Gilda Gazor Contact Gazor, a fourth-year
political science student, at ggazor@media.ucla.edu.
Click Here for more articles by Gilda Gazor
Spring break has left vacation fever in the air and you probably
can?t get through class without imagining yourself back on the
beach. Spring quarter provides warm weekends that are perfect for
traveling south of the border to cities like Rosarito. Cheap hotel
rooms, spa packages, a younger legal drinking age and a short
driving distance explain why Rosarito is a popular weekend vacation
spot for many UCLA students. What they don?t advertise are the
horror stories that some students experience while down
south.
Recently, a group of my friends went to Rosarito for a few days
and were caught for over-occupying their hotel rooms. After they
were kicked out of the hotel, police showed up with a marijuana
joint claiming that it belonged to the group. They were forced into
a police truck and taken through the back roads until Sean, a UCLA
student, used his Spanish skills to work out a $200 bribe with the
police for their release.
Their freedom was short lived: A friend took a photograph of the
situation, upsetting the police who then took the group to the
police station, threatening to throw them in jail for a ?long
time.? Jim Norum, a UCLA graduate, is still haunted by the sounds
of inmates mumbling and clanging metal against the prison cell
bars. After several grueling hours of interrogation and emptying of
pockets, the group was finally released.
Jim and his friends were lucky, but every traveler is not this
fortunate. What many students do not understand is that once they
leave United States soil, U.S. laws and constitutional rights no
longer apply (Bureau of Consular Affairs). Americans need to be
extra careful to abide by every law, including small things like
traffic violations. The embassy cannot interfere in the judicial
relations of a foreign country and therefore cannot demand the
release of a U.S. citizen under normal circumstances. They can be
contacted, however, for advice and attorney recommendations. The
embassy can also contact your family to make them aware of the
situation (U.S. embassy in Mexico).
The Bureau of Consular affairs point out that alcohol is
involved in the majority of arrests, accidents, violent crimes and
deaths suffered by American tourists in Mexico. Lesser violations
like disturbing the peace, lewd behavior, littering, driving under
the influence, drinking in public, using public transportation
without payment, or making obscene remarks are considered criminal
activities by Mexican authorities. Americans often take the
severity of drug possession lightly, but bringing or buying drugs
in Mexico can lead to imprisonment for a year without bail.
If you travel with a group, it is best to stay with them at all
times. Robbery and rape crimes are more likely to occur if a
traveler is alone. Also, to prevent trouble while in Mexico, do not
bring a flashy car, jewelry or carry lots of cash or valuables.
Take advantage of hotel safes to store your personal
belongings.
Reputable hotels are safe as long as you follow their policies.
Be aware that over stuffing your rooms is a big mistake. Hotels
have officials who look out for this offense and you may end up
spending more money to bribe the police than you would have paying
for hotel rooms for all your friends.
Remember that being a victim of a crime or being thrown in jail
is not the typical Mexican vacation scenario. But it is important
to be aware that you will not have the luxuries of American freedom
in a foreign country. Prepare in advance for any problems that
might occur by having legal and medical contact information.
Check out the Department of State?s website at
http://travel.state .gov/mexico.html for information about
traveling to Mexico, which informs about common crimes, hospitals,
lawyers and safety tips. There is no such thing as being
over-prepared when traveling to a third-world country.
The best way to stay out of trouble in Mexico is to be informed
and abide by their laws. Breaking even the smallest offense in
Mexico can get you into a mess.
Horror stories do not represent the majority of travelers?
experience, but, as you discover from this story, even the smallest
thing like over crowding a hotel room will get you closer to a
Mexican prison cell than you would ever want to be.