Paying at the gas station

[CindyM]

Ok, I've been reading about the scam at the gas stations.....how do you avoid it?

Also, we were stopped by a cop on the highway 2 years ago (apparently we were speeding, I don't think so!!) .....we ended up paying him $100 to let us continue to airport. Anyway to avoid paying such a hefty amount?

[DougSR]

Would it be too obvious if I say take the bus. I hear so many stories about scams and cops that it seems a no brainer. Plus, it's just nice to get somewhere and read as you go. You sometimes meet interesting people on the bus. And the darn ADO buses are just nice.

[Lynnette]

Keep your cash in your suitcase or another hiding spot (don't travel with too much cash, anyway), show the cop $20 and your empty wallets. He'll take that.

To avoid gas scams, first get out of your car and make sure they change the pump to zero. You have to be quick, because, if you don't have a locking gas tank, they will start pumping before you tell them too. Also, show them a 200 peso note, don't give it to them until you see the final read. Then be nice and give them a tip. :)

[PhyllisB]

Get $100 (pesos) of gas at a time. They can't swap a 20 for a 200 with 100s. You could use two 100's but I imagine they could try to hide one and say you only gave them one. But get concrete amounts of gas, don't just ask them to fill the tank.

Other suggestions include getting out of the car and making sure they zero out the pump before they start pumping the gas.

As for the cops, I've heard of some people really haggling with them. If they tell you you'd have to come to the station, say OK and push them on it. They don't really want to do that. Then offer them $20 and tell them it's all you have, you've spent the rest. They'd rather take that and take their chances on the next car than waste their time haggling or going to the police dept.

Those are the tips I've heard anyway.

p.

[CindyM]

I'll mention emptying wallet to my husband before we start the drive south. You can't believe how scary the police can be when they pull you over.

If my husband didn't pay the officer the money he was ready to take his license/passport and then we would have to go to court house in Puerto Moreles, pay the fine there, and get back license/passport. Well, you can see why my husband paid him off. We would of missed our flight back home if we have to go to PM.

[minniemex]

I'll mention emptying wallet to my husband before we start the drive south. You can't believe how scary the police can be when they pull you over.

If my husband didn't pay the officer the money he was ready to take his license/passport and then we would have to go to court house in Puerto Moreles, pay the fine there, and get back license/passport. Well, you can see why my husband paid him off. We would of missed our flight back home if we have to go to PM.

I really can indentify with how scared you were when the police pulled you over, as we had that happen to us our second trip to the Roo. We had followed a bus through a light and while we were in the intersection, the light turned RED. Of course, the bus wasn't pulled over, but we were. We happened to be clueless, the cop kept asking us if we could go thru red lights in America and we kept telling him that we couldn't see the sign being right behind the bus (which we did want to follow so we could find our way out of Cancun - LOL) and that the same thing could happen in the States, and didn't really know how he wanted to settle the whole thing. I wasn't aware of the scams, so didn't want to offer him any money, cause then we would be hauled off to jail for offering a bribe. When we think back on it, we chuckle as we were so clueless at the time!! The cop finally gave up on us and let us go. Fortunately we did not have a flight to catch... so the stress was not as great!!

I do think that the police were preying on you as they had you figured for going to the airport. That is why you need to hide the money and only carry a few pesos or dollars in the wallet. I have also heard of having copies of your drivers license and passport to give them. I have also heard of applying for an "international drivers license" and showing them that. These are only suggestions that we can make, but hopefully if you are pulled over they will help you out. It goes back to what Mayaflya posted - #5 - police scams - it really does not speak well of the area!! Which is really sad..............

[AdGuy]

You could also wave a large firearm...that would keep everyone honest. http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/14/14_6_12.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk762YYUS)

[james]

show the cop $20 and your empty wallets. He'll take that.:)please don't do that, show the cop nothing. Gringos should never attempt to bribe a cop. Shake your head, smile, speak in English quickly, never ever offer money. It is better to tell them, in English, that you want to go to the station with them. They will let you go.

Also, by giving money you are just perpetuating the problem. Just say no to bribes.

