DUI Roadblocks

This is the origional post for those who did not see it. What I read is not musch different than what happens in the US. The only exception might be taht there would be a bunch of transport cars to take offenders to the pokey rather than cuffing folks to chairs. Most places do not offer blankets, calls for pet care, nor do they care when your confinement time is up, when it is up you head to the street and can figure out how to get home.


BE AWARE !!!
I was jailed last nite because of a sting operation in several places, on the Carretera almost at Walmart, near Ixtlahuacan and in at least one place in Guad (and maybe more) and the police were pulling cars off the road for no reason to check for alcohol and if anyone had a whiff of alcohol they were put in jail. There was a huge bunch of people who were jailed. Another person later told me that they were stopping 3 cars at a time (again for no reason), processing those 3 and then stopping another 3.
I was coming home from an evening with friends, dinner and drinks, at their home. I drove a friend to her house and then as I approached, moving slowly, I saw a huge amount of lights and police milling around across the street from where I live and assumed there was an accident. As I approached the chaos, I was directed to stop and was blocked from proceeding further. They made me take a breathalizer test, PULLING me out of the car and SHOVING me to a table where they were taking the tests. There were police milling all around. You would have thought that there was a huge accident or a narco problem. Someone told me that there were around 20 police, just in that place.
Normally, at least in the states, you are not stopped unless you are violating a traffic rule, like speeding or weaving, etc. and then checked for alcohol. I was not violating any traffic rule, nor was anyone else. They were just driving down the street and stopped in groups of 3 cars.... no rhyme or reason as to why cars were selected.
After the breathalizer, I was SHOVED into a chair and HANDCUFFED to the arm of the chair. Since I was not yelling or screaming or in any way being abusive verbally and of course not physically, I was shocked and horribly upset and didn’t know what was going on. They took away my cell, my keys, everything and told me that I could only make a call when I got to the jail. There was a man next to me who was similarly shoved into a chair and handcuffed and he was asking politely if he could at least tell his wife (who I think was in the car) what was happening. They ignored his pleas. He was very upset, later telling me he had been here for 10 years and had always lauded Mexico to his friends and now just wanted to go back to the states.
Later on, at the jail, I met a former client, upstanding businessman, who told me that he had had one drink, his wife none, but they confiscated his car anyway and his wife had to walk home. Another man told me later that he had gone to buy pizza (earlier in the evening), had one drink and was bringing the pizza home. They let him call his wife so she could come and collect some things out of his car. I was not given that privilege.
Oh, and did I say that this huge sting exercise was literally across the street from where I lived? But they wouldn't let me leave my car and just walk across the street. And, at first they told me that I was going to be in jail for 36 hours and I was frantic for my dog.
After about an hour, I finally was able to persuade one policeman to remove my handcuffs and give me my cell to make one call to a friend who could care for my dog. My friend lives near Ixtlahuacan, and he came out waiting for me and the van so the police could hand him the keys to my house. However, I found out later, they wouldn't allow him to turn around (it was blocked off) so that he couldn't drive to my house to take care of my dog who was then alone in the house for 15 hours without access to go outside to pee.
We were all put in a van (I was allowed to sit up front) but handcuffed again, where we proceeded to a jail in Zapopan. We then sat in a sort of intake area (at this point about 10 people were waiting with me, but there were many more already in jail, at least 30). We were there for about a couple of hours, not allowed to use our cells, and the women not allowed to get anything from our purses. I wasn't even allowed to put on my glasses and read the information they gave to me!
Further, I saw NO ONE who appeared to be drunk. There was NO ONE who was walking unsteadily or sluring words, etc.
Finally I had to sit down with someone who told me that I was going to be there for 24 hours and that I would see a judge at 11p.m. on Monday and would be released about midnight. I was frantic as to what I would do in jail for all that time (and how I would get home around midnight), as they took away everything from me, my purse, my cell, made me take off my jewelry and even take out the rubber band in my hair. I was supposed to be put in a cell with nothing... not even a piece of paper and pen. I was allowed to keep my kleenex and power bar, which was good because we were not given anything to eat or drink and I kept on telling them that I cannot eat gluten (i.e., anything with wheat)
The next step was to see the doctor and I thought I had convinced him that I was old and had a knee replacement and couldn't sleep on the floor, as was the norm. He said that he was going to try to see if my stay could be shortened.
I was put in a large cell with concrete floors with one person sleeping and another woman with whom I spoke for awhile who was also very upset. Although the cell was ringed with concrete benches, you were not allowed to sleep on them. They issued everyone 2 blankets, which appeared to be clean and when I said I was cold (had on a sleeveless blouse and was never given the option of getting things out of my car as some people were). So they did bring me a throw away paper top, similar to something a nurse would wear.
It's not really easy to sleep on a concrete floor, no pillows, with floodlights into the cells, with the staff talking loudly all through the night, with the noise of the talk bouncing and echoing off the concrete walls and floors. And then, the 3rd person in the cell snoring like someone with apnea.
I guess I had convinced the doctor that I was not in good shape and he was able to persuade them to let me go for medical reasons at 6 a.m. And I "lucked out". There was an American businessman whose colleague was coming to pick him up and take him to Ajijic so they arranged for them to take me also.
Now, my car is at the huge transportation building on the north side of Guadalajara where I hear that I will have to give them 2 or 3 thousand pesos to get it back.

