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I'm Mexican myself, all I can ask to all expats is " please don't pay the braving, we are trying to clean our country and get rid of all kinds of corruption, so please help us out and enjoy our country!!

I was shaken down. But I went to the police station to report it. I knew it wouldn’t help, but I told the officer in charge that I was shaken down for a lot more than I actually was, just to stir the pot, because surely many were in on it, and someone ended up in a world of hurt for holding back funds.

Thanks for your video. On our way from La Paz to Cabo (BCS) we had a flat tire. We were unable to loosen the lug nuts to change the tire. Green Angels were not around. A National Guard patrol stopped and changed the tire for us. Both young men were polite, efficient and professional in their help. We are senior citizens and permanent residents. We were very thankful, got their names and afterwards sent our congrats and appreciation to their superior. It was a positive experience and love to share it!

I used to work for an American manufacture that had a factory in Tecate Mexico. When we would schedule a trip to the Mexican factory we would first stop at our warehouse on the US border. There a human resource employee would brief us how to "get along" in Mexico. The main thing was we were each given business cards for a lawyer in Tecate. This lawyer was the brother in law of the Mayor. Our company paid this lawyer a special fee to insure respect was shown to the Mayor. When the local police would stop you, all you had to do was give them a business card and ask them to call your lawyer. The local police would quickly hand the card back and apologize for stopping us. They were terrified of extorting money from a gringo that was already paying protection money to the Mayor (filtered through his brother in law.)

I have gotten stopped a few times, I have been threatened with all sorts of stuff (arrest, vehicle seizure, etc), but I always ask for a citation, never gotten one yet. I always tell the truth even when it is my fault and that has been the outcome.

I’m from MX and the advices you Provided are very accurate . Grettings to all the US citizens that visit or live in México. 🇺🇸🇲🇽

Your description of the recent experience is EXACTLY like every experience of mine where I chose to not pay “mordida”. I paid it twice only because it was to my convenience. Each time it was no more than $300pesos. I learned from my Mexican friends all the way back in 1986 that the last thing they want is to go back to the station, losing valuable grifting time.

Truly love a youtuber telling the truth (good and bad) about Mexico. Too many only want to focus on the sunshine and butterflies.

Great video!!! Went to Chiapas in August to visit friends. My friend is from Mexico and he was driving us around. We got pulled over at a road black. A total of 4 officers and 7 firearms. They followed the shakedown recipe as stated in your video. My friend told them several times to simply give him the ticket so he could pay the fine. The police caved after about 10 minutes and returned his documents and license plate. It is so important to stay calm and be respectful during these situations. It is more effective than getting an attitude with law enforcement.

I was visiting Mexico with my BIL who was born in Mexico. I was driving, and we get pulled over, several miles out of Oaxaca. I’m white, BIL is Mexican, but of a somewhat lighter complexion. I speak fluent Spanish, but the cop comes up to the window and starts speaking in English. Says we were doing 95 KPH in a 55 KPH zone and says he’s gonna have to take the vehicle. I respond in English, explaining that there was no way I was doing 95 and he must be mistaken. He starts explaining that we can pay a fine instead, to avoid having our vehicle taken. BIL chimes in with Spanish, explaining that we weren’t going to be paying a fine, and they weren’t taking our vehicle, and that it would be best for everyone if they let us go on with our day. I reaffirm this in Spanish as well; the cop seems caught off guard, and goes back to his vehicle for a few minutes, (probably deciding on what to do), and says he’s going to do us a favor and give us a break. We laugh, “thank” him for his generosity, and carried on. I was honestly scared, but my BIL said it happens all the time, and once you let them know you aren’t a clueless tourist, it usually resolves the issue.

Hi Paul, another great and useful video. Thank you and appreciate all you have to offer, as I always re-review most of your videos. Thanks again!

