Embassy: including the cuotas. hands up!

[Doyle Phillips]

United States Mission in Mexico
Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Holiday Travel Precautions
December 12, 2014

With the approaching holiday season, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Mexico are receiving increasing reports of highway robberies and carjackings on popular transit routes into the interior of Mexico, including on toll roads (“cuotas”). Criminals are very aware that many travelers coming from the United States at this time of year are carrying gifts, often expensive electronic items and jewelry. The criminals monitor the highways to identify potential targets, and appear to be targeting individuals displaying valuable items or driving vehicles they believe likely to contain these items, including vehicles with U.S. license plates. Most criminal activity occurs after dark, currently between 6:00 P.M. and sunrise.

While U.S. citizens have, in the past, been murdered in highway robbery and carjacking incidents, in recent reports most victims who complied with robbers' demands have reported that they were not physically harmed. In some cases, robbers have shot at vehicles that have attempted to flee. Robbers have used a variety of techniques, including roadblocks, bumping/moving vehicles to force them to stop, and running vehicles off the road at high speeds. While violent incidents can occur anywhere and at any time, they most frequently occur after dark and on isolated stretches of roads. To reduce risk when traveling by road, we strongly urge you to travel between cities throughout Mexico only during daylight hours, to avoid isolated roads, and to continue to use toll roads ("cuotas") whenever possible.

The Government of Mexico’s Programa Paisano provides support to U.S. residents returning to Mexico for the holiday season, including providing security information. http://www.paisano.gob.mx/

The current Travel Warning for Mexico http://www.travel.state.gov/content/pass...mlprovides more specific information by Mexican state. Travelers traveling by road are urged to review the sections on each state they will transit, as well as their final destination.

Maintain a high level of vigilance and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security.U.S. citizen victims of crime in Mexico are encouraged to report incidents to the police and to the nearest U.S. consular office.