Safe RV Travel in Mexico - Anti-Mordida Campaign

Direct translation of mordida is "little bite", but it is used commonly to refer to a bribe.   Mexican police attempt to charge gringos with a traffic infraction (sometimes valid, sometimes bogus), and in doing so ask for a "mordida" to make it go away. 

 

The tour books offer different tactics in order to deal with this situation. One is to simply not communicate and play dumb, whether you know Spanish or not! Smiles and shrugging shoulders are hopefully enough to frustrate the officer and rather than pursue the matter, just let the driver be on his way. If this doesn't work and the matter escalates, it is suggested to agree to pay the fine, but only at the police station. Ask the police to escort you to the station where you will gladly pay. This sometimes waylays the unscrupulous official as well.

 

We personally take all precautions to ensure we travel safe by RV in Mexico.  On December 15, 2009, my husband Adrian and I were travelling south with our RV along Mex 2 to Caborca, enroute to Hermosillo. As we passed through Caborca we were waved over by several police officials. This had never happened to us before, so with the mordida stories in our head, we both braced ourselves for a bit of action.     

 

An official asked, in Spanish, if we spoke Spanish. My husband of course shrugged his shoulders acting suitably dim (step one in the mordida dance!) hoping that the officer would just let us go. Next thing this fellow starts talking in moderately good English and hands us a brochure. 

 

The brochure explained that there is a campaign to stop the mordida. We were so pleasantly surprised. He then held a clipboard and took a quick survey asking how our experience had been at immigration.  He told us that the government is very concerned about RV tourists being safe as they travel in Mexico.  He also asked us how we felt about the road condition so far. We answered that both our experience crossing the border and the road conditions were fine up to that point.

 

The anti-mordida brochure, which the official gave us, included a single sheet of paper, in Spanish, with phone numbers.  He said this sheet is for our use if we encounter any kind of corruption. We must call this number to report it and they will, in his words, "remove the corruption".  We would show this to anyone who attempts a mordida. This official then wished us "bien viaje", good travels, and off we went.

 

The loose English translation of the form is:

 

Welcome compatriot (friend).

 If you suffer or are a witness of an illegal act, report it.

 To report and for emergencies call the number shown.

Good Travels.

 

We have shared this story with many other RVers we have met along the way this season, and a few have confirmed that they have had the same experience and received the same "protection" brochure.

 

We have supplied the brochure as a printable file. Print your own copy to keep in your vehicle at all times while travelling in Mexico!  The RV in Mexico community is close knit, and we must continue to look out for one another and be safe.

 

This new anti-mordida policy is a bit of good news for the RV traveler amid all of Mexico’s other troubles these days. My husband and I are not alarmists, but we would be remiss to not mention that, based on our experience and that of many others with whom we travel, safety and security is changing in Mexico. See the Mike and Terri Church website,  www.rollinghomes.com/madds3.htm for an interesting update on how the drug wars impacted travelers this past winter season of 2009/2010. 

 

Hopefully, this anti-mordida campaign will enhance safe RV travel in Mexico. Bien Viaje!