[Dee]

In a few months I will be traveling by car from Tennessee to central Mexico. This is my first time driving down there and through the border, ect. I expect and certainly hope traveling there goes smoothly but I know I will be going through some pretty rough areas. I really wish I could pack my .45 with me but I realize that could obviously get me into some trouble if caught with it by the Federales, I know they can be real A-holes anyway, trust me I know :(

I was wondering what some of you may do for personal protection and the protection of loved ones in that situation if necessary. I don't know how big of a deal it is to carry large lock back knives or impact weapons. I usually always have a Spyderco 3" blade on me and also have a 4.5" tactical lockback that I keep in my car if I want something heavier. Any advise is appreciated. Thanks- Dee

[hmphargh]

Not sure about the knife thing, but I have gone to Mexico with a Mini-Griptilian (2.9" blade) in my pocket without hassle. If you are traveling in a car, why not bring something more innocuous with you that has a bit more reach? It seems that having a baseball bat, walking stick, big Mag Light, or other stick would not be out of place in a car and wouldn't raise as many eyebrows as a big tactical knife.

[NMGonzo]

Stay away from the big border crossings, you will be fine for the most part.

PM me if you have questions about best border crossings.

[MutinousDoug]

I haven't been to Mexico for years but a machete was a commonly encountered tool in any state I've been in. I found the shorter 15" coco knives more portable than the 36-40" campasino blades.
HTH

[conwict]

Defensive driving skills, tire patch kit & pump, maybe extra gas, coolant, etc.

A walking stick, hit them with the stick and then walk away fast unless you want to deal with the corrupt police in some areas.

Dunno the legality of a sap in Mexico but I swear by them. If they are legal you can make your own with a spring, lead lure (6oz+), and some electrician's tape once you're there.

Screwdrivers are pretty legal universally.

Situational awareness is huge anywhere, especially places you dont know. Don't dress like a tourist. Don't discuss plans out loud. Don't tell hotel/etc staff your plans or schedule.

[CWL]

From my vacations into Mexico since college days, we have always rented a car at the border and drove that thru Mexico. This gives some peace of mind from thefts, accidents and police confiscations.

[hso]

Look at the various threads here on alternatives to firearms.

Options that have been discussed before include canes, bats, long wrenches with wheel lug compatible heads, machetes, shovels and other impact weapons can be carried with reasonable explanations as to why they are there.

Items that can be carried are canes, coin saps, camera monopods/tripods, older brass body SLR cameras, small knives, pens, etc.

Pepper spray is supposedly legal in Mexico, but I'd recommend that you not consume alcohol while carrying it since I've also read that this is prohibited.

Be careful depending upon the time of year you're going. If vehicle temps will get above 100 you could have popping pepper spray. That would be inconvenient.

I've also read that Tasers and stun guns are a no-no.

[Dee]

Thanks guys, great advice. I'll probably at least add an extra long mag light to the arsenal. It would be good to have along side my road side kit anyway. It is true that machetes are pretty common place in rural areas so I may look at some of those as well.

[conwict]

Forget a machete, get a kukri

Oops, I see you were talking about buying a Mexican machete.

[SFB]

i use to live in san diego and made surf trips through baja often, and have also flown to central mexico, and never encountered any trouble (and i am white as can be and speak very very little spanish). whatever you decide to bring make sure you don't have even a single bullet in your car. just one bullet can land you in prison, even without a gun present.

[Carl Levitian]

before you go, call your auto insurance company and make darn sure your policy covers Mexico. Some companies won't.

Even if you do, I think you'll have to buy the national approved car insurence at the border.

Don't drive anything you really value down there. Leave you're 1967 restored Mustang home. On the sometimes too narrow roads between towns, the trucks think they have some kind of God given right of way, and sometimes straddle the center. Just get out of thier way. Flying dust and gravel will do a number on a paint job; if you have a 10 year old Ford or Chevy with faded paint and parking lot ding's and dents, take that that on the trip.

Don't carry or wear stuff that makes you look too much like the wealthy gringo. Leave the Rolex looking watches home, and go with a plain Timex from Walmart. Clothing the same way, stay away from high dollar loog clothes. Keep your wallet in your front pocket, and don't have a lot of cash in it. Keep the bulk of your money and drivers ID in a under the shirt belly band. Or one of those nylon pouches down the front of your pants.