[DougSR]

please don't do that, show the cop nothing. Gringos should never attempt to bribe a cop. Shake your head, smile, speak in English quickly, never ever offer money. It is better to tell them, in English, that you want to go to the station with them. They will let you go.

Also, by giving money you are just perpetuating the problem. Just say no to bribes.

I'm curious, will they bring you to the station? What happens then?

[PhyllisB]

I think I read a post on LG once where the person really pushed to go to the station, and the cop eventually relented and sent them on their way. They'd rather be out there trying to scam the next guy. But that was just one report. I think most folks probably give in because they don't really know what to do (can't say I blame them -- I think I'd be pretty intimidated myself).

[beachreader]

James, I am totally planning on using your "clueless gringa" thing if I'm ever pulled over, but I'm curious about the drivers' license thing. When they pull you over, do they automatically ask for your license and registration the way they do there?

Once he's got the DL, and I'm saying "what? OK, I have to go to the station to pay the ticket? OK", and he calls my bluff and sends me to the station, does he keep the license, or will he give it back to me. I'd hate to have to wait 'til the next day or something to get the license back.

Just wondering if the photocopy thing is a good idea, but would that be legal?

I guess this is another reason to leave plenty of time before your plane to get to the airport. If he calls your bluff and you have to go to the courthouse, you gotta go, right? That could take hours.

And what if he says, "no, you don't go to the station, you pay here"? Am I supposed to disagree with him?

[Gale in KY]

Here's the plan:
Pull up to the pump and jump out of the car.
Don't fill up..ask for a set amount of fuel in $$$. I usually go with,"$200 Pesos regulares por favor?"

At the same time I am asking, I show him the bills and kind of force an acknowlegement.

After the pumps, I hand him the cash, and say again, "$200 Pesos, Si?" That kind of forces yet another acknowledgement from the attendant.

If you have someone waiting in the car, you can also have that person snap a picture at exactly the minute that you hand him the money...that is proof positive of what you paid!:D Make sure that you turn so the denomination of the bills can be seen in the picture.

I have to agree with James..the last thing they want is to have to do is take you to the station...they are hoping to collect the mordida, not go thru the hassle of paperwork over a bogus ticket.
If this gets to the point of them stating the "pay right now fine"..you can then open your bogus wallet with $20 and show you don't have the money and state again that you will have to go to the station.

They won't bother with it.

[CindyM]

This is how it all went down:

Police pulled us over
Told us we were not obeying speed limit
asked for license, he took license, kept it in his hand
he said we would have to go to PM to pay fine
he would keep license, we would get it back at station in PM
OR
he said we could pay him, right there on the spot
we payed him right on the spot

We were on the way to airport and did not have any time to go to PM.
Missing our flight would of cost us (5 of us) more than the fine.

We payed a fine, corrupt or not, we did NOT bribe the officer.

[Gale in KY]

Cindy..that's why this happens mostly to the rental vehicles that are moving North on 307. They KNOW you have a plane to catch..it's all part of the plan.

I have heard of people getting a duplicate drivers license. They give the corrupt policia the old one (I guess you go to the DL and tell them you lost your license..lol..so you get to keep the old one)..and never show up at the police station..course, if you ever return to Mexico, and get pulled over, you will be toasting in a Mexico jail for many many years..lol. Upside is you learn to make your own hammock:D:p

[CindyM]

Thanks everyone for great advice. Nobody is going to scam us this time!!!!

Of course, we now laugh at the entire experience. My kids thought it was really cool. HA

We are leaving thursday, yippee.

[Lynnette]

Thanks everyone for great advice. Nobody is going to scam us this time!!!!

We are leaving thursday, yippee.

That's the spirit.....just remember to act clueless with the policia and mucho savvy at the Pemex....have a really great time!!!

[beachreader]

I stick with the 100 pesos at the Pemex. I have the note in my hand, and I say "solo cien pesos, por favor", which I imagine to mean "only 100 pesos, please). I don't know how to say "100 pesos' worth", but I figure here we can just say "10 bucks" and the guy knows what we mean.

I do always look at the pump, but I'm not sure what I'd do if it weren't zeroed out. Indeed, I'm not at all sure you can use a modern pump if it's not zeroed out, if you're doing it for a set amount. Like I think you have to set the pump for 100 pesos, don't you? Might be different if you're filling it up.