Paul, thanks for another great video! We have driven roughly 8000 KM (with foreign plates in a bright red Jeep) throughout MX in the last year and so far we have been blessed with encountering kind helpful officers. We do have a dash cam and my phone sits in a mount on my dash as I use it for navigation. It points towards me and essentially the driver’s side window. When going through check stops I often see the officers look at my dash cam and phone. I have been asked to present papers which we do and they review and send us on our way. I pray we will continue to encounter good folks and not have to mess with a negative situation. I do feel better prepared from watching and reading your advice! Robert

I was stopped last week in Merida on the wraparound highway, the Periferico. This was an organized checkpoint, where police were checking and often shaking down people en masse. I was told I would be cited because I didn't have something red hanging off the end of some rain gutters I had just bought and that were sticking about 2 feet beyond the end of my pickup. The officer (and I use that term very loosely) took my license and registration and basically said that I would not get either of them back unless I paid..... the infraction to be paid at the office would be 1500 pesos, but maybe something could be arranged. I played the no habla Español card and said that I only had 100 pesos on me. I was really worried about leaving my documents behind, because they sometimes get lost, and that would be a real hassle. So 100 pesos changed hands, and that was it. I got away easy, but I was just surprised that this shakedown was so ridiculously blatant and obvious. They are supposed to only check plates, but seem to have a free hand to do whatever they please. I have seen these checkpoints a few times now, sometimes 5 or 6 of them on a 50km stretch of highway. It was not my first run-in with police corruption in Mexico, but the last one occurred more than 25 years ago.....hopefully not again!

Thank you so much for this. You're doing great work.

As are all of your videos, great job!!!!!!!!! Not only are your comments informative, taught well and very descriptive, but they seem to be... given from the heart. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great, logical advise and explanation. You are always thorough - answer my questions before I have to ask them 😊

Thanks Paul… this is the most helpful video I’ve seen on this topic! Keep making these videos… We love them! ❤

Happened to me too in Cancun ! Crazy thing is : after I payed the BRIBE , I turned at the next u turn and when I drove back into Cancun they saw me and the craziest thing is they stopped me again and handed me over the money ! Made excuses and waved me goodbye ! ( they might have been scared me driving to the nearest police station) and … by the way I wasn’t even speeding 😅

Thanks for your Video, great advice & well played. Looking forward to more of your real life practical experience videos Wayne

That was fascinating, organized and informative. Nicely done Paul. :)

Paul, this is such an excellent video. Thank you so much! After living here, almost 3 years, I’ve organically reached many of the same conclusions but every idea you bring up is key for someone like me. I do drive in Mexico City on occasion, so I will download that app. Next year I’ll be doing another road trip across Mexico, and your knowledge added to my experience is indispensable. 🙏🏼 🚓👮👮‍♂️

Great advice. When we were moving to Mx we got stopped in Puebla. We had been warned about the cops so knew what to expect. We ended up paying the bribe but they gave us a “receipt” which we were told could be used to pay no further bribes for the rest of the trip.

Excellent advice, Paul, as always!

Great Video! This is the Kind of content your viewers need! Glad to see you're giving sound advice again. 😎Liked and shared!

Nice breakdown, pretty accurate down to every stage. I live in Playa Del Carmen, I travel to Tulum daily for work. This happens to me all the time in Tulum. If you don't take the bribe 9/10 they drive away with no ticket issued. Also, there is a law in Q.Roo that protects tourists from small first time traffic infractions.

This is an excellent video, thank you so much. I recently received a ticket in Puerto Peñasco for something I didn’t do, however I was alone in the car and both the officer and his partner “saw” me. I felt cornered and was not a happy camper - but at least they didn’t ask for money but explained the procedure. I followed them to the police station and paid a $39 fine. I also asked for a receipt in case there were any issues down the line. I’m spending several months in Baja and this is good information to have.

Wow! GREAT advice! This is so needed.

This was well made. You are a good speaker. This is a very interesting subject to me because of my many interconnections with Mexico.

Thank you for this, Paul! We just watched again. We live in Zihuatanejo and were pulled over last night just as we arrived home. The officer said we ran a red light. It was actually yellow. He asked for my husband's driver's license, and said he had to keep it as guarantee of payment. I asked him to give us a ticket, if he must, or let's go to the police station. He said it was closed (about 8pm) and had his citation book out. But he gave my husband back his license and said to be careful next time.

I know there's over a thousand comments on here, but I just have to say thank you for this!! Just got shaken down in exactly the way you described about 2 hours ago. Showed him the document about being a tourist and getting a warning and then another guy showed up, looked at it, and eventually they let me go! I would've been so scared if not for this but I kept it together and it was fine! Thank you thank you thank you!