The blue shirt local cops are crooked as the day is long. They'll haul you in for driving the wrong way down a supposedly one way street that had no such sign, but then he and his desk Sgt. will put thier heads together, and decide for X number of dollars fine, you can go. Same thing if they see you with a nice Benchmade or other high end knife. He'll tell you thats an illeagal weapon, and tell you he has to arrest you or confiscate the knife. The Kahki clad cops won't do that. They're a little straiter. Carry a low profile blade like a well used Case Sodbuster of zytel handle Buck or Gerber.

It's okay to drink coffee, tea, beer, or soda, but DON'T DRINK THE WATER!

Take a bottle of Imodiam or Pepto with you just in case.

All of the above came from being stationed at Ft. Sam Houston, in San Antonio, and going into Mexico on long weekends for fishing, and adventure in my younger single days. It's truely amazing what trouble a young GI can get into down there, and learn from experience.

[Dee]

Great advice guys thanks again. Carl, I will double check my auto policy thats a great point. LOL about the cops down there, you really nailed it. I have been to Mexico a couple other times but have always flown, this is my first time driving there but I know what you mean, and the damn truckers are out of control, you do really have to watch out for them.

[hso]

In vehicle parlance, bigger is better. Rules of the road just won't trump simple physics and even a Mexican trucker knows that he rules the road (if no one is around to enforce the law).

[Dee]

I'm taking a mid sized SUV, a GMC Envoy. It's not a very large vehicle but it's a decent size, it at least is not a little rat trap sub compact car.

[CWL]

Don't forget that the ice used in drinks may not be filtered. Most high-end restaurants and hotels have heavy filtration equipment, but the small places won't.

Never been a problem for me, but I have a cast iron stomach.

[CWL]

I'm taking a mid sized SUV, a GMC Envoy. It's not a very large vehicle but it's a decent size, it at least is not a little rat trap sub compact car.

A former associate of mine who is a corporate lawyer in Mexico showed-off his new car, a totally dialed-in Suburban with 2 TV/DVD systems. -He paid US$5000 for it. Guess how he got it?

[Dee]

A former associate of mine who is a corporate lawyer in Mexico showed-off his new car, a totally dialed-in Suburban with 2 TV/DVD systems. -He paid US$5000 for it. Guess how he got it?

I can only imagine... The Envoy is the only thing I have to take down there though other than my work van. Guess I'll have to keep an eye on it:scrutiny:

[Readyrod]

+1 on CarlLevitian's advice. Don't bring anything valuable other than your camera, and get insurance for it. Swap out your SD cards regularly so you don't lose the pix. Carry a decoy wallet with a few days worth of cash and some filler. Keep it in an obvious place. If they ask you why you don't have more cash tell them the last cop/thief got it all. If they really insist just give it all to them, it ain't worth dieing for, cause they will kill you if they want. Amex travelers checks are your friend, really. Don't leave anything in your car, even in your trunk, it will be stolen.
On the other hand the first time I went to Tijuana I parked on a side street and left a bunch of stuff including my (Canadian) passport on the passenger seat in plain view. LOL. What an idiot. It was still there when I got back. (God protects the innocent sometimes. Just don't push it.)
Have fun. Mexico is awesome. The beer is great. The food is too. If you go to the pyramids at Teotiwakan the open space to the right of the pyramid of the sun has lots of pieces of obsidian knife blades litering the ground. Very cool. Most fields near any pyramids have lots of pottery, arrow heads etc. Just don't trample any crops. Check out the museum of anthropology in Mexico City. Sandborns House of Tiles is great for lunch. Oh man there is so much cool stuff to see and do in Mexico, I'm just jealous.

[Readyrod]

Oh yea, and stay away from the cops. Really. As in no kidding.

[Dee]

Yea I'm looking forward to the trip, I do think it should be a lot of fun. I know those cops are bad news though. It just goes to show you what happens when citizens let their government become to corrupt and powerful IMHO, it is a real shame.

[Readyrod]

The corruption is built into the system. My girlfriend, when I lived in Mexico, had a govt job. They didn't pay very much cause they were supposed to make their money through bribes and corruption. Same goes for the cops. It works so well cause honest people can't survive on the salary so only dishonest people apply. Locals hate the corruption and the crime, but it's a hard system to change.
Also any system that focuses all the money at the top and leaves a large very poor class at the bottom will tend to have a lot of crime. It's not the only reason but to a certain degree poverty breeds crime.

