Baja 1000?

[scoobs]

What documents do you need to have at the military checkpoints?I have heard everything from a passport to just a drivers liscense.Thanks

[shrek]

Gatorade................and maybe some food................thats all you need.

Shrek

[choppekx]

You need a tourist card if you go down south a ways. I have only been checked in Guerro Negro but I think you are supposed to have them if you go more than like 50 or 100 miles in. Other than that as long as you don't have guns or drugs at the checkpoints you are good to go

[roach]

i have heard you need / dont need a tourist card. some people tell me "dont go there without one" others say, "dont worry". we are palying it safe and taking them. couse you know if youi dont have it, thell ask for it. http://www.race-dezert.com/vb3/attachments/old/images/graemlins/confused.gif

[DMSCHASE]

STICKERS!!!!! Lots of Race Stickers.

James

[Mark_Weyhrich]

Military checkpoints do not require any identification. They are only looking for contraband, such as drugs or guns.

I would highly recommend you get a Tourist Visa if you are going into Baja Sur. You will be stopped at the border in Guerrero Negro and they will expect you to have one. You can usually bribe your way through, but it will cost you a lot more than a Visa would. And, there is still no guarantee.

You can obtain the Tourist Visas at Instant Mexico Auto Insurance in San Ysidro. I think they are $10. Since they sometimes run out, I recommend you call them at least 48 hours to have them reserve however many you need; 1-800-345-4701. You will need a Driver's License AND a Passport OR your original birth certificate (You will need to keep all of these items with your Visa while travelling).

Once you have it, you must cross the border, park and go into the immigration office to have it stamped. This is supposed to be free, but the old guy usually charges you a few bucks to do it.

All this may sound like a pain, but it is the law and will pay dividends when crossing the border between Baja Norte and Baja Sur.

[jposey66]

If you are not going into Baja Sur, save your money and buy more cervezas. I always take my photo ID and birth certificate, just in case I ever encounter a problem. The worst they will ever do is send you back north to get a tourist visa.

[pciscott]

Tourist cards are required if you are going past Guerro Negro, you can get them at the border crossing before 10pm or in Ensenada near the shipping yard. You will need a birth certificate or a passport to get the tourist card. You will have problems at Guerro if you do not have one. You also need to have a tourist card if you are flying home commercial. The checkpoints are looking for drugs and guns, leave them both at home. I always watch those guys as they go through my stuff, they will take your stuff if you do not watch them. My wife lost a digital camera and I know a few people that have had there walets emptied. Bottom line is do not let them intimidate you, stand over them and watch them. If they see that you are not scared they will let you go and mess with the next guy. Also hold on to your mag lights, they get legs at the check points. In the past everyone wanted stickers, now they want T-shirts and Hats. We owe them nothing!

[Homeybull]

The law regarding tourist permits has changed recently. Before, the permit was needed if you were going to be in Baja longer than 72 hours and/or travelling further south than Maneadero and San Felipe. Permits are only being checked at Guerrero Negro.

I spoke directly to the Dept of Tourism about this 2 months ago. They told me that if you were in Baja less that 7 days you don't need a permit. I specifically asked about the checkpoint at Guerrero Negro and he told me it didn't matter. You could travel the entire peninsula without a permit as long as it was less than 7 days. Although looking at their website, it is worded a little differently. I have an email into my contact at the Dept. of Tourism to hopefully clear it up.

Scotty, did you drive through the checkpoing on the last prerun? If so, what happened?

This is from their website:

THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT PROVIDES TOURIST AND TRANSIT VISAS AND ESTABLISING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A FEE FOR FOREINGNERS ( NON IMMIGRANTS) SUCH AS TOURISTS VISITING MEXICO ( CALLED D.N.I IN MEXICO ).

PROCEDURE:

THOSE INTERESTED PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO GO TO THE NEAREST IMMIGRATION OFFICE.

DOCUMENTS:

PHOTO I.D.
BIRTH CERTIFICATE OR VALID PASSPORT.
FILL OUT THE VISITOR FORM
PAY IN THE NEAREST BANK AND GO BACK TO THE NATIONAL IMMIGRATION INSTUTE TO GET THE STAMP.
TIME SERVICE:

24 HOURS ALL THE WEEK

FEE PRICE:

$ 205.00 PESOS OR IT' S EQUIVALENT IN DOLLARS

WHERE YOU PAY:

ANY BANK IN THE CITY

TIJUANA: BBV
MEXICALI: BANORTE, BITAL
TECATE: BANORTE, BITAL
THE VISITOR CARD IT IS VALID FOR A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS.

