MUNICIPAL POLICE: These are the uniformed
Police (Policia) that drive the blue and white cars.
They provide surveillance, prevent crime and assist
citizens.
STATE JUDICIAL POLICE: This branch is
part of the State Attorney General's office and are
responsible for investigating crimes and carrying out
arrest warrants. These Police don't wear uniforms and
drive unmarked cars.
FEDERAL HIGHWAY POLICE: These Police
monitor traffic and proper vehicle documents. They
investigate accidents on Federal Highways and supervise
ports and areas. They are Federal uniformed police
officers and drive the Black & White cars.
JUDICIAL FEDERAL POLICE: This branch is
part of the Attorney General's Office and investigate
crimes contained in the Federal Penal Code. These
officials are not uniformed and operate both on a
National & Interstate level.
PUBLIC TREASURY POLICE: This police
department is in charge of verifying the legal entrance
of merchandise and vehicles coming into Mexico. These
"guys" drive those new royal-blue Dodge Ram Pickup
trucks at the border. In case you DON'T stop when the
red light gets you, these trucks will be right behind
you!
THE MILITARY STOPS The first time you "roll up" to these guys,
they can be quite intimidating with their machine
guns, but actually, they're very nice young men and
their main job is to control drug possession and fire
arms which are both very illegal. Once we saw their
menacing looks become smiles as they saw the ice-cream
truck approaching.
Corruption
- "La Mordida" style Most police officers in Mexico and Baja California are
not bad people, but they are also not very vigilant regarding
traffic violations, especially compared to the US and Europe,
where you can be sure they will pull you over for such an
inoffensive (in the Mexican perspective) offense like speeding.
If you are pulled over, there is a very good chance that the
officer will suggest that you avoid the hassle of going "down to
the station" ("a la delegacion") by paying him a modical sum ("una
modica suma"). The going rate is about $100 pesos for running a
red light, making an incorrect turn, or something similarly
uneventful. They might see your bewildered face and ask for
more; don't give them more than $200 pesos - it'll only invite
abuse. The government of the Federal District is trying to place
more of the blame for street corruption on the general
population, saying that, by offering bribes, it is inducing this
kind of behavior. This is, of course, a cop-out (excuse the pun)
with which they hope to divert attention from their cowardly
inability to bring the corrupt middle officials to justice.