"There was a huge bunch of people who were jailed."

Of course there was. It was Sunday night with the Tapatios going home after a partying weekend.

CanuckBob wrote:Probably best to ask how you can "take care of the situation" at the side of the road long before you are in jail. No?

Yes, for sure. Once you get to jail your options have faded.

People who are impaired rarely think that they're impaired. She gets no sympathy from me. Don't drink and drive. Period.

Well..........it ain't the very polite California Highway Patrol and it wasn't a U.S. jail.
The girls on "Orange is the new Black" have it better.

However, this was a high level of bitchin' an moanin'. Perhaps it will persuade some folks to go on home before getting too settled here.

Better yet, to have a "designated driver" if they're having drinks.

"What I read is not musch different than what happens in the US. The only exception might be taht there would be a bunch of transport cars to take offenders to the pokey rather than cuffing folks to chairs. Most places do not offer blankets, calls for pet care, nor do they care when your confinement time is up, when it is up you head to the street and can figure out how to get home."

Years ago my step son went winter steel head fishing.  After fishing they stopped at the casino.  On the way out of the little coastal town, he was picked up for DUI. He was thrown in the drunk tank overnight (he knew better than to call us to bail him out).  The next morning he was released with charges filed and a court date.  He asked for a ride back to his truck and was told "no".  He had to walk several miles with no coat back to his truck that was left on the side of the road.  We did not feel sorry for him.  You drink and drive, you figure out how to get home from the jail.

viejito wrote:Once you've been shaken down for about the 10th time you get a feel for the rate schedule. Start there and go up as needed.

In the first place, the woman that was arrested wasn't being shaken down. And as previously stated, you don't start offering and throwing around different sums. There is a protocol, so to speak, on how it is handled. The amount it takes to settle depends on the seriousness of the infraction and who and the level of the authority handling the situation.

Your karma must really suck. I have lived in Mexico for over 40 years and I can't remember being shaken down that many times. In fact, the last time or two I have been stopped, I was guilty as sin, and was allowed to go on my way without even a ticket.

Gamina wrote:"
Years ago my step son went winter steel head fishing.  After fishing they stopped at the casino.  On the way out of the little coastal town, he was picked up for DUI. He was thrown in the drunk tank overnight (he knew better than to call us to bail him out).  The next morning he was released with charges filed and a court date.  He asked for a ride back to his truck and was told "no".  He had to walk several miles with no coat back to his truck that was left on the side of the road.  We did not feel sorry for him.  You drink and drive, you figure out how to get home from the jail.

Years ago my cousin and his wife were killed by a drunk driver, left 3 small girls orphans. Drink and drive? Screw anyone that does it.

Living in a country where vodka is $20 US per gallon, and an ounce of Sinaloa brick weed is $25, is bound to create problems for those into liquor and drugs.

Supposedly anyone who blew anything more than 0, went to jail. I don't agree with her attitude about being stopped but if she blew less than .08 she should have been released and not taken to jail. I think I would be talking with my attorney about unlawful detention. However, this is Mexico and anything goes here.

I think the limit in Jaliso, at least, is .05 percent. That's not very much - maybe a glass of wine, that's it.

This aggressive D.U.I. program has saved thousands of lives in Mexico City (CDMX). Please don't ask for details, because I didn't bookmark it, but young men (I think up to age 34) killed in auto accidents, not necessarily involved with alcohol, was the same number as the U.S.A. and Mexico - but the U.S.A. has many more times population and vehicles.

Everything I have read says .08, down from .10 in the "old" days. YMMV

I just read .04 in Jalisco. There was nothing in the old days. I would say even five years ago. You paid the bribe, and drove off as drunk as when you were stopped. A lot of the officers are women, men drivers are less likely to act up and pull the "Do you know who I am?".

