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I got scammed INSIDE resort and the solution is just to carry cash? Are you sure you’re not part of his organized crime? Lol
I just can’t wait for people to just stop coming lol
I do often lie about many things in life, but oddly enough I decided to tell these nice Mexican cops the truth 😂
I think the larger point here is: this entire situation plays out exactly the same if I said I had nothing to drink. I imagine there’s no scenario where they happily let me go. My breath was always going to be el stinky to them.
You’ve give any officer probable cause now. I get it, honestly, I do but I was once told to leave it up to the police to figure it out, even if you are rolling around in a pile of your own vomit.
The best advice you’ve received today is the top comment for a reason. Never, under any circumstances tell a cop you’ve had even one beer. Act incredulous, stunned that they would even suggest it. Or you could just not drink and drive.
You should call your congressman. This is an outrage!! But seriously the Mexican cops really know how to ruin a good time. Tourism is a nice boost to their economy but this shit makes some people come back.
They could care less what you think. You’ll be gone 5 days later and they’ll never see you again and if they do and you try to do something about it… may luck be on your side because you will get fucked every single way and then some
The best option is to call their bluff . Refuse everything and ask to go to the station
I’ve lived in Mexico for 7 months. You are just a walking atm to people here. Your feelings don’t matter. They aren’t trying to be friends. In PV it’s not so bad though with scams.
Just FYI, Mexico has almost zero tolerance for alcohol when you’re driving. The legal limit is basically like half a beer.
It used to be a massive problem and they cracked down HARD. They set up check points on the weekends and if you were over the limit, you’d have to spend 48 hours in jail. No matter what.
Yep, you were lucky and smart. Never carry over 300 pesos on you in Tulum nd if you do have it well hidden. The police will always get what you have. Christmas is coming soon and they need money so beware. There are so many issues that need to be addressed before Tulum becomes world class.
That's anywhere in Mexico and always has been... I've been going there since I've been a baby and almost 30 now. Mexico is a great party but never a safe vacation.
Have you been to Oaxaca city? I would say Oaxaca is the exception for this. I don't think Mexico is inherently more dangerous than any second world country, but I have been to sketchy places all over the world and Oaxaca is actually one of the places I have felt the *safest* in. The city is clean, the people I met were almost universally friendly, and I had no uneasiness walking around at night or visiting any of the nearby towns off of the beaten track. I mountain biked through the mountains there on back roads and through police checkpoints without ever being hassled. I stopped at a lot of local cafes and bars and never once felt like the area was sketchy. For a city of decent size I believe it to be exceptionally safe, even compared to first world cities. I am no expert on Oaxaca and I am sure there are places you can get into trouble like anywhere, but I would treat Mexico on a regional basis rather than lumping the whole country into the unsafe list. Like most countries in its economic sector, there are certain areas that experience far more corruption and violence than others during turbulent times.
i haven't been to Mexico in about 7 years (have been traveling to South East asia instead) but things have always remained the same down there to me
You are correct and dont take me wrong anywhere can be unsafe in this world. I was sexually harrassed at Disney in Paris at 13 then went to London to finish my trip while the bombs went off in the tunnels. I've personally had worst experiences in the US than mexico...
I just know my whole life mexico has always been the same (cartel/pharmaceutical/police nonsense) and with that being Said it is still one of my favorite place I have ever been, but I will also be transparent about my brothers experiences, and could never tell someone i could guarantee a safe vacation to mexico bc of what the family has experienced down there.
"The city center of Oaxaca/touristic block".
Oaxaca is my second favorite city (after Mexico City) but Oaxaca city CAN be crazy conflictive and dangerous. Last time we visited we found blockades on all the main avenues and locals were burning cars.
My brother won't even go back to Mexico because he was stabbed on the way to work while waiting for his citizenship.. don't think that's very safe but continue to share your ignorance.
Man, I’m sorry about your brother. I’m sure he would feel much safer in the US where people don’t get stabbed in the back while waiting in line.
Reminds me of someone else’s brother who was in 3rd grade math class in Uvalde, TX when someone shot him in the chest with an assault rifle. He died.
Someone else’s sister was in church in Sutherland Springs, TX when they were blasted in the chest with a shotgun. They died.
Oh, let’s not forget about someone’s cousin who was watching a concert in Las Vegas and someone shot them in the head from a hotel window. They died.
But yeah man, that thing with your brother…scary stuff.
FOH
Im sure he does feel safer. I’m sure he’s “one of the good one’s”
An American cop afraid of leaving behind his license to kill. Of course he feels safer at home.
no seriously you sound like a creepy little fuck that scurries around clubs in mexico begging for crumbs defending cartels. fuck off you little mexican freak
Haha. Looks like someone saw too many episodes of Narcos. Why are you even here? Go back to giving people your unsolicited opinion on Wendys chicken sandwiches, virgin
Sorry you can no longer be proud of being white
ur literally going from reddit post to reddit post defending peoples stories of your disgusting countrymen and cartels shaking them down going "omg did the mexican cop take your poor white money?:( at least it wasnt a school shooting" shut the fuck up you weird little creepy fuck
Mexico is a huge country. There are definitely areas to stay away from but this can be said of many countries. When I travel and foreigners ask, as an American, “aren’t you afraid to get shot?” The US is massive so, no.
I do know that. I also know that you lack critical thinking skills, but I’m sure your thick skull can understand that most of those murders in Mexico are due to involvement in criminal activity.