Paul, love your videos, great info as always! thanks!

I'm from mexico but haven't been there in like years so I'm thankful for your videos.

Good advice. Thank you. I have been lucky 16 winters in Guaymas, Sonora and 1) I have not been stopped for something I did not do; 2) When I once did something wrong, I apologized and said that I did not understand his hand traffic signals; and 3) I have never been solicited for a bribe nor paid one in Mexico. The advice I heard was to offer to go to the police station to pay the infraction. That is what I will do if it ever happens to me. Lucky, I guess.

Great video. Police corruption is endemic and been going on for decades in Mexico. It’s a malady the government is trying to clean against all odds and we have to be part of that process by standing out ground and not paying bribes anymore. I hope we all follow this advice and I hope my future life in México finds that beloved country 🇲🇽 better than when I left 36 years ago!

Excellent advice and very empowering! THANK YOU!

This was extremely helpful. Thanks and I subbed!

Thank you for your video! So true when I visited Puerto Vallarta, I got pulled twice on the same day! The second time, I told the cop "your too late, the first guy already pulled me over" and they let me go!

Very good video to help us end corruption. I'm Mexican and I applaud 👏 you!

Thanks for this important and informative video. -Marc

Hi Paul, I ran across this subject the other day and thought it would be a great video for you to do. A quick and easy one about a subject I personally had no clue about until I read something about it the other day. Refrendo. Thanks!

Thanks! We are planning/ hoping to move to Mexico soon, and your videos are some of the most helpful I have found

I've been in a similar situation in Mexico, but hadn't done anything wrong. It was total extortion and am sure the cop stopped me just because I was driving a rental car in a tourist area. He tried to take my drivers license, but gave him a copy of my drivers license instead, which really pissed him off. He then told me I could pay him $200.00 US dollars in cash or the equivalent in pesos and I refused to pay. I told him to take me to the Policia station and I’d pay the fine there. He shook his head in frustration, walked away and drove off. After that I always take private transfers from and back to the airport and use Ubers, Taxis, Buses and Collectivos in-between.

Really appreciate this. I've spent a fair amount of time in Mexico but mostly in DF and in Ubers, not a lot of driving. Super appreciate you putting this out there!

Another fantastic video, thank you Paul! I'll be spending a month in Cozumel next February and will be renting a car for a couple weeks. This is some very good info

I'm mexican and a lawyer, ive been in similar situations and yes, this is the correct way of handeling this case.

In San Felipe, BC my friend and I were pulled over for going on our bikes 60 mph in a 45 kph zone. Oops! A little chat with a super friendly guy who spoke better English than I do. Offered a "roadside settlement". We answered, "it depends". He wanted to take a trophy picture squeezing my helmeted head. DEAL! A good day. No shakedown, no threats, no ticket. Nevertheless, you are right on. Thank you.

Very helpful, thanks. I getting ready to plan a road trip down to Sayulita in a couple months and was wondering about this.

Thank you for providing informative and entertaining videos.

Yes! I have had the same experience, great advice. You can also keep an extra wallet with only 200 pesos in it so they can’t ask for all your cash. My friend had a terrible experience and they took everything from her wallet. I think the key is to be polite and stay relaxed. I have always tried to get the ticket and they have always been frustrated and just let me go.

Thanks for another great video Paul. Not sure if this was asked - do you think a dashcam would be helpful in avoiding this situation or just create a more dangerous situation?

Such good content Paul, thanks for this

Great video as always. Thank you!

Very valuable information Paul. Unfortunately this happens everywhere. I'm sure that you upheld the law when you were a police officer b/c you seem like a standup guy. We need more of you out there.

I've been traveling in Mexico since I was eight and been stopped only once by los quicos and did not pay a mordita. Your advice is good, but the best advice is to learn to habla in Spanish. You have helped with your Spanish lessons. Also, I had more trouble with quicos in the US than ever in Mexico. Gracias.

Good video. I have no compunction to want to go to Mexico and less to deal with corrupt cops looking for bribes. Good to hear how you handled this.

Excellent advice. Many thanks!

