"Red Light" Experiences

sportmodel · 05-18-2004

Has anybody gotten the "red light" in the Cancun airport and would be willing to share the details of the experience? Was reading the "delicate nature" thread and this thought hit me: so, who HAS gotten the Big Red????

**tommy** · 05-18-2004

I never have..KNOCK on wood....been lucky I guess...Im curious to see how many have as well...they say about 1 out of 7 get the red light....

Sheryl in MI · 05-18-2004

Got the red light on our first trip to Playa. They just casually went thru the luggage while talking to each other. Don't think they even looked at anything. The 5 times since we have gotten the green light. We'll see what happens in 10 days when we go back.

Sol · 05-18-2004

I have gotten the red light a few times when going through customs in Cancun and other cities in Mexico. It is no big deal. Usually the agent will ask what you are bringing into Mexico and as soon as you start describing your things, they usually stop searching and close your suitcase.

Have a great trip Sheryl.

Cheers,
Alicia

**james** · 05-18-2004

I got the red light once while carrying my hockey gear duffel, a Henckels Twinstar Santoku, a notebook computer and a laser printer.

I recommend using Jedi mind tricks.

kjtom · 05-18-2004

I got the red light once and had fishing equipment ... the one officer told me that I could keep my jack knife but to leave it home next time and then he grilled me on fishing while the other officer went through my bags quickly .. I ended up telling stories about trout fishing in winter on half frozen Pa. streams and the process took almost 30 minutes but I did get to keep my jack knife which is definately a serious piece of equipment and he could have snagged it

RolyMar · 05-18-2004

I'm curious, what's a Henckels Twinstar Santoku???...

Phil V · 05-18-2004

I got the red light right after 911. They casually looked through my luggage while talking to me. On the other hand, I got "flagged" at the Austin, Texas airport and had all my luggage unpacked by them, and had to repack myself and nearly missed my flight. The dogs were all over me. I guess I fit a profile. (Early 40's, short hair, clean shaven, new luggage?)

Phil V

**denisea** · 05-18-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by RolyMar

I'm curious, what's a Henckels Twinstar Santoku???...

Henckels is a popular brand of knives. Twinstar is one of their product lines. Santoku is a japanese style chef knife.

Life_N_Cancun · 05-18-2004

I have never gotten the GREEN light!!! Every time I go through the airport or the bus station I get the red. That whole "random" thing I dont buy. I think the guy behind the desk has a button and when they see me comming they press it. Last time I went through the airport I was padded, prodded, and sniffed more times that I remember, and after the third time taking my shoes off, I just carried them in my hand until I boarded the plane. When I went through the Varacruz bus terminal, the agent checked all my paperwork, calling in the passport, visa, license, and even my birth certificate numbers. Then he started some crap about how I could not carry a laptop computer with me. He was really wanting to find something wrong. I think my problem is I am too polite for my "looks" (young, football player type). Maybe if I just tell them to F*** Off!!!, they would let me pass. I don't know. These mexican authorities can give you trobule if they feel like it, it doesn't matter if your doing anything wrong or not.

cuffedlinks · 05-18-2004

Oh Man....

THAT red light.....
....sheesh....

Critter · 05-18-2004

I caught it once in the charter terminal. Was traveling by myself (wife was in England for 4 months), was the first off the airplane and first through immigration, only had a carry-on bag and was at the stop light before the baggage even started unloading. Hit the button and bingo "red" light, she was pointing to the table before I even hit the button, so I too think it is controlled.

Anyway In my little carry-on bag I had $70 USD worth of seeds for my friends garden (tomato, corn, beans, etc). The lady saw 3 bags laying on top of everything, and asked about them. I said that they were for a friends garden. She said that I was not supposed to bring them in (good thing she didn't see the 30 other bags of seeds) and she let me keep them and go on my way. she made a quick inspection of the bag. She did ask me if I was military, because all my clothes were rolled to save space.

sportmodel · 05-18-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by Life_N_Cancun

Last time I went through the airport I was padded, prodded, and sniffed more times that I remember

Sniffed? I would suppose you mean by DOGS???

I don't remember any dogs when we were last there.....

baylainphilly · 05-18-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by sportmodel

Sniffed? I would suppose you mean by DOGS???

I believe Life N Cancun is refering to the dogs in the Texas airport.

RolyMar · 05-18-2004

Quote:

Originally Posted by cuffedlinks

Oh Man....

THAT red light.....
....sheesh....

Geez cuffedlinks...and to think that the first 2 words that come to my mind after reading -- red light-- are...

district Amsterdan

I don't know why, but they do...