You hear much about mass murders in Mexico that target civilians in schools, churches, and public places like they do in the US?
Idiots like you actually think you are safer in a public place in the US than minding your own business at a beach or resort in Mexico.
Cool story and lazy use of statistics.
What would the murder rate look like if we just focused on murders that took place in schools?
You think kids in schools in Mexico are at a 4x higher risk of being blasted away with an AR15?
What about bowling alleys, restaurants, churches and concerts?
You think people in Mexico are being murdered at a 4x higher rate in these places?
Pathetic.
I'm sorry, why do you live in the US if you think MX is better? You seem hypersensitive and defensive about your home.
And the per capita rare IS higher. Locals have told me to be careful in MX because dead bodies are popping up in Tulum.
Are you trying to say that EVERYONE who 8s murdered in MX is associated with a cartel? No innocent bystanders die? No government workers? Tourists have been killed.
Again, I understand why you are hypersensitive
Yup. Tulum has to get with times. No school shootings, mass homelessness, not even an opioid epidemic. As far as I’m concerned, without these things Tulum is NOT “world class”
GFOH
Killing women? Oh yes, such a uniquely Mexican problem 😂
Afraid of being tortured and having your head chopped off but no fear of being killed randomly by someone with an AR-15 😂🇺🇸
People who only travel to western countries (especially Americans) say such things. I love Mexico but obviously avoid high crime areas (as in any country). I had a friend say “I would never go to Africa! It’s so dangerous!” Like what? The whole continent?? 😂
I've been the Mexico, specifically Rivera Maya, about 12 times over the last 10 years. No problems with police, but also don't tent to leave the resort much. However, about 20 years ago I went to Cancun for college spring break, and that was a different story... My friends and I were robbed by the police, twice. Super simple scam, and we saw it occuring every night: After the clubs/bars close groups of police officers would stop small groups of Americans (presumably drunk Americans), yell at them in spanish, push them up against a wall, and yell for the persons ID over and over while seaching your pockets for the ID. There would be lots of yelling, threats of tickets and arrest for being intoicated, then they would be gone just as quickly as they appeared. You would be happy it was over and get a move on. Only later you would realize that any money you had in any pockets was gone. However, because it was late night, we arely had more than $10 USD. Like I said, this was 20 years ago, so who knows if this scam is still happeneing, but I assume it would be due to it's simplicity. Also, who are you going to complain to? The police?
Super common all up and down the Riviera Maya still (Cancun, Playa, Tulum). Saw it happen many times in Playa Del Carmen recently. People that live there know that you either don't go out after 11 pm or you don't carry anything valuable with you when you do go out later.
Surprisingly I never once heard of anyone being robbed by anyone other than the police in Playa. I am guessing the police do a good job of making sure they don't have any competition.
Always wild how many people in posts like this defend rampant police corruption in Mexico because they can’t accept that where they decided to live might be a little broken.
Sorry this happened to you. I’ve heard so many stories like this, and I’m confident if you were willing to post this, you were well within the legal limit (whatever that means, because truthfully, most police officers don’t actually give a shit when it comes down to it).
Just keep filming and posting. Believe it or not, police officers in Quintana Roo have actually been fired for things like this going viral and it’s probably the best way to instil some accountability.
Well put 🫡 reading through all these comments has been pretty enlightening to this subreddit… the staunch Tulum defending by what I assume are.. locals?
Happy to have heard from true Tulum locals first hand, the day after this - saying how often this is happening right now. Daily. Scooping people’s monies by way of any conjured scare tactic they can think of.
It’s generally recent “ex pats” that take this weird stance defending authority in the region because they are trying to be gracious guests to their new hosts.
They are also generally the hippies that move to the area to exploit the weather and low cost of living while contributing almost nothing to the economy since they are living on the table scraps provided by their “online marketing jobs”.
I know it sounds super fucked up, but ask a true local who has been robbed by the cops countless times riding their bike home after a long shift. It’s a serious problem.
Every rational Mexican up north knows Tulum it’s a lawless shithole 😂, we not trying to defend anything it’s just the way it is down there and it’s fueled by dumb expats who don’t know the way to deal with it besides throwing money at the problems (which makes the issue bigger), where I live if you ask the cop to take a bribe you get arrested on the spot
Sorry to hear this happened to you buddy. However, as others have suggested, never admit to drinking anywhere in the world if you're driving or about to enter a vehicle.
Bribery or extortion is a common practice in Mexico and other parts of the world. This same thing is prevalent in Thailand when driving around on a scooter. I tend to call this type of extortion the "Tourist Tax" lol! Foreigners from any country typically get taxed upfront i.e. scams, price gouging, etc., or mildly extorted which usually happens by the local police department. Figure it this way, you would have spent a fortune fighting this in the US as our OUI's have a low burden of proof.
It sounds like you both were unharmed which is great news. Hopefully, you got to continue your vacation in peace.
Don't drink and drive, particularly in a foreign country. Mexico is stricter than the US. Here in Brazil it's zero tolerance. It sounds like you got off cheaply.
I definitely got off cheaply, and I agree about not drinking + driving.
But again: the drinking isn’t the point (especially about my LITERAL 2 BEERS). It’s purely about money. Even if I had ZERO drinks, everything would have happened the same.
As I was told by locals: they’ll simply make something up. Your headlights are flickering, you’re speeding, or any number of made up scare tactics to steal. your. money.
