he just got on his motorcycle and left us there laughing. As Frankie Valli would say - "Oh what a night."

6. They just want your money and don't want to waste a lot of time with anyone giving them a rough time. There are too many easy marks out there.

7. See 1 - 6.

[Jenniegirl]

I've been going to cancun for about 6 years now and we've never run into that situation with a rental car. I mean seriously? Tourists are the bread and butter of Cancun do you really think the police would want to jeopardize that?

Oh and we go to Mexico around Christmas time - a week or so before - and again never encountered that. We were just there this past November/December. I can't say I saw any tourists pulled over.

[NormsKid]

Ron,

If that post that you found was the typical experiance that most tourists face while in Cancun driving a rental car, the following would also be true:

1) All of the cancun messege boards would be flooded with posts from "victims" of this sort of thing.

2) The locals who live in Cancun, who are from places other than Mexico would surely tell you that they have seen this sort of thing over and over again.

3) The car rental companies would go out of business for lack of demand in rental cars.

4) By there being only one road mentioned where this supposedly happens, other tourists would be posting all the time asking why so many rental cars are stopped on the side of the road every time they venture down 307.

None of that has ever happened in the 10 or so years that I've been surfing the cancun messege boards....so I wouldn't put much stock into this random, odd lot post you found elsewhere.

I certainly wouldn't let the post deter you from going to Cancun or the Rivera Maya.

Michelle

[T.J.]

Hmm,

I agree with most of what Michelle / Normsgirl posted. One thing I am seeing in Cancun that has never been obvious to me in the past is radar guns. And I have seen them repeatedly on the road from the airport to downtown, but mostly on the going to the city side of the street.

And there are noticably more cars pulled over in December (for whatever reason) and my ex-g/f told me years ago that it is because the cops are looking for Christmas money.

While I have really no idea about what is going on between Cancun and Riviera Maya, in Cancun it is most common to see cops with ticket pads in hand at major intersections and on busy streets, like Av. Tulum, at the topes. I am 99% positive they are looking for seatbelts not being on and cell phone usage by drivers. In these cases they are not singling out tourists. They will take anyone's money that they can.

My buddy Michelle did not criticize or contradict my post, which was intended to tell you what to do to prevent being singled out as a tourist and what to do and what not to do if pulled over. For sure I would pull off the decals of the rental car company. An ounce of prevention . . .

[NormsKid]

Originally Posted by T.J.

Hmm,

My buddy Michelle did not criticize or contradict my post, which was intended to tell you what to do to prevent being singled out as a tourist and what to do and what not to do if pulled over. For sure I would pull off the decals of the rental car company. An ounce of prevention . . .

Nope, can't criticize or contradict your advise. I do similar here in the states. I don't tear off the decals tho, I cover them up.

Some states have weird laws regarding "damage" to a rental car. So I use the obvious loophole in the law and cover them up temporarily by either using clear tape and a bumper sticker or a plain peice of paper and clear tape if I can't find a suitable bumper sticker. When I'm done with the car, I simply remove the bumber sticker or paper and turn in the car....with no "damage".

Michelle

[Carlosst]

Hi Michelle
Perhaps you were the lucky one. I have been going to Cancun for 15 years. I was definiely targeted one night in the hotel zone. I was driving a rental car and following two cars. The road was under construction and traffic was slow. Transito pulled me over and claimed i was speeding. I said how could i be speeding when i was following two cars going about 25 MPH? They wanted to write me a ticket and take my lic. I would need to come to the station to pay the fine and get it back. OR........ I could pay them. It was a Friday, i was leaving on Sat. I could not get the lic until Monday. I gave them 150 peso's and was on my way. If you want to see a lot of these stories just ask. Also take a look on other forums.
God Bless
carlosst

[Steve]

Best thing to do is insist you take the ticket, 9 times out of 10 they will back down and send you on your way. Processing a ticket takes their time up, time they could otherwise spend harassing people who will willingly pay a bribe. Also they cannot take your (foreign) licence it is Government property... although I appreciate it is not necessarily an easy thing to demand your licence back in that situation.

