Do you plan to rent or drive a car in the vicinity of Cancun?

Question

If so, beware the "speed" traps. Our friends had warned us beforehand so we were slightly prepared, but when you're heading to the airport it is still disconcerting.

After taking the driver's license, the driver was told that he had been speeding and would have to go to the police station downtown to pay the 1000 peso fine ($100) and to retrieve his driver's license, but since we didn't have much time, he would be willing to accept 600 pesos instead. We had a 2nd driver in the car so the driver's license was not a problem. The driver told him we only had 250 pesos so he'd have to follow him downtown to get pesos and to pay the fine. The cop very kindly decided that 250 pesos would be adequate.

If you rent a car, be sure to add a 2nd driver to the contract. If you're stopped, don't let them see how much money you have in your wallet.

Other than the speed trap, we had a great visit -- outside of the Cancun area.

Have you had a similar experience?

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Answer 1

Sorry for your friends misfortune but I had to chuckle...those officers must be making a killing off of tourists...and my friend Mac.

Mac and his wife Suzy own a bed and breakfast here in Cancun and offer to pick their guests up as a service. Every time Mac drives to the airport he gets stopped (which is several times a week). He knows the officers now (after years of this happening), can ask about the kids, the wife you know all of the polite things and then Mac will ask how much the ticket is...if he has time...he will tell them "no just take me to jail ...which they don't want to do"...if he is in a hurry he will just pay the "fine." Corrupt! You bet! There are reasons that are too complicated to go into here for this happening...

My suggestion is this: When driving in Mexico have some pocket money and your license readily accessible...have the passenger hold your wallet.

When you are asked for your license don't give it to them...show that you have it.

Ask if there is a fine associated with the stop and if so can it be paid directly to the officer. No matter what the amount you are told...what ever you have in your pocket is what you have to pay (my friend Mac pays $200p).

My Mexican friends tell me that we should never do this that we are helping with the corruption...you bet I am because after all I am a stranger in a strange land...and the moral is that it isn't always a perfect world!

Answer 2

Sorry ,no- for the moment, I'm stuck in cold, white, western N.Y.

Answer 3

Wow. Last time I was there we took the bus and taxi. Although I've heard some taxi cabs are also corrupt I did not eperience it. Thank goodness.

Answer 4

Yes it happen to me i rented a jeep and was coming around the turn by the mall and a cop stoped me and said i was speeding and there was fifty cars in front of me we where doing about 5 when he stopedus he said i need to give him a tip or he would half to take me downtown to pay a fine or i could just give him atip of 30 dollars but i told him that i had only 10 and he said that would be ok .so watch out downtown around the shopping mall.they are going to get you.

Answer 5

Sounds like Africa, corrupt from top to bottom, & you do not

want to go to jail in a strange land.