Anyway, I figure that if I do get scammed, I'm only out 100 pesos, or the difference between how much gas I actually get and the 100 pesos I give the guy. At least I won't lose 400.

[xamachdan]

I have it down to where if I did break the law - speeding, talking on a cell phone while driving (that is illegal), I will pay them something on the spot (usually 200 pesos) If I didn't do anything wrong, I tell them I will go to the station with them and discuss it with their superiors.
Kind of frontier justice, I like it.
XD

[Karen in OH]

I have it down to where if I did break the law - speeding, talking on a cell phone while driving (that is illegal), I will pay them something on the spot (usually 200 pesos) If I didn't do anything wrong, I tell them I will go to the station with them and discuss it with their superiors.
Kind of frontier justice, I like it.
XD


So have ya ever been to the station?

[xamachdan]

No. They don't want to go to the station any more than I do.
XD

[miguel]

They would have to split up their earning at the station.

[james]

I stick with the 100 pesos at the Pemex. I have the note in my hand, and I say "solo cien pesos, por favor", which I imagine to mean "only 100 pesos, please). I don't know how to say "100 pesos' worth", but I figure here we can just say "10 bucks" and the guy knows what we mean.

I do always look at the pump, but I'm not sure what I'd do if it weren't zeroed out. Indeed, I'm not at all sure you can use a modern pump if it's not zeroed out, if you're doing it for a set amount. Like I think you have to set the pump for 100 pesos, don't you? Might be different if you're filling it up.

Anyway, I figure that if I do get scammed, I'm only out 100 pesos, or the difference between how much gas I actually get and the 100 pesos I give the guy. At least I won't lose 400.Yep, solo cien pesos means only one hundred pesos. Yep, you could just say cien. They'll get it.

You are right about the pump, too. The 'zero' game is pretty much over. They are digital pumps now and they start at zero when they are turned on. Still, make sure.

I get out of the car, open my tank myself (I'll pump it myself, too, if the attendant isn't around), stand right by the pump and supervise the entire process. I've never, ever gotten taken for even a peso. Be clear about how much you are giving them (everyone should learn cien, doscientos, trescientos, etc. it's easy), get your change. Normally I would say something like 190 pesos, and ask the guy to check the air and get the windows, and hand him the 200 pesos as the pump is running. He knows I know what I'm doing, and that he is getting a 10 peso tip for his efforts. While I look like a tourist, I don't sound like one, so that's an advantage. If you just learn to say the hundreds in Spanish, and be succinct, you are golden. You could do the pre-tip thing without learning complicated numbers by handing the guy 200 pesos and a big coin, and say doscientos, gracias.

Keep in mind that the majority of pump attendants are just regular Joses. Most of them are pretty nice, honest people. It is a small minority that seeks to defraud you.


No. They don't want to go to the station any more than I do.
XD
You are right, they don't. I've never gone to the station. I used to get pulled over about once a month when I lived in Mexico City (foreign plates, dark tinted windows, no front tag). I never went to the station (la delegacion) even once and I never paid a bribe.

They would have to split up their earning at the station.Yep, and they would likely not be very well received either. This kind of racket is frowned upon nowadays.

The officer is supposed to wear a name badge. You should always address him by his name. No, officer Hernandez, I wasn't speeding. OK officer Hernandez, you can give me the ticket then, but I wasn't speeding. What officer Hernandez, with a foreign license you have to pay the fine immediately? OK, officer Hernandez, let's go to the station, but I wasn't speeding.

He'll say adios.

The BEST advice is to slow down and drive the limit. If you really ARE speeding (they pretty much only give infractions for speeding based upon radar, which is common on the highway nowadays) my above advice won't help much, but I would still stammer away in English for as long as possible and wear them down.

[Lynnette]

Good advise, James....you should post it as a sticky. Thanks!

[TheWindyCity]

Great advice to print for the upcoming trip....thanks James. Still dying to get a picture of the guy with the grill front teeth. Might have to wear my camera around my neck, tourist style, to attract him "into the light".