I give THEM the duplicate license that I carry just for this. Another thing that works is not speaking any Spanish. I just ask for the ticket in English, play dumb. Give nothing. CDMX is super crooked but I'll sit there all day if I have to. Don't give in. Great video

Well done. As a tourist, I very much appreciate the efforts of Mexico to keep the areas I frequent safe. I recently witnessed CLOSE UP the brave actions of the Mexican Marines in addressing drug violence where they went toward, not away from the danger. Yes there are bad actors, but the same can be said of the US, if not necessarily the same frequency level. I appreciate the fact that you're providing advice for dealing with the bad actors without crapping on others in Mexican law enforcement that are trying to make a difference and putting their lives on the line to do so. Thumbs up.

Learned a great deal , thanks

Thanks! Great informative video

Excellent video and thank you for sharing ... I absolutely love Mexico and the best part about it are the people. We are thinking of retiring there in about 5 years. If you are stopped and you show them your warrant card ( Police ID From another country) Would this make things better or worse?

Thanks as always for the very pertinent info and videos! As a single woman driving in Mexico (I speak Spanish, so that's helpful, ).. but I didn't know they could seize license etc.. I haven't been pulled over yet, but yes, I will stand my ground politiely (unless I'm late for Pickleball, then I may have to get through it more quickly.. lol)

Hi Paul, still learning English with your videos :). I've went through the same situation until stage #4 where they just notify you or ask you to not do it again. I don't live in Mexico anymore, but would like to. Even with these situations... but you're right, something always reminds you that you can't be distracted.

Great video. Thanks for the information!

The way I fixed corruption in Mexico is sold my property and moved to the Philippines and never had a problem again. It’s been amazing

Great video and important advice. Gracias! You said the cop looked around to see if he was being recorded. Do you think it would help to have a dash cam that records inside and outside the car? What about recording with a cell phone? (I'd rather have a dash cam.)

Great info! Thank you for sharing!

Right on! Excellent advice my friend!!

Well Paul as you know we drove down Baja from Ontario Canada and are spending at least 3 months in La Paz. And 6 months in Mexico to see if its a fit for us to live. Ive read cops are bad here in La Paz for the bribes so Ive told my wife we are doing full stops at all Altos even though everyone just drives on through, no U turns and always watching the curb colors for parking. I imagine its a matter of time so im ready for it and hope to hold my ground. I also have a dash cam so i hope i can prove no we didnt roll through the stop or whatever. At best theyll get me for driving to slow lol Cheers to you and Linda!

In this part of Sonora, for a while, people carried two wallets when driving, one with about $20 usd and the other was their everyday, real wallet. If you get stopped by the cops drag out the wallet with no money in it. The local police also sell stickers at Christmas to raise money for the local orphanage (it actually does go to the orphanage, too) and if you put it on your car it’s almost a get out of jail free card. That’s the best $5 you can spend here in town.

Thank you very much. Clear, comprehensive and valuable.

Excellent. I travel solo in Mexico via motorcycle. My last was in San Luis Potosí. Pulled over at a Pemex. Cop wanted $200 to make my speeding ticket go away. An hour of firm, but friendly discussion ensued. He made veiled threats to seize my motorcycle unless I complied…and on and on…finally he told me he couldn’t stay any longer. He gave me my documents back and offered to give me an escort to my hotel! You gotta love Mexico, Lol

Thanks Paul for the advise, but even more for not yielding to the extorcion, the very clear intructions step by step should help people keep calm and know what to spect; I understand it can be cumbersome to go thru all of the hassle of paying the ticket the right way in order to get your license back, but for those that don't wanto to "get in anymore trouble" and decide to pay the bribe, they are not making anybody a favor encouraging corruption by participation!

Well done, Paul.

Thank you for posting this helpful video

I live in Honduras and the last time I got stopped for a mordita was at a checkpoint. They always ask where you're going and lately I've stopped giving details. This guy couldn't tell me why he pulled me over. Finally he said that my extra headlights were illegal. I was like, just give me the ticket, three or four times. He threatened to keep my license, i said fine. He threatened to search my car. Finally he notices my DASH CAM and decided to give up. I guess he realized that he had been recorded.

Great video. One other tactic is to tell them you have no dineros or only a few…always carry 2 wallets:)

Thank you very much for that sound advice.