[Carl Levitian]

"I can only imagine... The Envoy is the only thing I have to take down there though other than my work van. Guess I'll have to keep an eye on it "


Dee, if that's all ya got, It'll have to do. Try to park it in a spot where they have the young man with a baseball bat, and for a dollar, he'll watch your car. It's probably a couple dollars now, but they do have these young guys who will stand guard for you. Each bat boy worked for a business that took care of the parking places in front. Made sure your car was okay while you were in there.

If I may offer you an alternative; If there are a couple of you going, It may be worth your while to all go in on a decent used car for the trip, and sell it afterward and divy up the money. Any depreciation can be marked up to the coast of the vacation. A nice clean crown vic or large caprice would do, they have big trunks.

In 1969, while stationed at Ft. Sam Houston, in San Antonio, I and a couple of buds took a fishing trip down there. I drove my 1963 Ford falcon. By the time I got back to the border crossing to the U.S. I needed a new left headlight, new windshield, both from gravel kicked up from the maniac truckers going the other way at high speed, a new right front window, where some 'have not' broke into the car to see what he could steel, a new right front wheel as the old one got a bit bent hitting a pothole in the dark that I couldn't see till too late. Do not drive at night down there!

It's been decades since I've been there, maybe things have got better.

Let us know how it went when you get back. Wishing you well on your trip.

[Dee]

Wow Carl, that sounds like you went through some pretty rough areas, I sure hope it won't be that bad. The Envoy is only 3 years old, it would piss me off to no end to see it get destroyed like that. I may have to reconsider flying I guess, I looked into driving just to save some money and we could take more stuff with us, ect. We flew down a couple years ago and that was a real nightmare too, just a huge ordeal, lost luggage, ect. I guess there is not an easy answer to getting down there without putting up with some form of BS. Wish me luck and pray for our trip down there in any case:)

[rooter]

Ransom insurance unless you are in a resort town and fly in. Way dangerous in Mexico these days. I don't even go to Tijuana anymore. Used to be all you needed was bottled water and a box of condoms to keep you safe. Times they are a changin.:uhoh:

[tj_dude]

mexico is in the middle of a war right now with both sides armed with automatic weapons so I dont see the point of bringing a 3" spyderco or a maglight for protection ,any threat you would encounter will be armed with a gun if I was you I would stay home and if you drive, try renting a car with insurance on it because SUV theft is big in mexico

[hso]

Make sure your Envoy is insured for Mexico so that if it is stolen or damaged you can recover the depreciated value.

[moe1942]

My advice would be to not go. You are road kill if you stray into the wrong area. They will kill with impunity and use auto weapons. They might just kidnap y'all and I would put my family in that situation.

[gga357]

+1 additional insurance. I would stay away from Juarez and TJ. If you are going through either, go through during the day. Expect a long wait coming back over the border.

[7X57chilmau]

Even in a "war zone" there are the everyday threats of muggers common street crime. The drug war crazies aren't the only threat. Better to be armed with a knife an think yourself underarmed than to be unarmed and wishing.

I'm sure the OP is at least passingly aware of the situation today in Mexico and has considered that before deciding to make the trip.

J

[Dee]

Well the thing is is that my wife's family lives in Mexico, also my wife's dad is in poor health so we feel it is important to make the trip. The area where my wife is from is pretty rural and when I was there a couple of years back the areas that I visited seemed relatively safe. I do not know about the other areas that I will be passing through but I know that there is a lot of dangerous things that are going on, the drug wars, ect and may be passing through some bad areas of the country regardless of what is going on.

Obviously I know that a knife or maglight is no match against a gun, especially an automatic one. That said I plan to try and stay out of trouble as much as possible, if however the life of any family member or my self is threatened then I will do everything that I possibly can to stop the threat. If I get close enough I think that I can do some damage with a 3" spyderco or 4" tactical knife, I know that it is not ideal but I sure do NOT want to be rendered completely defenseless in any situation. That said this thread has given me a lot to think about and I do appreciate all of the responses, I may have to re-evaluate some parts of the trip and consider flying in.

[Warhawk83]

Fly in if you can afford it, too much death going on for my taste.

[gallo]

Here is some advice from a guy that was born there, has traveled there, has gotten a car stolen and recovered from the police, and still keeps going back for more.

1. If you have never driven in Mexico, traffic is very aggressive. For example, if you are going to make a lane change, don't signal with the blinker, just accelerate and switch.

