I had thought there was this new idea they had about how to infiltrate the sex world by hiring TS cops!  Wow, I thought, that's amazing that Mexico would be open to doing that.

Yeah, he's right, a lot of us guys are not too bright!

Heh, and here I thought it was some sort of reference to cops busting TS working girls and their customers.  Of course, they do that anyway...

TJ cops are horribly corrupt.  Everyone knows it, both locals and regular visitors.  Ever wonder why they always target tourists?  Cuz the locals know too much to be intimidated by them.

I always have three rules I tell people to follow when dealing with TJ cops.

1: Remember that they can't put you in jail without taking you to a judge.  They will threaten you with it, but if they don't have some decent evidence, they won't waste their time taking you to the judge.  They'll pick on an easier target if you simply ask to go to the judge and let him decide.

2: Traffic fines can legally be paid when you get home, by mailing them to an address in San Ysidro which is on EVERY official traffic ticket.  If the policeman insists that you have to "pay the ticket now or go to jail," or if the ticket does not have a San Ysidro address printed on it, he's scamming you.

3: If you can talk a decent talk, try referring to your "friend" at the "Sindicatura."  This is essentially the Mexican government's internal affairs division.  Even the police are subject to them.  Police do *not* want a visit from the Sindicatura.  Usually just showing that you are aware that they exist, gives the cop the impression that you are the kind who will file a complaint.  Once again, he'll very likely find an easier target.

It's like putting The Club on your car -- which won't stop a determined criminal who wants your particular car, but will simply encourage him to move on to a car that he can steal more easily.  These rules will mark you as someone who will not be worth the time for a policeman to try to shake down, and they'll go pick on a more gullible tourist.