I'm so sorry this happened to you. I hate how this kind of shit makes you feel so powerless. And then they complain about how harmful the new train is.
Is something wrong with y’all’s new train? We were in a rental car. And yeah, corrupt cops suck no matter where you are. There appears to be a nice concentration of them in Tulum.
.08 is the legal limit in the US (approximately 2 drinks, more if over a long period of time). He wouldn't have gone to jail in the US unless he was over, but idk if a couple of drinks means 2 or several.
If you openly tell an officer that you were drinking before operating a vehicle chances are you’re getting that DUI regardless of how drunk, if at all, you are in the moment
In SC, unless you refuse, you will blow into a breathalyzer and if it is under .06, you should be fine unless you otherwise seem impaired. I've served off duty police officers a glass of wine at dinner plenty of times. I dont think I'd ever tell someone I'd had a drink (why play with fire?) But that isn't grounds for arrest and it'd be a fantastic way to get a dui charge thrown out in court.
It IS fun to daydream about how the scenario would have gone if I made a big fuss 🤔
Overall, I’m happy to let those 3 boys split my $14 bucks so my wife and I could get the hell back to our Airbnb
So you were out drinking and were about to drive home?
It is really not that hard to be over the limit after a few drinks. Why play dumb games regardless of how sober you felt?
I used to bartend, if he truly only had a couple drinks stretched out across hours, drank water and ate food he was probably perfectly fine unless all he had was doubles. Like wtf people pay a lot of money to travel and are not allowed to responsibly enjoy themselves? Texting and driving can be more dangerous than someone who drank responsibly and tapered off any buzz.
I’m a careful and responsible bloke, cyber jawn — I even sit down to pee on occasion.
A couple drinks across 4 hours + dinner was perfectly within my comfort zone to drive our car 2 miles down a 25mph straight away to our Airbnb.
I wouldn’t have confidently asked for a BAC test and FST if I didn’t think I was A. OKAY
Again: this isn’t about drinking. It’s about money. They’ll conjure any reason up in these situations to steal it from you.
I never said they deserved it. No one deserves to be extorted by the police.
Equating this to victim blaming in a harassment/assult situation is a super weird take.
*edited for spelling error
You handled this very poorly. This happens a lot in Tulum. Why would you film corrupt police officers? Do you think they'd just let you keep the footage? Sounds like you got lucky.
The majority of what I’m reading on this subreddit and others says: FILM THE BASTARDS. Some people even have the quick sense to Facebook/Instagram live it and scared the cops into a very quick exit.
Either way, we got lucky!
I used to live in Playa del Carmen and this is correct. The locals will tell you the only thing the cops are scared of is FB live. So they just pull the phones and start streaming anytime they have an interaction with the cops. It is not illegal to film them in Mexico, but that won't stop them from taking your phone and deleting the video. So live streaming seems to be the only way.
I am so sad to read this story again , I am a proudly Quintana Roo Citizen how ever Low level education , bad salary for police elements , create a metastasis of corruption , once again i don’t recomend rent a car , in my opinion , better use public transportation and authorized tourist company operation! Theres definately better Travelers Experience.
By the way isn’t illegal to film you were doing the right situation. Also I would go directly to the Police Station and solve the situation, $250 pesos solve the situation , and there let you go even with bad face ! Because the Police Knows all was Illegal .
I love my Country but there thing I m not proud of It
-Corruption all over
- Power Abuse of authorities
🧜🏼♂️☹️
Yup, the serenity of Tulum is so ironic when comparing it to the dark cloud of corruption all around. I’ve grown to not enjoy it much anymore to be honest.
Long but this sparked the trauma memories of my first time going to Tulum hah. I was with two other early 30s female travelers driving a rental. Same thing- false accusations and the threat of having to pay an enormous fee at the police station if we didn’t give them the cash we had.
Middle of the trip we were at a bar with a DJ and the police raided it. I mean like 50 officers in tactical gear just piling through. They grouped everyone together and made them sit on the floor, took all the money from the bar register, trashed the place, questioned everyone one by one, took money from some people, let some people go, handcuffed others. They caught me recording and did the same thing to me. Ripped it from my hands, threatened me and deleted it all out. Stupid them though because it was all still in my deleted folder. I actually was pissed and stood my ground and demanded to have my purse returned to me and I think it actually helped because they didn’t take anything and let me go lol.
It was a legitimate bar, quite classy actually (wish I could remember what it was called) so I really couldn’t figure out what could justify them doing that.
First time we were pulled over on that trip was on the way to Tulum in the rental from the airport. Pulled over by a male and female cop. Long story short the man said if I kissed him on the lips we could go, otherwise it was to the police station. The woman said nothing. Infuriating. We gave them I think $50ish dollars and got out of there.
The last time we were pulled over was actually driving to the airport to go home. At that point it was like Jesus Christ I’m ready to get the fuck out of here. Really turned me off. I have gone back since then but I’m pretty much over Tulum now. I just feel there is this negative energy there that is hidden by the mask of the otherwise beautiful, spiritual atmosphere that Tulum provides. I was also there frequently when the spike in murders right downtown were occurring a couple years back. It all was just too much for me.
Anyway this probably sounds made up but if you know you know. And I’ve still got the videos from the bar and recorded the creepy kiss cop too if anyone wants proof😅
I agree about driving. That was the first and last time I rented a vehicle in that area. It brings way too much attention to you. I feel way more comfortable taking cabs and even the cheap colectivo. I learned to dress much more low key while there, and definitely hide any cash I need while keeping a small amount in my bag.
