Permit issue at border
I go down to San Carlos or the beach 4x a year for the past 35yrs and I thought I had my stuff together crossing the border. I was proud of myself because I have a multi-compartilzed folder for everything I bring, Kayaks, 10'inflatable, wind surfer, 14' sailbat w/trailer, SUV, m.h. air compressor, O.B motor. Whatever I bring down I have a sales receipt, title, regis. notorized statement, triple copies of every legal document, etc. I have learned over the years that they can ask for proof of ownership on anything. Including inflatable kayaks, portable generator and scuba compressor.
So today I go through KM 21, going to San Carlos, I will come down again in Nov so I asked for a 6 mo visa. He says I have to pay next door. I go next door to pay and he asks for the car title, I give him that and the title for the small sailboat trailer I am pulling. BIG mistake. He didn't ask for the trailer.
He says, were are the originals? In Tucson. He needs them. I point out that these are NOTORIZED copies and I keep the originals in a safe. That does not work for him. I tell him I don't need a permit because I am only going to San Carlos. He tells me that "Sonora only" applies only to a car and since I am pulling a itty bitty trailer, the Sonora only does not apply to me. I ask to speak to somebody else, he sends me next door to Aduana. They say I need the original titles and a photocopy that is notorized by a notary will not work.
Man o Man. I have been using these same notorized documents for 20 years and it has never caught up with me. Today was my lucky day.
What was really strange. I had stopped at the Shell station just across the border and a American from Kino stops by to talk about my trailer and sailboat. He says he has a similar one and last time he came across they would not let him in because he had a copy of the title. He had to go back to Tucson and get the original. I commented how I have never had that problem. Twenty minutes later, I suddenly have that problem and I had to go back to Tucson for the original.
I am proud of my composure. I did not raise my voice. I am not writing this from the jail house. I just starred at them with my mouth open. That is 160 miles of useless driving. I left the house at 7am, was turned around @ 10am. I got back to that same spot at 2pm and down here to S.C. at 9pm. 520 miles
What is so silly is that a color photocopy is completely indistinquishable from the original. One with a notorized stamp is more authentic. I am going to try it next time just to prove my point. This afternoon I was in no mood to talk. What I did was leave the sailboat & trailer at home, took the kayak off the trailer and put it on the car roof rack, went back down and got a 7 day free visa and I fled the scene. Now I'm just venting to you. Travelers Beware! They get us when we least expect it. Like today.
I had no clue that a car with trailer does not qualify for "no car permit needed" status in Sonora. (And I thought I knew everything.) Obviously I also had no clue about the notorized copies of titles no longer being excepted. Maybe they never did and I somehow managed to deal with folks who didn't challenge it. (The "nice people" in the permit office.)
So if you folks who understand the system better would enlighten me on were I went wrong, I would appreciate your comments. I have read Turtle Roads extensive and extremely helpful (thank you for all your work) dictionary on Mexico entry, etc but I failed to read that which pertains to my situation.
Thank you.
Norbert
PS:: In Nov. I bring down a M.h. I plan to stay in Sonora for 5 days, I will need a 10 yr permit because it is not a car. Yes?? I tow my car behind the m.h. and I need a 6 month permit for it. Yes?? I return to Tucson and come down in April with the car. Do I have to turn in the 6 mo permit when I leave in April, if I don't return before May??
What if I leave in Nov with m.h. and car and I don't come back down in the car before it expires in May. Am I obligated to send that 6 mo car permit back to KM21 before it expires?? Thanks.
So today I go through KM 21, going to San Carlos, I will come down again in Nov so I asked for a 6 mo visa. He says I have to pay next door. I go next door to pay and he asks for the car title, I give him that and the title for the small sailboat trailer I am pulling. BIG mistake. He didn't ask for the trailer.
He says, were are the originals? In Tucson. He needs them. I point out that these are NOTORIZED copies and I keep the originals in a safe. That does not work for him. I tell him I don't need a permit because I am only going to San Carlos. He tells me that "Sonora only" applies only to a car and since I am pulling a itty bitty trailer, the Sonora only does not apply to me. I ask to speak to somebody else, he sends me next door to Aduana. They say I need the original titles and a photocopy that is notorized by a notary will not work.
Man o Man. I have been using these same notorized documents for 20 years and it has never caught up with me. Today was my lucky day.
What was really strange. I had stopped at the Shell station just across the border and a American from Kino stops by to talk about my trailer and sailboat. He says he has a similar one and last time he came across they would not let him in because he had a copy of the title. He had to go back to Tucson and get the original. I commented how I have never had that problem. Twenty minutes later, I suddenly have that problem and I had to go back to Tucson for the original.
I am proud of my composure. I did not raise my voice. I am not writing this from the jail house. I just starred at them with my mouth open. That is 160 miles of useless driving. I left the house at 7am, was turned around @ 10am. I got back to that same spot at 2pm and down here to S.C. at 9pm. 520 miles
What is so silly is that a color photocopy is completely indistinquishable from the original. One with a notorized stamp is more authentic. I am going to try it next time just to prove my point. This afternoon I was in no mood to talk. What I did was leave the sailboat & trailer at home, took the kayak off the trailer and put it on the car roof rack, went back down and got a 7 day free visa and I fled the scene. Now I'm just venting to you. Travelers Beware! They get us when we least expect it. Like today.
I had no clue that a car with trailer does not qualify for "no car permit needed" status in Sonora. (And I thought I knew everything.) Obviously I also had no clue about the notorized copies of titles no longer being excepted. Maybe they never did and I somehow managed to deal with folks who didn't challenge it. (The "nice people" in the permit office.)
So if you folks who understand the system better would enlighten me on were I went wrong, I would appreciate your comments. I have read Turtle Roads extensive and extremely helpful (thank you for all your work) dictionary on Mexico entry, etc but I failed to read that which pertains to my situation.
Thank you.
Norbert
PS:: In Nov. I bring down a M.h. I plan to stay in Sonora for 5 days, I will need a 10 yr permit because it is not a car. Yes?? I tow my car behind the m.h. and I need a 6 month permit for it. Yes?? I return to Tucson and come down in April with the car. Do I have to turn in the 6 mo permit when I leave in April, if I don't return before May??
What if I leave in Nov with m.h. and car and I don't come back down in the car before it expires in May. Am I obligated to send that 6 mo car permit back to KM21 before it expires?? Thanks.