Say Queso:http://www.freefever.com/animations/animatedgifs/electronics/cameras/gif-cameras12.gif

[Lynnette]

Great advice to print for the upcoming trip....thanks James. Still dying to get a picture of the guy with the grill front teeth. Might have to wear my camera around my neck, tourist style, to attract him "into the light".

Say Queso:http://www.freefever.com/animations/animatedgifs/electronics/cameras/gif-cameras12.gif

LOL I wonder if when he snorkels, his silver teeth show. Nothing like a face to face with a cuda....they like shiny things. :D

[beachreader]

Dan, do you speak to them in Spanish, or do the gringo thing? Do you tell them you're a landowner?

How do you manage the 200 pesos? Others have mentioned $100 US. Do you just pull out a 200 note and hand it over and drive off?

I'm just so curious about this whole thing. I'm really nervous about it happening to me so I'm trying to learn details of everyone else's encounters.

[beachreader]

Sorry, I posted that reply to Dan without looking at the next page of posts.

Thanks, James for the greater detail. My plan is to follow your advice, I'm just curious if they treat women differently than men. I have girlfriends who have never ever gotten a ticket here in the US despite being pulled over many times. Me, when I get pulled over, I've only gotten off like two or three times in my life even though I smile and am very nice.

Maybe I need to get blonde again.

[dionski]

Just filled up the car. watching every thing like a hawk. The digital pumps make it more difficult like James said.

d2

[Lynnette]

Sorry, I posted that reply to Dan without looking at the next page of posts.

Thanks, James for the greater detail. My plan is to follow your advice, I'm just curious if they treat women differently than men. I have girlfriends who have never ever gotten a ticket here in the US despite being pulled over many times. Me, when I get pulled over, I've only gotten off like two or three times in my life even though I smile and am very nice.

Maybe I need to get blonde again.

A girlfriend of mine got pulled over in February. She talked real fast, was extremely distressed, was tearing up and kept saying I didn't do anything wrong. The cop finally just walked away shaking his head. GIRLS RULE!!!

[BatteriesIncluded]

I'm curious, will they bring you to the station? What happens then?

They lock you up in prison and you make hammocks to sell to the tourists.

[BatteriesIncluded]

Has anyone tried an International Drivers Permit (IDP)? Here is a link:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/safety/safety_1179.html

US State Dept:
Although many countries do not recognize U.S. driver's licenses, most countries accept an international driving permit (IDP). IDPs are honored in more than 150 countries outside the U.S. (See AAA’s application form (http://www.aaa.com/vacation/idpapplc.html?association=AAA&clb_id=212&secure=N) for the list of countries. They function as an official translation of a U.S. driver's license into 10 foreign languages.

I just picked one up at my local AAA office for $15.00. Inside the permit it states the requirements for each country. In some countries you are required to submit the permit and your license if stopped but according to what is written on the permit, if you are stopped in Mexico you only need to show the permit. Include a photocopy of your passport for good measure. This way you do not have to surrender your license. Hopefully, I will never have to use it.

[TheWindyCity]

Thanks Batteries...great info...do you need to be member of AAA? Could not find that info on the link.

[mayaflya]

Thanks Batteries...great info...do you need to be member of AAA? Could not find that info on the link.

You do not need to be an AAA member...I just walked in, paid the fee and they issued it...I got mine for driving in Latvia and Norway...they are only good for 12 months or so...

[TheWindyCity]

Muchas thank yous!

[xamachdan]

James is right, most of the attendants are honest. I have been driving for years down there and really only 2 stations seem like they scam on a regular basis. The one at Puerto Aventuras, and the one in Tulum by San Francisco. There is one guy in Tulum that is an absolute master at turning a $200 peso bill into a $20 peso bill.
XD

[PhyllisB]

Yep. I started going to the Pemex on the northbound side heading out of Tulum for just that reason. We didn't have a problem there but we were also employing the other methods.

We did get scammed at a Pemex in PDC on our last trip, tho'. Actually, now that I think about it, I wonder if it was actually PA that we were near. Our plan had been to stop in PDC but we may not have.

[beachreader]

I've been to the San Francisco Pemex a couple of times and didn't have any trouble, but I was doing the "100 pesos please" thing.

I've also been to the northbound PA one--guess I'm a risk-taker!--but that was fine as well, also 100 pesos.