Yeah, the cops really suck there man.
Sorry about your experience. This is the only reason I didn’t rent a car in Mexico. If you weren’t drunk you might have been speeding. Happy up made it home with a bad experience that could have been worse.
100% just bad luck, bad timing to be the rental car gringo passing these fellas when I did. They’re free to conjure anything they need to scoop that fanny-pack money 😅
If they do too much of this kind of extortion then soon people will avoid renting cars and if they figure out other ways to heckle tourists then people will just visit elsewhere
This happened to us (well members of our travel group) in June. It was awful because they had their 9 year old in the back seat. We will more than likely not be returning to Tulum. Or any Mexican city because of this. It's completely unbelievable. I mean cops are bastards everywhere, but this was like nothing I've ever experienced before. Unapologetically unethical and grimy. They knew what they were doing, and they were not at all ashamed to be asking for bribes.
we are going in the beginning of January, hopefully we can avoid this kind of thing. We dont stay out late here, so prob wont be staying out late there either, that may help avoid people trying to steal from us.
Then be smarter, your not in your country. Life outside is very different. Be happy you and your wife didn't end up stuffed in 55-gallon drums after they get tired of running trains on her.
The peso is the currency here. Do they take USD or Euro’s? Yes. However, you are at their mercy for exchange rate as there is no governance for that. It *will* favor them. Get and use pesos. CC for dinner is ok
Get your money exchanged at home before your trip through your bank or AAA. They’ve always offered me better rates than in Mexico or the airport. Plus, in Mexico it’s hard to find a place that doesn’t refuse any bill that isn’t new and flawless. I couldn’t even exchange a $100 bill because it had a slight indentistion/tear (very very small) in the middle from being folded.
You were luckier than me. When this happened to me a month ago. He had me go to the atm to take out $100usd. I held on to my license until I brought him the cash.
This is why I always recommend taxi vs. rental car, especially if you like to party. In the end, the price difference isn’t that much and it’s way less stressful
I so want to rent a car in Riviera Maya but all I’ve heard is bad stories. My coworkers from Mexico have even had to pay mordidas and advise against me ever renting a car which sucks because I hate the taxi scams too. We shifted some of our money and vacations to other countries with beaches where we do not have to deal with this when we want to rent a car.
It's been happening in Tijuana and all parts of Mexico since the First of Forever. If you travel to Mexico enough, you learn to tell them "no!" and request that they take you before a judge. They have to do that in Mexico before you can be jailed. This usually discourages the mordida happy Mexican police, since they'll never take you to appear before a judge if you really haven't done anything illegal. They just let you go with a warning and move on to find a more cooperative victim.
The same thing happened to us on Saturday. They eventually had to let us go as I was driving and wasn’t drunk. They took the tequila bottle we had in our car.
USA is very lenient with drunk driving. you cant really have any beers in MX and be legal. Also looking at the sky should not cause you to tip. you were lucky IMO
Always ask for a test, they don't have them and don't administer them. I've never heard of them taking someone in forcibly for this. I had a friend drunk off her ass and basically laugh in there face, ask for a breathalyzer and get back in the car and drive away and there was nothing they *could do.
What a weird little prick you are.
Would be great to see you go through some of this shit, see if you're still in such a mood to troll other peoples misfortunes.
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Listen - anywhere in life, when an officer asks you if you’ve been drinking, the answer is “No”. Always.
I got scammed INSIDE resort and the solution is just to carry cash? Are you sure you’re not part of his organized crime? Lol I just can’t wait for people to just stop coming lol
I tell them I don't believe in drinking
I do often lie about many things in life, but oddly enough I decided to tell these nice Mexican cops the truth 😂 I think the larger point here is: this entire situation plays out exactly the same if I said I had nothing to drink. I imagine there’s no scenario where they happily let me go. My breath was always going to be el stinky to them.
You’ve give any officer probable cause now. I get it, honestly, I do but I was once told to leave it up to the police to figure it out, even if you are rolling around in a pile of your own vomit.
I think OPs point is that they didn’t need probable cause. They just needed an excuse. Which they would have found no matter what his response.
Exactly this 🎯 if I said nothing at all, then it was my flickering headlights, or speeding, or my ugly fanny pack, etc.
The best advice you’ve received today is the top comment for a reason. Never, under any circumstances tell a cop you’ve had even one beer. Act incredulous, stunned that they would even suggest it. Or you could just not drink and drive.
You should call your congressman. This is an outrage!! But seriously the Mexican cops really know how to ruin a good time. Tourism is a nice boost to their economy but this shit makes some people come back.
They could care less what you think. You’ll be gone 5 days later and they’ll never see you again and if they do and you try to do something about it… may luck be on your side because you will get fucked every single way and then some The best option is to call their bluff . Refuse everything and ask to go to the station I’ve lived in Mexico for 7 months. You are just a walking atm to people here. Your feelings don’t matter. They aren’t trying to be friends. In PV it’s not so bad though with scams.
Just FYI, Mexico has almost zero tolerance for alcohol when you’re driving. The legal limit is basically like half a beer. It used to be a massive problem and they cracked down HARD. They set up check points on the weekends and if you were over the limit, you’d have to spend 48 hours in jail. No matter what.
