Could your handheld radios be confiscated in Mexico after debarking from a cruise ship?

Question

The Mexican free-use FRS channels also include many others at VHF and UHF, some allowing up to 5 watts output. To find Certified Mexican radios for sale even in mexico is hard and I already own Midlands and want to use them but was told they would be taken and I would be fined if I used them on a shore excursion. Anyone have any info on this? Thanks for your time!

Answer 1

wow interesting i have never heard of anything like that before

Answer 2

Technically this is correct, it is not legal to use FRS or GMRS radios outside of the US (and Canada top I believe but I'm not positive).

You can in fact be fined and have your radios confiscated.

The problem isn't necessarily the radios but the frequencies they use.  In the US those frequencies are reserved for FRS/GMRS use, however many of those frequencies have other uses in Mexico.  As a result using your FRS/GMRS radios in Mexico could interfere with other users, and that is where you'll get into trouble.

I just don't know enough about the Mexican version of the FCC to know how big of a risk you'll be taking if you use the radios.  If it was me, I'd keep the radios on the ship and just stay with my group on the excursion.  Either that or use my cell phone.

Answer 3

We have used our all over Mexico. central and south America.

So far we have had ZERO problems...

Good luck