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Traffic tickets in Mexico: The Most Effective System I Have Ever Seen

Libby Winkler
3 min readMar 25, 2023

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While some disparage the Mexican traffic police as corrupt, they handle minor infractions with unprecedented efficiency.

Photo by Jordan Andrews on Unsplash

Negotiating Traffic Tickets in Mexico: The Most Effective System I Have Ever Seen

If you have ever been to Mexico, you know that the traffic can be chaotic.

Cars, taxis, and buses all compete for the same space, and sometimes it seems as though nobody really knows the driving rules. So it is not surprising that getting a traffic ticket is not uncommon for tourists and locals alike.

However, what is surprising is the negotiation system that is in place for dealing with these tickets.

I Was an Eyewitness

On a recent venture to Puerto Vallarta, I was witness to this process in action.

While on a day trip with a licensed tour guide, the driver did not obey a red light.

Yikes, right?

The guide assured us this was not a problem. He spoke with the officer in his best, friendly ‘amigo’ voice and offered to buy his family dinner that night.

Done deal, and we continued on our way. Really.

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Libby Winkler
Libby Winkler

Written by Libby Winkler

Freelance writer who loves exploring the messiness of humanity, while poking around in nooks of life and shining light on all the things that make us complex..

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