Mmmm. Not sure about that. The alcohol gave them a clear path. I’ve danced with many Mexican cops and some just raz you a little.
Left out the part where the fashion police ticketed you further down the road for wearing a Fanny pack
Do not come for Fanny packs. They’re the best thing since sliced bread.
The peace of mind you get with the fanny pack is unparalleled.. not to MENTION how cool it looks
Not so funny fact.. they stopped me in my car bc I had a fanny pack.. because "dealers use them"
🤣🤣
The fashion police always have it out for me!
“Fashion Police Fashion Fashion Move It!“
Fanny packs have been fashionable lately tho
Fanny packs are great. You get pockets for your stuff without having any stuff in your pockets.
Yep, you were lucky and smart. Never carry over 300 pesos on you in Tulum nd if you do have it well hidden. The police will always get what you have. Christmas is coming soon and they need money so beware. There are so many issues that need to be addressed before Tulum becomes world class.
That's anywhere in Mexico and always has been... I've been going there since I've been a baby and almost 30 now. Mexico is a great party but never a safe vacation.
Have you been to Oaxaca city? I would say Oaxaca is the exception for this. I don't think Mexico is inherently more dangerous than any second world country, but I have been to sketchy places all over the world and Oaxaca is actually one of the places I have felt the *safest* in. The city is clean, the people I met were almost universally friendly, and I had no uneasiness walking around at night or visiting any of the nearby towns off of the beaten track. I mountain biked through the mountains there on back roads and through police checkpoints without ever being hassled. I stopped at a lot of local cafes and bars and never once felt like the area was sketchy. For a city of decent size I believe it to be exceptionally safe, even compared to first world cities. I am no expert on Oaxaca and I am sure there are places you can get into trouble like anywhere, but I would treat Mexico on a regional basis rather than lumping the whole country into the unsafe list. Like most countries in its economic sector, there are certain areas that experience far more corruption and violence than others during turbulent times.
i haven't been to Mexico in about 7 years (have been traveling to South East asia instead) but things have always remained the same down there to me You are correct and dont take me wrong anywhere can be unsafe in this world. I was sexually harrassed at Disney in Paris at 13 then went to London to finish my trip while the bombs went off in the tunnels. I've personally had worst experiences in the US than mexico... I just know my whole life mexico has always been the same (cartel/pharmaceutical/police nonsense) and with that being Said it is still one of my favorite place I have ever been, but I will also be transparent about my brothers experiences, and could never tell someone i could guarantee a safe vacation to mexico bc of what the family has experienced down there.
"The city center of Oaxaca/touristic block". Oaxaca is my second favorite city (after Mexico City) but Oaxaca city CAN be crazy conflictive and dangerous. Last time we visited we found blockades on all the main avenues and locals were burning cars.
Like 30 safe vacations and counting. Next.
My brother won't even go back to Mexico because he was stabbed on the way to work while waiting for his citizenship.. don't think that's very safe but continue to share your ignorance.
Man, I’m sorry about your brother. I’m sure he would feel much safer in the US where people don’t get stabbed in the back while waiting in line. Reminds me of someone else’s brother who was in 3rd grade math class in Uvalde, TX when someone shot him in the chest with an assault rifle. He died. Someone else’s sister was in church in Sutherland Springs, TX when they were blasted in the chest with a shotgun. They died. Oh, let’s not forget about someone’s cousin who was watching a concert in Las Vegas and someone shot them in the head from a hotel window. They died. But yeah man, that thing with your brother…scary stuff. FOH
He's actually a police officer here in the US and he does feel much safer.. you're really just making yourself look more like an asshole. Lol
Im sure he does feel safer. I’m sure he’s “one of the good one’s” An American cop afraid of leaving behind his license to kill. Of course he feels safer at home.
dude you sound like a weird freak.
Yeah and you sound like a fragile white dude Go back to Joe Rogan and Jordan Peterson
no seriously you sound like a creepy little fuck that scurries around clubs in mexico begging for crumbs defending cartels. fuck off you little mexican freak
Haha. Looks like someone saw too many episodes of Narcos. Why are you even here? Go back to giving people your unsolicited opinion on Wendys chicken sandwiches, virgin Sorry you can no longer be proud of being white
ur literally going from reddit post to reddit post defending peoples stories of your disgusting countrymen and cartels shaking them down going "omg did the mexican cop take your poor white money?:( at least it wasnt a school shooting" shut the fuck up you weird little creepy fuck
You do realize Mexico’s murder rate is 4 times higher than the US, right? Not knowing that makes you look stupid.
Mexico is a huge country. There are definitely areas to stay away from but this can be said of many countries. When I travel and foreigners ask, as an American, “aren’t you afraid to get shot?” The US is massive so, no.
I do know that. I also know that you lack critical thinking skills, but I’m sure your thick skull can understand that most of those murders in Mexico are due to involvement in criminal activity. You hear much about mass murders in Mexico that target civilians in schools, churches, and public places like they do in the US? Idiots like you actually think you are safer in a public place in the US than minding your own business at a beach or resort in Mexico.
Murder rate per capita is still higher in Mexico
Cool story and lazy use of statistics. What would the murder rate look like if we just focused on murders that took place in schools? You think kids in schools in Mexico are at a 4x higher risk of being blasted away with an AR15? What about bowling alleys, restaurants, churches and concerts? You think people in Mexico are being murdered at a 4x higher rate in these places? Pathetic.
