80 maximum

On our way back from our week of vacation I had my first real encounter with Mexican police. I'm not sure what I've told you about Mexican policemen but it is definitely another thing...

Mexican policemen are corrupt. At least some of them. No matter how much some Mexicans keep telling it is not true. Let me tell you that last week, for example, one of my friends turned left with his car where it was not allowed (which in some cases you can't know because there are no signs or they are kind of "hidden"). She had to get out of the car, had to show her driving licens etc. Then the policemen told her that it was 200 pesos and because it wasn't really much she decided to pay. But when she wanted to, the policeman said: "Get into your car, get into your car." She didn't understand and said: "But I want my driving license back." "Get into your car, you'll get it back." Later he explained that it was in order to prevent that anybody would see him receiving money. Of course there are official fines which you have to pay at the police station. Although in most cases it es cheaper it is a lot of trouble. Therefore a lot of people "pay" the policemen. BTW, this is called mordida ("bite"), one of the words in the vocabulary test.

Now let me tell you how I got to know 2 Mexican police men:
When you are on your way back from your vacations and you have to travel more than 1000 km it can happen that you like to get home as fast as possible.
Therefore it can happen that, when the motorway is very good, has two lanes and your Jetta has 105 HP, you drive 150 km/h.
It also can happen that you do so despite the sign "80 maximum" (nobody respects the trafic signs in Mexico!).
Then it can happen that you overtake 5 cars.
It can happen that the first one is police... *oops*

First they didn't really care about my speed. I guess because their car was slower anyway. Unfortunately about 1 km further there was the toll station and a queue in front of it. The police passed and after the station they called me out... *f...*

Martin already hid part of our money, in case we had to pay we could tell them we didn't have that much. I stopped and got out.
- Where are you coming from?
- From Playa del Carmen.
- And where are you going?
- Back to Puebla.
- Where are you from?
- From Germany.
- Ah, from Germany. I'm not sure how it is in your country but here driving that fast is not allowed. Maximum speed on the motorway is 110 and that part only 80.
- Yes. *very guilty face*
- Can I see your driving license?
- Yes, of course. *I had him over a COPY of my driving license* (It's something you learn in Mexico: Never give them the original unless they insist on it because it can happen you didn't do anything wrong and they just want money for giving you the license back.)
- You know we can take away your car? Then you have to go back to Puebla by coach.
*Martin gets out of the car. I can see despair in his eyes.*
- So, did you rent the car in Puebla?
- Yes. Well, it's a Volkswagen car. We are interns there and they give a car to 4 interns each.
- You are interns? The girl (Ute), too?
- Yes.
- For how long are you here.
- I'm here for 4 months and a half.
- Me for 6 months and she as well.
- Aha. Your Spanish is quite good.
- Thanks.
- Well, please don't drive that fast any more. This is not your country. Like this you'll cause an accident.
- Ok.
*He gives me the copy of my driving license*
- Take care. *He shakes my hand*
- Good bye.
- Good bye.

To be honest, I have no idea how I got out of this without paying or any other punishment. It must have been a combination of the fact that we weren't just tourists, we weren't gringos and we understood and spoke quite a bit of Spanish. And definitely the two policemen must have had their best day of the year! I still can't imagine... Such a story, for so little. Just cost me some nerves.