[mgsipa]

Mexican cops don't exactly exude authority...

How about this?

Print the image below to a 1"x1" print in color, then glue it to one of your old ID's. It says Internal Affairs on that logo. All the cop has to see is the words. Flash it quickly enough that he doesn't get a chance to see too much.. just a glimpse. No trip to the station .... no trip to the courthouse. As a matter of fact, he might bribe YOU!
If this fails, taser him and calmly drive away.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j232/mgsipa/Logo-1.jpg

[Margoinmexico]

I've only been pulled over once, and that was by the new on foot guy at the stop light at Super Sanfrancisco......for having a pipe stick out too far out of the back...(I gave him $400 pesos and he helped me tie it back in...)

They've talked about getting me a new truck, but I want to keep the one I have...It's a ford Lobo, someone stole the tail gate, the mirror fell off, the sides are dented from trying to avoid speeding gravel trucks on a narrow dirt road and backing out of my neighbors drive way, it has blue lights on the hood,...it's a local truck! It's been "up and down the road" a couple of times! http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll126/Margoinmexico/for%20%20the%20internet/21204-1.jpg

They don't rip me off at the gas station...I park where store keepers can see me get out and walk up to them...cops don't seem to pull me over even though the license is expired...I love that truck...might be one of the best parts of the job:o
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll126/Margoinmexico/for%20%20the%20internet/2008mayxamach-1.jpg
Honest, this is my license plate! :eek::eek:

[AdGuy]

So...at the risk of being mildly OT...are radar detectors legal in Mexico? I always bring one and can usually spot the cops way before the can get radar on me.

[think]

No me chingus! (well, for Pemex at least, maybe not a good idea for policia) :D I've also heard people use copies of their license/passport. Just say the original is in the hotel safe.

[TheWindyCity]

No me chingus! (well, for Pemex at least, maybe not a good idea for policia) :D .

Si, no me chingas, pendejo!

[james]

It would be no me chingues but you don't want to say that nor pendejo.

[james]

I've only been pulled over once, and that was by the new on foot guy at the stop light at Super Sanfrancisco......for having a pipe stick out too far out of the back...(I gave him $400 pesos and he helped me tie it back in...)Please, please, don't give police money like that. There is no reason to give a cop 400 pesos for having a problem with your load like that. Especially if you are a girl. It perpetuates the problem as the bad habit is reinforced with the cop.

If a cop on foot ever talks to you again, just smile and drive away, waving and speaking in a foreign language.

[driverdave]

we got pulled over for speeding. eventually, the cop said we could pay the fine on the spot. we pulled out a 100 peso note and said that's all we had. they took it and let us on our way.

we were speeding, 90 in an 80 zone. it was also 4AM on the way to the airport.

the cops wrote down 2500 in pesos first, trying to explain that was our fine.

the whole thing was rather comical. the cop did take my license, which i was fine with him keeping, except i didn't want to be on some sort of list in case i drive in mexico again. so, when they offered 100 pesos to clear it on the spot, i took it.

also, the gas dude at pemex tried to say we have him a 200 peso note and a 20 peso note, when we gave him 2 200 peso notes. that was comical as well. i just shook my head and spit out something like "cambrio correcto por favor". he eventually gave me my correct change, and then he tried to get me to tip him.

[Wilfam]

This is how it all went down:

Police pulled us over
Told us we were not obeying speed limit
asked for license, he took license, kept it in his hand
he said we would have to go to PM to pay fine
he would keep license, we would get it back at station in PM
OR
he said we could pay him, right there on the spot
we payed him right on the spot

We were on the way to airport and did not have any time to go to PM.
Missing our flight would of cost us (5 of us) more than the fine.

We payed a fine, corrupt or not, we did NOT bribe the officer.

I have stayed near Puerto Morelos and I would say that they are one of the most corrupt stations in the area. The police there in town are as bad as on the 307.