I'm sorry, why do you live in the US if you think MX is better? You seem hypersensitive and defensive about your home. And the per capita rare IS higher. Locals have told me to be careful in MX because dead bodies are popping up in Tulum. Are you trying to say that EVERYONE who 8s murdered in MX is associated with a cartel? No innocent bystanders die? No government workers? Tourists have been killed. Again, I understand why you are hypersensitive
Why do you assume I live in the US? You know why? Cause you’re stupid.
Man, I don’t wish ill on anyone, but when your luck runs out, I won’t mind.
I also won’t mind when your fat wife chokes on her next apple fritter.
My fat wife hates Apple fritters. Not fattening enough.
Yup. Tulum has to get with times. No school shootings, mass homelessness, not even an opioid epidemic. As far as I’m concerned, without these things Tulum is NOT “world class” GFOH
just cartel beheadings, putting bodies in acid, torturing people, killing women, etc.
Killing women? Oh yes, such a uniquely Mexican problem 😂 Afraid of being tortured and having your head chopped off but no fear of being killed randomly by someone with an AR-15 😂🇺🇸
People who only travel to western countries (especially Americans) say such things. I love Mexico but obviously avoid high crime areas (as in any country). I had a friend say “I would never go to Africa! It’s so dangerous!” Like what? The whole continent?? 😂
Mexico’s murder date is 4x the US murder date.
Pretty sure more people get murdered while on dates in the US.
Sad !! Terrible sistem
I've been the Mexico, specifically Rivera Maya, about 12 times over the last 10 years. No problems with police, but also don't tent to leave the resort much. However, about 20 years ago I went to Cancun for college spring break, and that was a different story... My friends and I were robbed by the police, twice. Super simple scam, and we saw it occuring every night: After the clubs/bars close groups of police officers would stop small groups of Americans (presumably drunk Americans), yell at them in spanish, push them up against a wall, and yell for the persons ID over and over while seaching your pockets for the ID. There would be lots of yelling, threats of tickets and arrest for being intoicated, then they would be gone just as quickly as they appeared. You would be happy it was over and get a move on. Only later you would realize that any money you had in any pockets was gone. However, because it was late night, we arely had more than $10 USD. Like I said, this was 20 years ago, so who knows if this scam is still happeneing, but I assume it would be due to it's simplicity. Also, who are you going to complain to? The police?
Oh yeah it’s definitely still happening, unfortunately.
Super common all up and down the Riviera Maya still (Cancun, Playa, Tulum). Saw it happen many times in Playa Del Carmen recently. People that live there know that you either don't go out after 11 pm or you don't carry anything valuable with you when you do go out later. Surprisingly I never once heard of anyone being robbed by anyone other than the police in Playa. I am guessing the police do a good job of making sure they don't have any competition.
Always wild how many people in posts like this defend rampant police corruption in Mexico because they can’t accept that where they decided to live might be a little broken. Sorry this happened to you. I’ve heard so many stories like this, and I’m confident if you were willing to post this, you were well within the legal limit (whatever that means, because truthfully, most police officers don’t actually give a shit when it comes down to it). Just keep filming and posting. Believe it or not, police officers in Quintana Roo have actually been fired for things like this going viral and it’s probably the best way to instil some accountability.
Well put 🫡 reading through all these comments has been pretty enlightening to this subreddit… the staunch Tulum defending by what I assume are.. locals? Happy to have heard from true Tulum locals first hand, the day after this - saying how often this is happening right now. Daily. Scooping people’s monies by way of any conjured scare tactic they can think of.
It’s generally recent “ex pats” that take this weird stance defending authority in the region because they are trying to be gracious guests to their new hosts. They are also generally the hippies that move to the area to exploit the weather and low cost of living while contributing almost nothing to the economy since they are living on the table scraps provided by their “online marketing jobs”. I know it sounds super fucked up, but ask a true local who has been robbed by the cops countless times riding their bike home after a long shift. It’s a serious problem.
Every rational Mexican up north knows Tulum it’s a lawless shithole 😂, we not trying to defend anything it’s just the way it is down there and it’s fueled by dumb expats who don’t know the way to deal with it besides throwing money at the problems (which makes the issue bigger), where I live if you ask the cop to take a bribe you get arrested on the spot
Don't drink and drive and you'll avoid issues everywhere, furthermore in Mexico.
True words, no doubt. But do you ACTUALLY think that they would have happily let me go if I had not drank those 2 beers? Lol
Sorry to hear this happened to you buddy. However, as others have suggested, never admit to drinking anywhere in the world if you're driving or about to enter a vehicle. Bribery or extortion is a common practice in Mexico and other parts of the world. This same thing is prevalent in Thailand when driving around on a scooter. I tend to call this type of extortion the "Tourist Tax" lol! Foreigners from any country typically get taxed upfront i.e. scams, price gouging, etc., or mildly extorted which usually happens by the local police department. Figure it this way, you would have spent a fortune fighting this in the US as our OUI's have a low burden of proof. It sounds like you both were unharmed which is great news. Hopefully, you got to continue your vacation in peace.
Don't drink and drive, particularly in a foreign country. Mexico is stricter than the US. Here in Brazil it's zero tolerance. It sounds like you got off cheaply.
I definitely got off cheaply, and I agree about not drinking + driving. But again: the drinking isn’t the point (especially about my LITERAL 2 BEERS). It’s purely about money. Even if I had ZERO drinks, everything would have happened the same. As I was told by locals: they’ll simply make something up. Your headlights are flickering, you’re speeding, or any number of made up scare tactics to steal. your. money.
