Millions of North Americans and folks from all over the globe visit Mexico on vacation in any given year. While the vast majority goes through their entire vacation without incident, it is a fact that tourists and foreigners are sometimes pulled over by Mexican police. Although this can initially seem like a scary and intimidating situation, trouble can be minimized or avoided altogether if you know a few things about how to handle yourself. Here are five basic suggestions regarding how to proceed when you see Mexican police lights in your rear-view mirror.
Find a Safe Place to Pull Over
It is always best to pull over in a well-lit area with bystanders around, as it will create a sense of accountability for the police officer and keep you as safe as possible. If you must drive for a little bit to find such a place, be sure to slow down and use your signal to show the police officer that you are not trying to flee, but rather taking steps to put you and them in the safest position possible.
Relax and Stay in the Car
There is no quicker way to turn a routine stop into a high-intensity standoff than to do something foolish like stepping out of the vehicle to greet the officer. If your window is rolled all the way up, simply roll it down five or six inches. If your window is rolled all the way down, roll it up about three-quarters of the way. Remain calm and keep your hands on the steering wheel until the officer addresses you. In almost every case, the police officer will already have surmised that you are a foreigner, so it really doesn’t matter if you volunteer the information up front.
Show, Don’t Give
Invariably, the officer will ask to see your driver’s license and any other forms of identification you may have on you. Show it to him or her by pressing it to the window. In Mexico, officers have the right to seize anything that a civilian hands them without any probable cause, so try to comply with their orders without actually putting any of your valuable documents or other possessions in their hands, but remember the first rule, don’t do anything foolish, remember you’re in a different country, and you may or may not be aware of your rights as a tourist.
Don’t Panic If You’re Accused of Something
Many marshals of the Mexican justice system play fast and loose with the regulations, especially around holiday season. Typically, a cop will retreat to their squad car after they have attained the necessary information from you, wait in their car for a few minutes to build up suspense while letting you agonize and then come back with some type of bad news. The story may be that your name supposedly came up in their system, or that your car is somehow not in compliance with their laws.
Whatever is the situation you find yourself in, remember to be respectful while holding your ground at the same time. Ask for details for information shared, and be open to cues you may be receiving that could help you get out of a tough situation by being flexible.
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