In 5 years of living in Cancun, between my wife and myself, we have been stopped 5 times for minor offences such as speeding or jumping lights. Some we were guilty some not but we've never paid a bribe and never had a ticket yet.

The only ticket I have had was when I returned to my car one day to find a ticket on the windscreen for a parking violation. We paid the ticket quickly and it wasn't that much hassle, cost was around $6 US.

[coby]

The 307 from Cancun to Tulum story is shady to me -- I'm routinely on that road in some form or another, including driving a rental car.

Does driving a rental car make you a target? Well, it makes you a more obvious target, but even more obvious than that is when people don't follow the rules of the road -- notably speed. From Cancun to Tulum the speed limit changes all the time and there are often cops in the vicinity of these speed changes. The place where I see the most people pulled over is when you cross into the Solidaridad municipality, even though there's a little police hut there and always cops around.

I've only been pulled over once here and it was in a rental car, but I was speeding -- not by much and I was actually slowing down. The exchange between the officer and myself was basically just telling me to be more mindful of my speed. Very courteous and very short. This officer was probably an exception, but of 3 mordida attempts I've been around (all as a passenger) 2 ended with the officer letting us go and the other ended with a 100 peso exchange (must to my disdain.)

[rodman4085]

Drive the speed limit, and keep an eye on the side of the road for changes......also, in rental cars, they are putting this placard.....I copied it from another forum, Laura the Mapchick posted this.
As it turns out, my one day rental last Feb from Zipp rentacar had one of those cards, but I gave a Cancun cop 200 pesos to let us out of town...we were headed to Tulum from the Casa Maya, and he claimed I was speeding, was not, should not have paid him....but....he had my D.L., so another thought is to go to your local DMV and get a duplicate made. Go in with your passport for identification, tell them your wallet was stolen, that way you have a back up......
Photo 3 of 3, My Favorite Mexico pics

[v8eyedoc]

Over the past 20 years....I have been "targeted" 3 out of 4 times both by the "traffic policia" and at two gas stations.....!!

Way back when...I was stopped just after pulling out of a resort in the HZ and the guy claimed that I had gone thru a red light..!! Like I don't know the difference between rojo y verde..!! He demanded my DL and also 200 pesos... I should have tested his knowledge of the English language, at this point..and used a few "choice words"....but....my wife was with me.so I complied..and he tipped his hat to me, smiled and placed the $$ in his pocket..!! We were on our way to Playa.

Returning - along Rte 307 years ago, there were few gas stations and I wanted to return the car with a full tank..so we stopped at a gas station...where 3 man approached the car...1 to pump the gas -another to clean the windows and another to "manipulate the pump".....!!! He then told me what I owed him..and when I looked at the total on the pump..it read -$00.00....!!! I told him that he had not pumped any gas and that I was not going to pay him one centavo..!!! I was absolutely livid...!! Screwed outa $20.00 by a scumbag cop in the morning and now...3 morons at a gas station!!! I already had my keys back in my hand..! HIS MISTAKE! I flipped him a peso coin and told him and his asshole friends to keep the change....!!!!

On another occasion with a rental car, just a few years back..I was refueling and with newer gas pumps..they can manipulate the TOTAL fee by pressing a keypad on the pump..(?)..He said 300 pesos...and I paid him..cause the pump read 300 pesos....!! As I got back in the car, a pick-up truck pulled in front of me - blocking my way - and a woman got out and approached me...."How much did you just give this man..??" She identified herself as being from a govt agency - and then proceeded to question the man who had pumped the gas..!! HE WAS SCARED!! THEN....she demonstrated to me how the total price for your fuel can easily be changed...."LOOK AT THE # OF LITERS PUMPED!!!!".....She told me....!! The total for my fuel was only 150 pesos....and she demanded that this thief return my money.....which he did..!! I thanked her very much!!