I did however, make the portly officer stand in the heat while pretending to not understand a word, I know the no $ in the wallet option, so after he was sweating profusely and I could see there was no way I was going to win this, I called him in Spanish, a bad person who takes advantage of tourists and to take me to the station where I will pay the fine. He then explained to me his boss was much worse than he was and I did not want to go to the station, I told him to lead the way, he was soaked to the skin from sweat as I was sitting in my Tsuru with the AC on, priceless, anyway I dug in my pocket and had 50 pesos, showed him my empty wallet he looked so upset, I shrugged my shoulders and started to roll up my window, while saying I will follow you to the station. He shoved this small leather covered clipboard through the small hole in the window, I looked at him and he indicated the 50 pesos would be accepted. I though, crap, laughed at him and put the 50 pesos in as there was no way I was going to get out of this the way I wanted and there was no way he was going to let me off for turning up a one way street, which I corrected immediately, but not before I gave him an opportunity to get behind me? Needless to say the fact that he was soaking wet, standing in the heat, thinking I did not understand and asking me for 500 pesos for a wrong turn and then speaking in Spanish afterwards, he looked like the Idiot he was and I was annoyingly entertained for longer than I wanted, but I felt it really was cheap entertainment. As I was departing, in Spanish, I said out the window as I was leaving infront of a group of mexican ladies dropping their kids of at school, "your mother must be so proud of you."
Puerto Morelos is a bad place for corruption, I have heard this in the past, I also think there is an area to the South of the Centro Maya, Playa del Carmen all the way to Explor that has a bad group of Policia.
They do stop people who are not speeding, they do show them the radar which could be from 10 cars previous and yes it can be scarey, so its easier said than done to not pay the Mordita, they do the Good Cop/Bad Cop so well that if you are new to the area its scarey. I just say I am not paying you and thats it. I say I was not speeding, I was not doing anything illegal and I am not paying a Mordita for any infraction. This is on the 307, I have not yet been held, I have not ever been taken to the police station, I have not paid a Mordita after the first time, and I was a bit scared the first time, I even apologized and I was not in the wrong. I did however only have 200 pesos in my wallet, so his 1000 peso request at the time was hilarious. This time the officer even suggested we go to a bank machine to get money out, this was 6 years ago more or less. I told him I do not have a bank card for Mexico. He took the 200 and I left, but I am so careful now and I always get into the left lane and if I see the cops, I do not make any eye contact I just pretend I do not see a thing, unless they step out infront of me I keep going.
What an awful thing, the Government does have to do something, but what could that be, I don't for see the issue being resolved in my lifetime, its just a way of life. The interior of Mx is the same, but there is no Gringo Dollars to ask the rediculous Mordita Rates they do here. 30 pesos in Leon is the norm, maybe 50 but thats it. Nationals deal with it hilariously, its just the way it is.
Sad but true. I still drive, I still love Costa Maya and the Riviera Maya:palmtree:

[breezinby]

Its easy if you tell them specifically how much you want. Get out when they are done. Take you money out, count exact change, and pay.

You will never get scammed.

[jannabanana]

This is kinda scary... I hope my driving experience goes okay! Is the route out of Cancun to Tulum fairly easy to navigate? You just follow the highway, right? What's the speed limit?

[beachreader]

You definitely can't get lost between Cancun and Tulum, just a straight shot down the highway. But the speed limits change often, so the job of the passenger is to pay attention to the speeds and keep the driver aware of the changes.

Don't worry too much about the scamming thing. I really think Pemex has been cracking down on the corruption. Just make sure you have smaller bills (100s instead of 200s or 500s) and ask for a specific amount rather than "fill 'er up".

[Margoinmexico]

:wave:a couple of weeks ago, someone asked about paying for gas with a credit card and I said it could not be done.........

I stand corrected! They actually do have a machine at the new Pemex on the beach road between Tulum and the Beach.

It has one of those things they bring right to your car that you swipe your card and put in your pin, so don't think they can get your number........

Will look for that thread, but just saw this thread, so thought I would post it!

[beachreader]

Wow, very interesting. Thanks for the tip, Margo!

[minniemex]

That is very interesting! The fact that they ask for a pin# is confusing. I never have to enter a pin# for my CC ~ and MN doesn't have real "debit" cards which require a pin# so I wonder if just a regular CC will work??

[beachreader]

The PIN# is definitely for debit cards (or maybe for cash advances on a credit card--big no-no in my financial book), but still would be nice to swipe my own cc, just for that extra security.