Great vid, thanks Paul! Good advice coming from a former Florida police officer.

I live in Colombia and it works exactly the same here! lol. I just asked them what information do you need to process the ticket/fine (in fluent Spanish) and then they realized Im not the typical ignorant American tourist and they let me go.

Thanks for taking on this topic, Paul. Too many foreigners think paying mordita is some kind of proof of their bona fides in being able to navigate Mexico. The Facebook groups are full of them. Actually it’s just the opposite. It shows they still have a lot to learn about Mexico. Either that and/or they overhype the non-existent danger of interacting with corrupt police in a firm but calm, polite and non-entitled way.

This my first time seeing your Channel , and I must say I really enjoyed it ,

Great video and information.👍 Thank you.😊

I remember when I was in Mexico visiting family, my grandpa told me "always keep a pack of beer on you in your car" I said why? He said "that way when a cop pulls you over, you can just offer them the pack of beer and they probably will let you go" I was like noo you can't do that Grandpa, he was like just watch one day. Fast-forward to another trip to Mexico, we get pulled over as a family by cops, few minutes later my grandpa hands them a pack of beer and then we were on our way. 🤣 This was one of the "GOOD" situations with Mexico cops. Some other situation the police threatened to take everyone to jail for not signalling properly on a lane change, but then said "how much money do you have? You can just pay your ticket now and I don't have to impound your car and take everyone to jail." Everyone scrambled to find cash, came up with about $70, and they said that's not enough and pressed for more. Eventually after watching everyone scramble through purses for money, and watching my aunt crying in fear, the cop felt frustrated, took the $70 and told everyone to get out of here before he arrest everyone. Then one time they pulled me over randomly with my wife and baby, searched my whole car, and kept asking me "where's the marijuana?" Over and over. They went through my bags, under my car, under all the mats, everywhere. Eventually they gave up after about 10 minutes and then let us go. There was no marijuana, they just wanted some for themselves and though I might have some by profiling. 🤣 God I have so many stories of Mexican Police!

In 1989 I drove from Puerto Vallarta to San Diego in a van with California plates. The Federalies stopped us at three checkpoints and acted like our paperwork wasn't in order. Each time I gave the officer 50 Pesos, and he let us pass. The lines that were pulled over to the side of the road at these checkpoints were 20 to 30 cars deep. It saved a lot of time.

AWESOME advice. Thanks!

This also works exactly the same way in Thailand. Great advice!

I have noticed a difference between Power and Authority. An officer may very well have the Power to hold you up and make your life miserable (or even, short!) But his Authority is usually quite limited. Here in the USA most officers do not want questions about their Authority to go very much higher.

San Miguel is infamous for taking license plates so tourists will pay a parking fine. Be very careful where you park as the parking signage is vague.

Great advice!! Really tought through 👍🏻

Dude!! I just saw this video. How awesome! Thank you for this.

My shakedown fee converted to $50CDN, which is much cheaper than the Canadian Shake Down Fee in Canada. I paid the young cop and said to my wife that we had just bought the local cop lunch with his wife. I classified it event as " Taking a Mexican to Luch Day."

I've literally watched this unfold as the passenger in a car where the driver was a Mexican national. It's the same script, and it was just a matter of waiting them out, as they were not willing to write an official citation (probably because the municipality would laugh at it as bullshit).

Really helpful, thank you!

Super helpful video. Especially the "transit" officer's part. Thank you!!

This happened to me in San Felipe a long time ago and I was too stupid to understand that he wanted a bribe. I ended up following him back to his police station. I'm 6ft 300 lbs and I felt like a giant. The biggest cop in the police station was maybe 5'6" and they all reminded my if children with giant handguns on their hips. When he told me the fine in pesos I did the conversion in my head and thought it had to be a mistake. I ran a rusty, gray stop sign that was partially hidden by a plant in a pot (LOL) and they tell me the fine is about $8. After I did the conversion I asked him to repeat the number in pesos and then I said "$8?" He says "yeah" and I start dying laughing. I would have paid $20 for the tour of the police station I got.

I've been driving in Mexico 50 + years. Never once paid a ticket or bribe. Always have Baja 1000 race shirts or hats handy! Saludos!!

Eres una gran ayuda, gracias yall.

Very helpful as always