As far as removing any stickers from a rental car to avoid being targeted by either police or gas station attendants...IT AIN'T GONNA WORK....!!! I had no rental car stickers on either of the cars I had rented...!!! THE LICENSE PLATES FOR RESIDENTS ARE MARKED "PRIVADO" - Rental cars have another type of plate....!!!

My last "episode" WAS.....my fault.... I had a rental motor scooter and was not aware of the helmet laws in Cancun...and was stopped by the traffic police - once more! - 100 pesos, this time and I was on my way! Can't say that I blame the "poor" traffic police....!! Sine the city pays them $65.00/week (American)....so we have to subsidize the city payroll...!! A mesero.....makes more at a good resort than the traffic police..!!

[Turquoise water]

My advise is that is you are on vacation leave the driving to the locals. Take a taxi or a bus. The bus is like 60 pesos and not to mention it is fun!! There is plenty of transportation if needed. I have thought about renting a car before, but after the daily grind and commute, I am just ready to just sit back and let someone else do the driving.

[V]

They do simply want your money. They don't want you, your license, your car, your wife, or anything else you might actually care about. Those that are dishonest in this way don't want to waste their time actually enforcing the traffic laws, either.

Don't let them have your money. Just be patient, play dumb, wait them out- look relaxed, as if you have all the time in the world. Get out and smoke a cigarette, if you're a smoker: they'll get the message that you're not going to be easy, and move on to the next pigeon.

If you decide to make the problem go away by doing something you wouldn't do back home, like offering money to a police officer, you have committed a corrupt act- illegal here, just as it is back home- and you contribute to a problem others are working hard to solve.

[Life_N_Cancun]

Originally Posted by v8eyedoc

the city pays them $65.00/week (American)...

Not sure where you got that number, but last I heard a while back the starting police salary had be bumped up to around $8000 pesos a month...

Regardless of what they are paid, it is not any sort of justification or excuse for extorting/robbing people. Not getting paid what I want doesn't make it acceptable to take from others. Extortion by threats of arrest under the guise of authority is no different than the threat of violence an armed robber uses when waving a gun at you! IMHO. Sadly its one of those things that I dont see ending anytime soon. If they were serious about trying to stop it they would install video cameras in the patrol cars.

Anyone who is pulled over here needs to stop and look at the vehicle number and name plate, before doing anything. Simply reading his name and greeting him; "Buenos Dias/Tardes oficial (name on tag)" will let him know that you are paying attention and know their name, so they are risking being reported if they mess with you.

A reason that they prey on tourists more so than locals is the fact the tourists dont know what powers traffic police have (ie: they generally CANT arrest you unless you are intoxicated or commit a serious driving offense, any other more serious crimes would require them to call the "policia preventiva" as their powers are limited to traffic related duties, unlike in the US where police enforce all laws.), tourists tend to have cash on hand, and they tend to not bother reporting bad police behavior. Those things with rare exception ensure that they can operate with some impunity.

It's especially bad for Cancun, as every time they harass a tourist, that tourist tells everyone they know when they get home, and as a result Mexico loses untold hundreds of millions in tourism every year. I honestly don't understand why the hotel owners and car rental companies don't make greater efforts to put a stop to it, as it affects their bottom lines a great deal and they should realize that.

[kellygirl]

Thought I'd make my first post on something close to my heart. We rent often (so often we are going to buy a car, finally), but last month we had a small Chevy from Avis here in PDC, and the little cover over the trunk area was broken and popped up. Sure enough got stopped on the way to Cancun. I greeted the officer by name, he said we had a serious violation because our rear view was blocked, and pretended to write the ticket. I asked how much the ticket would be, he shrugged and said "Oooohh, 800pesos." I asked where to pay, and he shrugged. I told him to write the ticket, that we were going to turn around and go straight to Avis, since the cover was broken, it was their problem, not mine, and they could pay the ticket. He handed me my license and said, have a nice day. Sometimes, all you have to do is call their bluff. He just wanted us to buy him and his buddies an 800peso lunch. Just be respectful. I actually thanked him at the end for looking out for my safety and shook his hand, he liked that.

