New traffic trap in Chapala

You know that service road across the highway from Soriana, in Chapala? It has a lumber store, and a place that fixes lawn mowers,car repair place, little paint store etc.

Well, we've been driving up and down that road for years (lots of lawnmower repairs ^_^ ) and it's always been a 2-way street. Heck, a 3 or 4 way street - even though there's usually only about 10' of roadway available for traffic to pass through.

Well, today my husband drove in there and parked - and a motorcycle cop immediately came up and gave him a ticket. The cop was able to explain, in English, that this was now a one-way street. And he showed my hubbie the new one-way arrow. Perfectly polite cop, didn't ask for a mordida (hey, this is Chapala, not Ajijic), wanted to see the TIP papers, and apologized when he handed over the ticket.

So beware - that service road is now a one-way street running down towards downtown Chapala - and the cops are obviously watching it.

holdrja, they been doing that for the past year or so. And it is a PITA. The law states that parallel roads travel same direction. Even though there are no signs stating same! Totally sucks, but, the good news is your auto insurance will not increase, and your fine is cut in half if paid within a week!  

Jim W wrote:holdrja, they been doing that for the past year or so.   And it is a PITA.  The law states that parallel roads travel same direction.  Even though there are no signs stating same!  Totally sucks, but, the good news is your auto insurance will not increase, and your fine is cut in half if paid within a week!  

There goes 10 bucks....   

3 cervesa....worth fighting for Hocks?

Jim W wrote:3 cervesa....worth fighting for Hocks?

Closer to 6 or 7 ... good point Jim!!   

 Hocks  

I thought all laterals were one way, reflecting the direction of the lane closest on the main thorougfare.

slainte39 wrote:I thought all laterals were one way, reflecting the direction of the lane closest on the main thorougfare.

SOME laterals are one-way, and many are not. This is Mexico after all.

They are all one way, just not enforced, (for the most part).LOL

there is a major problem getting to businesses on it during tianguis on mondays. you cannot do it legally.

I have lived in the barrio above this street for a year. That lateral has always been one way and clearly marked as such. People generally disregard the sign -- especially on Mondays. However, if a street is clearly marked as one-way, when you get a ticket for breaking the law, how is that a "trap"?

Driving while Gringo?

Nope. I have seen three cars stopped in my hood--all Mexican drivers.

Just like a muskrat....if you're caught it's a trap.     

Lady Otter Latté wrote:I have lived in the barrio above this street for a year. That lateral has always been one way and clearly marked as such. People generally disregard the sign -- especially on Mondays. However, if a street is clearly marked as one-way, when you get a ticket for breaking the law, how is that a "trap"?

i have been going UP that street for 7 years and the one way signs on the lateral are new[as in less than one year]. ask some of the businesses how they feel about this NEW development.
and unless they've changed it recently, there was no 1 way arrow pointing south at the bottom,only on the street going west which cannot be used during tianguis. it's a bloody mess.

If a street is marked as one-way and you get a ticket for going on it the wrong way, it is not a "trap" whether the sign has been there one year, 10 months, two months or one day. It is tough luck.

and if there was no sign at the beginning of the road in question but there was one a block up and the transitos were issuing tickets anyway-what would that be?

Stuff happens and sometimes it's tuff luck.

I drive this area every day--sometimes multiple times a day. I see the one-way signs and I respect them so interestingly enough I have never been "tricked" or "trapped." I choose not to disobey the law and then play victim when caught.
But, Pedro, I will bow to your superior knowledge. If you say this is a trap then I will not argue with you. You win.

Pedro wrote:

Lady Otter Latté wrote:I have lived in the barrio above this street for a year. That lateral has always been one way and clearly marked as such. People generally disregard the sign -- especially on Mondays. However, if a street is clearly marked as one-way, when you get a ticket for breaking the law, how is that a "trap"?

i have been going UP that street for 7 years and  the one way signs on the lateral are new[as in less than one year]. ask some of the businesses how they feel about this NEW development.
and unless they've changed it recently, there was no 1 way arrow pointing south at the bottom,only on the street going west which cannot be used during tianguis. it's a bloody mess.

There is no need for a sign if the law states the laterals are one way. If you have lived here for more than one year you should know the laws. I was stopped for going the wrong way on the lateral in Ajijic when here a few months. While I did not get a ticket that time I learned that law and also familiarized myself with the rest of the traffic laws.

There are ways of entering that lateral correctly even during tianguis days. I do not live in Chapala but I know how.