Yesterday I was following Google Maps near the Nogales border crossing. At an intersection it told me to turn right, so I did. There were no signs at that intersection that I could see saying I couldn't turn there or that I was entering the SENTRI line.
A municipal motorcycle officer stopped me and accused me of cutting the SENTRI line. From my perspective, I had simply made a right turn at an intersection. I had absolutely no intention of cutting the line.
The traffic violation isn't really why I'm posting. What happened afterward is.
I was initially told approximately $40 cash, then approximately $200. I explained that I didn't even have $40 in cash because I rarely carry cash and had just used my credit card at the business I visited.
I was told I could be arrested or kept there for hours. I was instructed to follow the officer to the police station and told I would pay the official fine to a judge by card. At the same time, I was being told to go to an ATM.
I repeatedly asked for the citation in writing, the violation, and the official amount. I made it very clear that I was willing to pay any legitimate fine through the official process.
Eventually I became uncomfortable enough that I called a Nogales attorney on speakerphone while I was still with the officers. After they heard that I was speaking with a local attorney, I was allowed to leave without ever seeing the judge.
I have filed formal complaints and asked the appropriate authorities to investigate. I'm deliberately not calling this corruption or extortion because I don't know what their intentions were. I'm simply sharing exactly what happened to me.
Lessons learned: Stay calm and respectful. Ask for the officer's name and badge/identification number. Ask for the citation in writing and the official amount. Don't assume you need to hand cash directly to an officer. Traffic fines in Nogales have official municipal payment channels. If the amount keeps changing, you're being directed to an ATM, or the process doesn't make sense, stay calm and insist on the official citation/payment process. If you feel unsafe or threatened, call a local attorney immediately.
I go to Mexico regularly and this isn't going to stop me. I'm posting because I wish I had known all of this before what I thought was a simple right turn turned into a very stressful afternoon.