Clete wrote:

viejito wrote:Once you've been shaken down for about the 10th time you get a feel for the rate schedule. Start there and go up as needed.

In the first place, the woman that was arrested wasn't being shaken down. And as previously stated, you don't start offering and throwing around different sums. There is a protocol, so to speak, on how it is handled. The amount it takes to settle depends on the seriousness of the infraction and who and the level of the authority handling the situation.

Your karma must really suck. I have lived in Mexico for over 40 years and I can't remember being shaken down that many times. In fact, the last time or two I have been stopped, I was guilty as sin, and was allowed to go on my way without even a ticket.

Ha ha, you mean my problem is that minor, my karma just sucks? I thought it was something much worse. Thanks for making my day!

I do not know what the limit is but when I was taken to jail for being involved in an accident they took us all for a blood test.. it was 11 in the morning and no one had a drop of alcohol in the system so it was not the problem but I sure would not drink and drive in this country not even a beer..
The woman had a drink.. notice how no one had more than a drink?...one drink is enough to bring you plenty of trouble here so do not drink and drive..

If only the authorities would be more consistent.

We have resided in Mexico for over 16 years and are property owners with unblemished records. I will tell you the rule on drinking and driving here and that rule is sacrosanct and not to be violated unless you wish to spend some time and maybe a lot of time behind bars or worse. Drink not even an ounce of any alcoholic beverage in Mexico and get behind the wheel EVER. Never presume you can bribe a law enforcement officer. Maybe you can and maybe not. If you try to do so simply indicate an inclination to resolve the problem through on-the-spot negotiation rather than be so crass as to proffer money. Diplomacy is the key to -perhaps or perhaps not-ending up in the pokey.

I just looked again for alcohol limits but this time for Jalisco and found .04--that's quite low so drinking and driving would be easy to do for sure. Also, your insurance is NOT efficacious if you are drunk driving.

drunk or stoned and marijuana stays in your system for a long time so if you have an accident and hurt or kill someone be ready to pay and pay for ever..

ferret wrote:People who are impaired rarely think that they're impaired. She gets no sympathy from me. Don't drink and drive. Period.

!De acuerdo!.....I have never seen so much sniveling over something that she was caught red-handed in.  If she pulls up stakes and leaves, no loss to the community.

viejito wrote:Once you've been shaken down for about the 10th time you get a feel for the rate schedule. Start there and go up as needed.

10 times?.....I have been driving these roads since 1975, permanently since 1982, and I'm still on the south end of one digit encounters.
Was it the same transito, same town, same state?, if so, would make it easy to determine a rate schedule.  Having driven all over the Republic from border to border, and coast to coast, my few infractions were never in the same place or handled the same way.
The few tines I have been stopped, I was as guilty as sin.

Intercasa wrote:DUI checkpoints right now in front of Walmart and in Ixtlahuacan

If the person who was arrested, was not allowed to make one telephone , was proper protocol and process followed.
Her experience should be a warning for all Gringos at Lakeside.
We should all beware of what are the limits of drinks permitted and acceptable alcohol levels etc. Does anyone have the details??

(Please are we really interested in what happens in Canada or their DUL laws)

When I was taken away I was read my rights and I was  allowed several phone calls.. Why was it different for this woman?
I was told I could not make phone calls from jail but I made them from the MP..

Sorry she did make a phone call  so she was allowed a phone call..

brigitte wrote:When I was taken away I was read my rights and I was  allowed several phone calls.. Why was it different for this woman?
I was told I could not make phone calls from jail but I made them from the MP..

Sorry she did make a phone call  so she was allowed a phone call..

I guess your story only confirms what most of us living in Mexico knows...The only consistent thing here , is the inconsistency that's happens in similar situations

Are you saying she was allowed a phone call and that she did not make it???

lakeside7 wrote:

brigitte wrote:When I was taken away I was read my rights and I was  allowed several phone calls.. Why was it different for this woman?
I was told I could not make phone calls from jail but I made them from the MP..

Sorry she did make a phone call  so she was allowed a phone call..

I guess your story only confirms what most of us living in Mexico knows...The only consistent thing here , is the inconsistency that's happens in similar situations

Are you saying she was allowed a phone call and that she did not make it???

From the woman's own post copy and pasted above:
"After about an hour, I finally was able to persuade one policeman to remove my handcuffs and give me my cell to make one call to a friend who could care for my dog."