[laguera]

Seem like more of a bureaucratic CYA warning than anything else. Or have things really changed all that much recently in crime/kidnapping events?

[bajatraveler]

Murders are up in Tijuana but it is mostly between the cartels / rival drug dealers. I never used to be in favor of legalizing drugs but my opinion has changed over the last year or two. I figure people are going to use drugs, legal or not, and all we are doing is helping to minimize the competition for the cartels right now. Unfortunately, most people north of the border don’t seem to really care much about the cartel violence as long as it stays south of the border. The problem is that eventually it will cross over and by the time that happens the US government will be as corrupt and infiltrated by the cartels as Mexico is today. And it will be much too late to do anything about it.

[mx-rider]

I always liked Tijuana and my wife loved shopping in the Rio district but after 2 shakedowns from smiling TJ cops, I now cross at Tecate or head over to cross at Mexicali and take the 5 south.

[Cruiser]

I think the situation with the traffic cops in Tijuana is changing. Used to be that I was stopped at least once on any weekend trip to Tijuana and it would usually take 20 bucks to resolve but it has been a long time since that last happened. In fact the last time I was stopped was probably 3 or 4 years and that was just to tell me that a brake light was out but he pointed out an Autozone down the street where I could buy one and that they would even install it for me. No ticket/shakedown and he even stopped traffic for me to get back in.

And by the way, I think it’s pretty cool how helpful the auto parts stores are down here installing minor repair parts at no charge – happy with just a nice tip.

[JuanSoler]

That’s my experience as well. But I have heard that they tend to profile drivers a lot more than than used to when it was basically just looking for California plates on a newer vehicle.