2. Toll highways are very expensive compared to the US but worth every penny. You don't want to be stuck in traffic in a public highway sporting TN plates.

3. Military, federal police and local police check points can be anywhere in the city or highways. They do not need probable cause to check your car. US cars are of special interest to the authorities and thugs alike because often times people are carrying an old gun or ammo that they bought for their compadre and US dollars. Don't make the mistake of taking your 45. Awareness and general safety precautions are what keeps you alive in Mexico, not a pea shooter.

4. Drive only during the day and on toll roads as much as possible. You always want to keep moving. Traffic jams are your enemy. Full stops are not advisable, especially at night. Slow down and keep moving.

5. Carry pesos. The best exchange rate will be found at the border. Exchange your dollars on the American side. Carry bribe money handy. You don't want open a wallet full of money in front of a cop. In my experience, local cops are easy to bribe for minor traffic violations -- federal and military not so easy or advisable. Only attempt to bribe federal figures if you have a good chunk of money and have committed a serious crime that will land you in jail (i.e. taking a 45 to Mexico). Be discrete and transact quickly. Bribing is an art. The last thing you want is an indignant cop accusing you of bribing him.

5. Ask if your cell phone company has coverage in Mexico. Verizon, for example, has a plan that includes all of Mexico. Get the plan for a month and cancel the service afterward.

6. Express kidnappings by police and thugs are common. Avoid road blocks if possible by taking a different route, especially if there are no other cars behind you. Many times, the road block is by corrupt police or thugs dressed as police.

7. Keep sufficient distance away from the car in front of you and always try to have an exit route when in a traffic jam. A lot of muggings and car hijackings take place at corners while people wait for the light to change.

8. Don't be afraid to break traffic laws to save your life.You can always bribe a cop to get out of such trouble.

9. Depending on where you will go, GPS may not work. Know where you are going and get some good maps. Move with purpose. Lost tourists attract predators.

10. Don't be charitable. You will encounter a lot of amputees, malnourished kids, women with child in arms begging for money in the street. Ignore them and keep moving. Giving money is a dead give away that you are a tourist. If all the poverty in Mexico gets to you, stop by a Red Cross or Salvation Army and donate money. I feel bad about this last point, but you don't want to give a soft impression.

Good luck and stay safe. If you can fly, do so.

[Dee]

Great checklist Gallo, I appreaciate it. I do want to make it clear that I do not plan on taking the pea-shooter or any other artillary on the trip as mentioned earlier for reasons that you described.

My wife still wants to drive down there as it turns out although I did mention a lot of the concerns brought up. Where we are going is around 8 hours from the border and her cousin may meet us at the border to help travel down there. We should make it in one day. We will get additional ins on the car, I also like the idea of having a decoy wallet with only a little $$$ in it if needed.

[22-rimfire]

Rent a car. Take the train. Take back ups on knives. I don't know if things have changed but some liked to steal US license plates. Rent a car....

If you have never driven in Mexico, you will have to adjust quickly to the aggressive driving there. I couldn't handle it myself.

[Deltaboy]

Prayers for you as you go my friend.

[Dee]

Thanks guys, I may look into renting a car, that is one thing that I have not seriously looked at. I'm afraid it may be cost prohibitive though for as long as we will be there. :banghead: about 2.5 weeks...

[TimboKhan]

Don't take anything that is outwardly a weapon. I would avoid even a pocketknife. Something like a cane would be perfect!

Basically, if you do get pulled over, you don't want anything that can even remotely set off the Federales.

[DAVIDSDIVAD]

In vehicle parlance, bigger is better. Rules of the road just won't trump simple physics and even a Mexican trucker knows that he rules the road (if no one is around to enforce the law).

Sorry Hso but this is bad advice.


My uncle (a resident of Juarez) told us that the news says the car-jackers seem to exhibit a preference for Americans driving big, new 4x4s.

[gallo]

One more thing I forgot to mention. If you are going to a remote, little town, say one without a GM dealership, it would be prudent to carry basic spare parts like belts and hoses. You'll always find resourceful mechanics, but even bigger shops seldom carry parts. The good thing is that you are driving an Envoy, which I believe it's a car in circulation in Mexico and part should be available at the nearest dealership.

[Dee]

I know for sure that I am not going through Juarez at least. Having belts and hoses sounds like a good idea, I can see the need for that come up at the worst time. I'm not too sure about the cane, I feel pretty old but am only 28, I get the idea though, thanks.