Confiscation of foreign plated cars?

I read a third-party report on The MexConnect board about three people in Mazatlan who have had their US or Canada plated cars confiscated because of the Permanente kerfluffle. Is there anyone here with direct knowledge of any confiscation by local police, federales, auduana, whoever?

MexConnect thread here:

http://www.mexconnect.com/cgi-bin/forums/gforum.cgi?post=188845;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

I hope that long-ass URL gets you there.

I think they are over reacting. We were always taught that the only people who can check our immigration status are not the police but the immigration officials.

Maybe someone like Spencer would like to step in and comment thereon.

Pete:

Believe what you would like of "Mexico life lessons" but I have read and personally seen the Federales that hang out by the airport pulling people over and checking all vehicle documents.

MexicoPete wrote:I think they are over reacting. We were always taught that the only people who can check our immigration status are not the police but the immigration officials.

I have had a local Transito in the past insist on seeing my immigration document under the guise that it was the only way for him to confirm that my car with the ancient, expired TIP was still legal.

I am told that we are obligated to show papers proving our right to be here to everyone from transitos on up. The difference is, they are not allowed to do anything about it other than accept it as proof of ownership of imported vehicle.

I guess all of the above is possible. But I've been here since 1997 and no one has ever asked for my immigration papers, accept at the airport/border etc.

What my Mexican attorney has done was give me his/her private cell phone # and should an official ask for something I do not have or that I think, is illegal, is to phone my attorney and have the official talk to my attorney. I also carry copies of the laws with me in Spanish that the attorney can tell the official to look at.

I know that when I got stopped for my license plate, as soon as I showed my FM card, everything changed... they were much nicer to me.

I'm just waiting for someone's insurance company to refuse to pay their claim because their car is no longer legal since immigration status changed. Can't believe no one has tried that yet because they just loooove to find reasons not to pay claims. It is bound to happen to someone sooner or later.

We have some friends that just arrived here from San Miguel yesterday with a California plated vehicle. They were pulled over and checked for immigration/vehicle documents just past the airport around 12:00 noon. He explained to the cop that he didn't have his visa card with him since he just applied for a renewal. That explantion was good enough and he was let go.

That link doesn't work. It just brings you to this forum. Under what heading is that on in MexConnect?

jackak10 wrote:I read a third-party report on The MexConnect board about three people in Mazatlan who have had their US or Canada plated cars confiscated because of the Permanente kerfluffle. Is there anyone here with direct knowledge of any confiscation by local police, federales, auduana, whoever?

MexConnect thread here:

http://www.mexconnect.com/cgi-bin/forums/gforum.cgi?post=188845;sb=post_latest_reply;so=ASC;forum_view=forum_view_collapsed;;page=unread#unread

I hope that long-ass URL gets you there.

The link worked for me using IE 10.

If for some reason it doesn't for you. Go to the Mexconnect forums. It's located at
Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

under the subject of

"Scarcity of Ilegal Vehicles"

Thanks. It sounds like there are some renegade cops in Mazatlan.

MexicoPete wrote:The link worked for me using IE 10.

If for some reason it doesn't for you. Go to the Mexconnect forums. It's located at
Forums > General > Living, Working, Retiring

under the subject of

"Scarcity of Ilegal Vehicles"

I've asked 3 attorneys about the above subject. And frankly I feel that things will quiet down with time, but that there could be complications.

Right now, I'm driving a very dented 2 Dr. Ford Explorer Sport I picked up in 2000 in Texas. This car is worth less than the cost of nationalizing it.

I was planning to get a newer car anyway. So maybe I should start looking a little bit harder so that should it become necessary, I could move rapidly to pick up a new RAV 4.

Sadly although the RAV 4 has XM/Sirius Radio up North be you in Canada or the USA, I don't think that's an option down here.

Although you can pick up the signal for XM/Sirius in Mexico there is no agreement/treaty legally allowing service in Mexico.

I don't think New car dealers offer XM/SIRIUS subscriptions in Mexico. You could buy a new or any vehicle here and have it retro'd or drive NOB have it installed and sign up.

Still, easy enough to buy one online and get it installed on the dash.

I have a XM radio in my house. It works great. Oh and Spencer checked with the Toyota dealer. None of the 2013 RAV4s have 4 wheel drive. I guess I will look at the Honda CR-V

MexicoPete wrote:I have a XM radio in my house. It works great. Oh and Spencer checked with the Toyota dealer. None of the 2013 RAV4s have 4 wheel drive. I guess I will look at the Honda CR-V

Pete, anywhere that you need 4WD, is a place YOU should not be.

cosalamx wrote:

MexicoPete wrote:I have a XM radio in my house. It works great. Oh and Spencer checked with the Toyota dealer. None of the 2013 RAV4s have 4 wheel drive. I guess I will look at the Honda CR-V

Pete, anywhere that you need 4WD, is a place YOU should not be.

ROFL. When we first moved to Mexico, we wondered whether our pickup would be adequate, as opposed to one of those 4 wheel drive jobs. Then we discovered that the taxi drivers, going everywhere around and up and down the steep hills in SMA were mostly driving Nissan Sentras. IMO, you got it right, Cosalamex, unless off roading is your thing. Three years of driving a small sedan: no problems, easy parking and cheap to keep.

However, car choices involve the heart and the gut; not necessarily the head. There's something about those ads showing macho guys fording streams and climbing rutted mountain roads.................

Oh man! Off road is a blast. I have a tough old 4Runner and one time a couple of friends and I took it from Las Trojes, behind Jocotepec, all the way to Ixlahuacan. Took all day and we ran across herds of cows and horses, rivers to plot a path across, gorgeous scenery, and a few off-road maniacs on quads from Guad. I probably wouldn't go back there now, tho. . .

And y'all know what a macho guy I am! lolol

Trailrunner wrote:Oh man! Off road is a blast.

You're darn right it is.

gringal wrote:

cosalamx wrote:

MexicoPete wrote:I have a XM radio in my house. It works great. Oh and Spencer checked with the Toyota dealer. None of the 2013 RAV4s have 4 wheel drive. I guess I will look at the Honda CR-V

Pete, anywhere that you need 4WD, is a place YOU should not be.

ROFL. When we first moved to Mexico, we wondered whether our pickup would be adequate, as opposed to one of those 4 wheel drive jobs. Then we discovered that the taxi drivers, going everywhere around and up and down the steep hills in SMA were mostly driving Nissan Sentras. IMO, you got it right, Cosalamex, unless off roading is your thing. Three years of driving a small sedan: no problems, easy parking and cheap to keep.

However, car choices involve the heart and the gut; not necessarily the head. There's something about those ads showing macho guys fording streams and climbing rutted mountain roads.................

Evidently from these comments, you folks haven't been up to the top of Juarez lately, where Pete lives. That last block, the goats can hardly make it with 4WD.

So Pete needs a 4 wheel drive, and offroading is fun if your back ain't broke already.

I had a Rav4 that did not have 4-WD. They're VERY skiddy even on flat stretches when it's rainy. Loved the car except for that but if I ever got another it would have to have 4-WD, even here. It's something about the way the weight is distributed on the frame. And I sure didn't care to offroad.

Yes a four wheel drive makes things much easier the last couple of blocks to my house especially if it has recently rained