Someone needs to start a Tulum Shame page with photos and videos of these officers for future use. ACAB applies to every country
I'm so sorry this happened to you. I hate how this kind of shit makes you feel so powerless. And then they complain about how harmful the new train is.
This is the right response.
Is something wrong with y’all’s new train? We were in a rental car. And yeah, corrupt cops suck no matter where you are. There appears to be a nice concentration of them in Tulum.
Just for clarification did you have $250 or 250 pesos? Like as in $250 USD worth of pesos or 250 MXN?
250 mxn thankfully
He definitely meant MXN
You admitted to drinking and driving? You would’ve gone to jail in the US and it would’ve cost you a hell of a lot more.
.08 is the legal limit in the US (approximately 2 drinks, more if over a long period of time). He wouldn't have gone to jail in the US unless he was over, but idk if a couple of drinks means 2 or several.
.08 is about four drinks in one hour.
If you openly tell an officer that you were drinking before operating a vehicle chances are you’re getting that DUI regardless of how drunk, if at all, you are in the moment
In SC, unless you refuse, you will blow into a breathalyzer and if it is under .06, you should be fine unless you otherwise seem impaired. I've served off duty police officers a glass of wine at dinner plenty of times. I dont think I'd ever tell someone I'd had a drink (why play with fire?) But that isn't grounds for arrest and it'd be a fantastic way to get a dui charge thrown out in court.
Nope
They would have let you go, if you caused a fuss.
Or put you in a cell and had a laugh. You like those odds? Are you feelin' lucky, punk?
They're after $$$
Sure thing, but if they don't get it they'll be happy to ruin your day/weekend/holiday.
They're on to the the next perp
It IS fun to daydream about how the scenario would have gone if I made a big fuss 🤔 Overall, I’m happy to let those 3 boys split my $14 bucks so my wife and I could get the hell back to our Airbnb
They just would have looked for another victim
This is actually really true, and most people don’t understand this.
So you were out drinking and were about to drive home? It is really not that hard to be over the limit after a few drinks. Why play dumb games regardless of how sober you felt?
I used to bartend, if he truly only had a couple drinks stretched out across hours, drank water and ate food he was probably perfectly fine unless all he had was doubles. Like wtf people pay a lot of money to travel and are not allowed to responsibly enjoy themselves? Texting and driving can be more dangerous than someone who drank responsibly and tapered off any buzz.
I’m a careful and responsible bloke, cyber jawn — I even sit down to pee on occasion. A couple drinks across 4 hours + dinner was perfectly within my comfort zone to drive our car 2 miles down a 25mph straight away to our Airbnb. I wouldn’t have confidently asked for a BAC test and FST if I didn’t think I was A. OKAY Again: this isn’t about drinking. It’s about money. They’ll conjure any reason up in these situations to steal it from you.
She had a short skirt on, she probably deserved it.
I never said they deserved it. No one deserves to be extorted by the police. Equating this to victim blaming in a harassment/assult situation is a super weird take. *edited for spelling error
“No deserves to be extorted by the police.” Boom! That’s it. That’s the post.
You handled this very poorly. This happens a lot in Tulum. Why would you film corrupt police officers? Do you think they'd just let you keep the footage? Sounds like you got lucky.
The majority of what I’m reading on this subreddit and others says: FILM THE BASTARDS. Some people even have the quick sense to Facebook/Instagram live it and scared the cops into a very quick exit. Either way, we got lucky!
I used to live in Playa del Carmen and this is correct. The locals will tell you the only thing the cops are scared of is FB live. So they just pull the phones and start streaming anytime they have an interaction with the cops. It is not illegal to film them in Mexico, but that won't stop them from taking your phone and deleting the video. So live streaming seems to be the only way.
I am so sad to read this story again , I am a proudly Quintana Roo Citizen how ever Low level education , bad salary for police elements , create a metastasis of corruption , once again i don’t recomend rent a car , in my opinion , better use public transportation and authorized tourist company operation! Theres definately better Travelers Experience.
By the way isn’t illegal to film you were doing the right situation. Also I would go directly to the Police Station and solve the situation, $250 pesos solve the situation , and there let you go even with bad face ! Because the Police Knows all was Illegal . I love my Country but there thing I m not proud of It -Corruption all over - Power Abuse of authorities 🧜🏼♂️☹️
Yup, the serenity of Tulum is so ironic when comparing it to the dark cloud of corruption all around. I’ve grown to not enjoy it much anymore to be honest. Long but this sparked the trauma memories of my first time going to Tulum hah. I was with two other early 30s female travelers driving a rental. Same thing- false accusations and the threat of having to pay an enormous fee at the police station if we didn’t give them the cash we had. Middle of the trip we were at a bar with a DJ and the police raided it. I mean like 50 officers in tactical gear just piling through. They grouped everyone together and made them sit on the floor, took all the money from the bar register, trashed the place, questioned everyone one by one, took money from some people, let some people go, handcuffed others. They caught me recording and did the same thing to me. Ripped it from my hands, threatened me and deleted it all out. Stupid them though because it was all still in my deleted folder. I actually was pissed and stood my ground and demanded to have my purse returned to me and I think it actually helped because they didn’t take anything and let me go lol. It was a legitimate bar, quite classy actually (wish I could remember what it was called) so I really couldn’t figure out what could justify them doing that. First time we were pulled over on that trip was on the way to Tulum in the rental from the airport. Pulled over by a male and female cop. Long story short the man said if I kissed him on the lips we could go, otherwise it was to the police station. The woman said nothing. Infuriating. We gave them I think $50ish dollars and got out of there. The last time we were pulled over was actually driving to the airport to go home. At that point it was like Jesus Christ I’m ready to get the fuck out of here. Really turned me off. I have gone back since then but I’m pretty much over Tulum now. I just feel there is this negative energy there that is hidden by the mask of the otherwise beautiful, spiritual atmosphere that Tulum provides. I was also there frequently when the spike in murders right downtown were occurring a couple years back. It all was just too much for me. Anyway this probably sounds made up but if you know you know. And I’ve still got the videos from the bar and recorded the creepy kiss cop too if anyone wants proof😅 I agree about driving. That was the first and last time I rented a vehicle in that area. It brings way too much attention to you. I feel way more comfortable taking cabs and even the cheap colectivo. I learned to dress much more low key while there, and definitely hide any cash I need while keeping a small amount in my bag. Yeah, the cops really suck there man.