THE VISITOR OF ANY NACIONALITY , EXCEPT MEXICAN WILL HAVE TO PAY THIS FEE, WHEN ENTERING MEXICO.

IF YOU ENTER MEXICO:

BY AIR: YOU WILL MAKE THIS PAYMENT WHEN YOU BUY THE PLANE TICKET.
BY SEA: THE TOURIST THAT ARRIVING BY SEA AND NOT EXCEEDING THEIR VISIT MORE THAN 72 HOURS WILL BE CONSIDERED LOCAL VISITORS AND THEREFORE WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO PAY THIS FEE ( D.N.I.) BUT ALL PEOPLE THAT TRAVEL BEYOND THE ROAD CHECK POINT OR STAYING MORE THAN 7 DAYS WILL HAVE TO PAY THIS FEE
<font color="red"> BY LAND: THOSE WHO WANT TO STAY MORE THAN 7 DAYS IN AREAS NEAR TO THE BORDER CROSSING WILL HAVE PAY THIS FEE AT ANY MEXICAN BANK. </font> THE SECRETARY OF TOURISM IN BAJA CALIFORNIA ESTABLISHES TOURIST CORRIDORS WITHOUT PAYING THE FEE ( D.N.I ) AND THOSE PLACES ARE:

TIJUANA - ENSENADA.
SONOITA - PUERTO PEÑASCO.
CIUDAD JUAREZ - PAQUIME.
PIEDRAS NEGRAS - SANTAROSA.
REYNOSA - CHINA - PRESA EL CUCHILLO.

TO FACILITATE THE ENTRANCE BY LAND , THE PAYMENT CAN BE DONE EVERY 6 MONTHS BEING ABLE TO ENTER AND EXIT OF MEXICO SEVERAL TIMES DURING THIS PERIOD.

[Homeybull]

Follow up:

I received a reply from the Dept. of Tourism with even newer info. Seems like it's always changing! Might be best to take the safe route and get it and pay the fee if going south of GN. Better safe than sorry!

-----------

Dear Jeff:

If you plan to travel anywhere within Mexican Territory for less than 7 days and enter by land, your definitely need your Tourist Visa FM-T (to document your entry in to Mexico), but do not have to pay the DNI Fee (Non Immigrant Fee of $ 210 Pesos / around $ 19.00 Dlls.), if you stay more that 7 days, you do have to be issued your Tourist Visa FM-T and pay the
fee.

Attached please find more information regarding this subject. HAVE A GREAT TRIP IN TO BAJA CALIFORNIA !!!

(See attached file: SAFETY_TIPS_DIC-15_2003_leleviereditado_AME.doc)

Arturo Martínez Esquer
Deputy Director of Visitor Assistance
State Secretariat of Tourism of Baja California
(011 52 664) 973 0424 &amp; (011 52 664) 973 0430
www.discoverbajacalifornia.com (http://www.discoverbajacalifornia.com)

--------

Copied from the attached document:

•If your are not a Mexican citizen and you intend on staying for more than seven (7) days in any region of Mexico, you are obligated to pay a Non-Immigrant Fee (D.N.I) which costs $ 210.00 pesos (around $20.00 dollars), payable at any National Bank. Visitors arriving by land and staying up to 7 (seven) days are exempted of paying this fee, for any additional information please check with the immigration authorities or with the Baja California State Tourism Secretariat.

[scoobs]

Thanks for all the help.

[Dan McMillin]

just bring anything that shows that you are an american citizen( license, passport etc.) It never hurts!

[FIF]

Had a guy refused a visa. If using a birth certificate it MUST be an original. Photo copies will only be accepted if it has an ORIGINAL stamp on it. It's $20 and you can do it all at the border if crossing before 10:00pm. If you have a passport they like that much better.
If you need a new original birth certificate and you were born anywhere in S.D. county they're available at the County Administration building located at 1600 Pacific Hwy. Room 260 in downtown San Diego and they give it to you on the spot. I was in and out in less than 15 minutes.