[CancunWithMe.com]

This topic always makes me laugh.

In United States, the speed limit at most highways is 65 mph, however people cruise around 75 to 80, and a bit faster at night.

So in Miami, if you drive 65 mph (the speed limit) at 1 or 2 am, believe you will get pulled over. The fact that you are driving at the speed limit makes you stick out like a sore thumb. If you go at the regular flow of traffic, a cop can pull you over for speeding.

In USA if you get pulled over, and get the ticket, you can either pay the ticket or go fight it in court. If you fight it, you usually have to take some time off work. So either way, once you get a ticket in USA it ends up costing you one way or another.

Here in Cancun is similar. Yes we have cops, and yes they do pull people over. I always hear stories of how people got pulled over for no reason, but I personally have never seen it. Yes rental cars have a higher chance to get pulled over, but they are not targeted. If a cop sees 2 cars speeding, one rental and one local, yes he would probably pull over the rental one.

One thing that is TOTALLY MADE UP, is that cops "shake" tourists down for money. That is not the case. Cop usually pulls you over, and tells you why he pulled you over. He asks for license and vehicle paperwork. Then he tells you how much the fine would be if you go to the department and pay it the following day, then they hint that you could pay a smaller fine on the spot (bribe). As a driver you have two options, you can either allow the officer to take your license and then go pick it up the following day, or you can pay the "bribe" and forget about it.

In Mexico, even if you think the cop is wrong, you can pay $5 to $10 and be done with it. In USA even if you think the cop is wrong, he can still write you up a ticket, and then you either have to pay it or go to court. I rather pay the $5 and call it a day.

Cops in Mexico are relatively lazy, but if they do ask for your drivers license you have to surrender it. If you refuse to, they can inpound the car, arrest you, etc. Granted, more than likely they wouldn't do this, but they CAN, so don't push your luck. It is normal protocol for them to take your license, and have you pick it up the following days after paying your fine.

There is talk about "anti corruption" laws, but it is all BS. About 2 months ago, a small group of cops went public. They were complaining that they have to pay 300 pesos each shift they work, and 400 pesos if they have a patrol car. The group that was complaining were placed on traffic light duty, so they didn't get to pull over people, hence they didn't get any bribe money, which made it impossible for them to pay their shift fee (Shift fee is called "el cuerno" and goes all the way to the top, some lady).

Basically it is impossible for a cop not to be corrupt, since his superiors expect their "cuerno".

To finish off, very few people actually mention the real reason you might not want to rent a vehicle, and that is on the unlikely event that you are in an accident with injuries. I am not a lawyer, and don't know the details, but if you are in an accident where others got injured, you would not be able to leave the country until all financial responsibilities are met. There is usually insurance involved with rental cars, but then there are the limit issues, and who pays first, who gets reimbursed later, etc.

So lets say you rent a car, then some idiot on a 50 cc scooter pulls up in front of you, you don't see them on time, and end up hitting them. You might end up having to extend your vacation only to take care of all the legal issues.

[rodman4085]

So, a year ago, in a Zipp rentacar, heading south out of Cancun, I gets stopped....after leaving a stoplight....might have been on Bonampak/or Tulum, not really sure...2 young guys in a gold/tan/ police vehicle....junior jerkwater tells me to "do the right thing, sir..." What really annoyed me..I was not speeding..I know speeding...work for the DMV here in the states...I do drivers tests...and this young man turned my crank...that day...I was wearing a baseball cap with the State Patrol logo from my home state....(DMV and State Patrol are in the same bargaining/union group....) we can buy their hats...!however, mr. cancun junior cop wanted some lunch money....so after some bad translations and some innuendo, I left giving him and his pal 200 pesos.....(@ $15 u.s. at the time) he won that day...but on other web forums, the price has gone up....so be aware...if they wave at you to pull over, from the side of the road...just keep driving!