getting the screws put on me

[markosjal]

I know I am an unknown in these forums however I would like to let you know a little about me and then go on to express my opinion on this topic

I am Mexican American born and raised in USA to one Mexican parent, dual National by birth. I was raised by my non Mexican Parent. In my youth I was exposed to very limited Mexican Culture. I learned Spanish in School

I have lived in Mexico for over ten years and now know aunts, cousins and nephews here. I look as Mexican as they do In fact I was recently mistaken by my cousin's friend as a brother he had never met. Then I opened my mouth and spoke and he knew I could not have been his brother.

When I speak Spanish I have an obvious English accent. Suffice to say I m ambiguous and Canadians often take me as Canadian, for the dialect of English I speak and having worked many years in a Canadian comp?ny..

Now with that said I will go on to express that I have been with Mexicans who paid mordidas to transito and with gringos who paid mordidas to transito. Mexcians often pay as little as 50 pesos whereas gringos pay normally 500 pesos. In my case when I open my mouth to transito I am a Gringo and the latter applies to me.

NEVER PAY A MORDIDA you are promoting crooked cops/officials and commiting a crime! Instead REPORT THEM! In some places the State police take complaints about crooked officials. Some police departments have an internal affairs division (asuntos intertnos). As a forigner they even abuse you more as they are looking for those US Dollars that they feel they entitled to because you have them(dollars), and they (cops or officials) have you scared..

If you pay anything to transito play dumb and demand a receipt! this works! they may threaten that you have to go to the police station, and it is usually a bluff. Call the bluff!

On 2 occassions the police have stolen from me in one case they took money right from a bag I was carrying . I think aboiut 3000 pesos. Just last month a transito official took 1500 pesos out of my hand as I went to pay for a drivers licence that should have cost less that 500 pesos . When you pay their mordidas you empower them to commit these abuses which are criminal.

These guys are not shielded theives they are officials and should behave so. The law forbids mordidas. No matter what the situation of you pay any mordida as a foreigner or national you are at least committing a crime, as are they by accepting it. It is shameful that you will pay off a cop to get you out of trouble, or pay an inspector because it is easier. If you are not in trouble the official should have no reason to harass you. You cause those officials to harass you because you are another "dumb Gringo" to him and he knows you will pay for FEAR. At the same time you make other foreigners suffer because you give him what he wants and now has access to this cash cow ATM, GRINGOS.

Good luck