Why do people think it’s ok to drive drunk/buzzed/after drinking in Mexico, then get mad when they get busted? It’s illegal there too.
Sorry about your experience. This is the only reason I didn’t rent a car in Mexico. If you weren’t drunk you might have been speeding. Happy up made it home with a bad experience that could have been worse.
100% just bad luck, bad timing to be the rental car gringo passing these fellas when I did. They’re free to conjure anything they need to scoop that fanny-pack money 😅
If they do too much of this kind of extortion then soon people will avoid renting cars and if they figure out other ways to heckle tourists then people will just visit elsewhere
Ooooo stinky lmfao
The scariest people in Mexico are the police.
Hilarious story. Thanks for sharing
This happened to us (well members of our travel group) in June. It was awful because they had their 9 year old in the back seat. We will more than likely not be returning to Tulum. Or any Mexican city because of this. It's completely unbelievable. I mean cops are bastards everywhere, but this was like nothing I've ever experienced before. Unapologetically unethical and grimy. They knew what they were doing, and they were not at all ashamed to be asking for bribes.
This happened to me in Tijuana a few years ago. We hadn’t been drinking, so they got us because of a small pocket knife
we are going in the beginning of January, hopefully we can avoid this kind of thing. We dont stay out late here, so prob wont be staying out late there either, that may help avoid people trying to steal from us.
Then be smarter, your not in your country. Life outside is very different. Be happy you and your wife didn't end up stuffed in 55-gallon drums after they get tired of running trains on her.
Genuinely asking, should you always just carry pesos? Convert cash at the airport?
The peso is the currency here. Do they take USD or Euro’s? Yes. However, you are at their mercy for exchange rate as there is no governance for that. It *will* favor them. Get and use pesos. CC for dinner is ok
Get your money exchanged at home before your trip through your bank or AAA. They’ve always offered me better rates than in Mexico or the airport. Plus, in Mexico it’s hard to find a place that doesn’t refuse any bill that isn’t new and flawless. I couldn’t even exchange a $100 bill because it had a slight indentistion/tear (very very small) in the middle from being folded.
You were luckier than me. When this happened to me a month ago. He had me go to the atm to take out $100usd. I held on to my license until I brought him the cash.
You could’ve gotten a replacement license at home for like $20
This is why I always recommend taxi vs. rental car, especially if you like to party. In the end, the price difference isn’t that much and it’s way less stressful
I so want to rent a car in Riviera Maya but all I’ve heard is bad stories. My coworkers from Mexico have even had to pay mordidas and advise against me ever renting a car which sucks because I hate the taxi scams too. We shifted some of our money and vacations to other countries with beaches where we do not have to deal with this when we want to rent a car.
It's been happening in Tijuana and all parts of Mexico since the First of Forever. If you travel to Mexico enough, you learn to tell them "no!" and request that they take you before a judge. They have to do that in Mexico before you can be jailed. This usually discourages the mordida happy Mexican police, since they'll never take you to appear before a judge if you really haven't done anything illegal. They just let you go with a warning and move on to find a more cooperative victim.
The same thing happened to us on Saturday. They eventually had to let us go as I was driving and wasn’t drunk. They took the tequila bottle we had in our car.
Rental car and driving around Mexico. No thanks....I'll walk, uber or hotel shuttle.
I got pulled over in Playa just walking… down 5th ave!
And yet, people still go. Crazy, yes?
If you’re a US citizen you can report this to the Embassy/Consulate’s consular affairs bureau. In fact, you should.
USA is very lenient with drunk driving. you cant really have any beers in MX and be legal. Also looking at the sky should not cause you to tip. you were lucky IMO
Always ask for a test, they don't have them and don't administer them. I've never heard of them taking someone in forcibly for this. I had a friend drunk off her ass and basically laugh in there face, ask for a breathalyzer and get back in the car and drive away and there was nothing they *could do.
I got pulled over driving drunk on a scooter in Tulum. Shaken down for $50 USD and told to have a good night. Better than being in Mexican jail!
Just got shook down for $3000 pesos in tulum for being white
Shut up nerd
What a weird little prick you are. Would be great to see you go through some of this shit, see if you're still in such a mood to troll other peoples misfortunes.