05-18-2004	#1 (permalink)
sportmodel beachaholic Join Date: May 2003 Location: Mississippi Posts: 279	"Red Light" Experiences Has anybody gotten the "red light" in the Cancun airport and would be willing to share the details of the experience? Was reading the "delicate nature" thread and this thought hit me: so, who HAS gotten the Big Red????

05-18-2004	#4 (permalink)
Sol Chupacabras Whisperer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: The Gem State Posts: 10,459	Big Red I have gotten the red light a few times when going through customs in Cancun and other cities in Mexico. It is no big deal. Usually the agent will ask what you are bringing into Mexico and as soon as you start describing your things, they usually stop searching and close your suitcase. Have a great trip Sheryl. Cheers, Alicia

05-18-2004	#5 (permalink)
james beach geek admin Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: 10 year Playa resident lost in Kullavik, Sweden Posts: 9,747	I got the red light once while carrying my hockey gear duffel, a Henckels Twinstar Santoku, a notebook computer and a laser printer. I recommend using Jedi mind tricks. __________________ My lovely house is for sale Get your own signature countdown image!

05-18-2004	#11 (permalink)
cuffedlinks añejo Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The City of Presidents Posts: 16,003	Red Light Experiences? Oh Man.... *THAT* red light..... ....sheesh....

05-18-2004	#2 (permalink)
tommy Moderator Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Austin Tx Posts: 12,216	I never have..KNOCK on wood....been lucky I guess...Im curious to see how many have as well...they say about 1 out of 7 get the red light....

05-18-2004	#3 (permalink)
Sheryl in MI way into it Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 138	Got the red light on our first trip to Playa. They just casually went thru the luggage while talking to each other. Don't think they even looked at anything. The 5 times since we have gotten the green light. We'll see what happens in 10 days when we go back.

05-18-2004	#6 (permalink)
kjtom life=playa Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: WV Posts: 667	I got the red light once and had fishing equipment ... the one officer told me that I could keep my jack knife but to leave it home next time and then he grilled me on fishing while the other officer went through my bags quickly .. I ended up telling stories about trout fishing in winter on half frozen Pa. streams and the process took almost 30 minutes but I did get to keep my jack knife which is definately a serious piece of equipment and he could have snagged it

05-18-2004	#7 (permalink)
RolyMar toe in water Join Date: May 2004 Location: Miami Posts: 48	I'm curious, what's a Henckels Twinstar Santoku???...

05-18-2004	#8 (permalink)
Phil V way into it Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 149	I got the red light right after 911. They casually looked through my luggage while talking to me. On the other hand, I got "flagged" at the Austin, Texas airport and had all my luggage unpacked by them, and had to repack myself and nearly missed my flight. The dogs were all over me. I guess I fit a profile. (Early 40's, short hair, clean shaven, new luggage?) Phil V

05-18-2004	#10 (permalink)
Life_N_Cancun life=playa Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Cancún, Mexico Posts: 530	I have never gotten the GREEN light!!! Every time I go through the airport or the bus station I get the red. That whole "random" thing I dont buy. I think the guy behind the desk has a button and when they see me comming they press it. Last time I went through the airport I was padded, prodded, and sniffed more times that I remember, and after the third time taking my shoes off, I just carried them in my hand until I boarded the plane. When I went through the Varacruz bus terminal, the agent checked all my paperwork, calling in the passport, visa, license, and even my birth certificate numbers. Then he started some crap about how I could not carry a laptop computer with me. He was really wanting to find something wrong. I think my problem is I am too polite for my "looks" (young, football player type). Maybe if I just tell them to F*** Off!!!, they would let me pass. I don't know. These mexican authorities can give you trobule if they feel like it, it doesn't matter if your doing anything wrong or not.

05-18-2004	#12 (permalink)
Critter añejo Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Cerca de Washington DC Posts: 3,343	I caught it once in the charter terminal. Was traveling by myself (wife was in England for 4 months), was the first off the airplane and first through immigration, only had a carry-on bag and was at the stop light before the baggage even started unloading. Hit the button and bingo "red" light, she was pointing to the table before I even hit the button, so I too think it is controlled. Anyway In my little carry-on bag I had $70 USD worth of seeds for my friends garden (tomato, corn, beans, etc). The lady saw 3 bags laying on top of everything, and asked about them. I said that they were for a friends garden. She said that I was not supposed to bring them in (good thing she didn't see the 30 other bags of seeds) and she let me keep them and go on my way. she made a quick inspection of the bag. She did ask me if I was military, because all my clothes were rolled to save space.

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