Mexican Knife Laws

C

cummins

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Nov 5, 2001
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Anyone have knowledge of the above?

I'm particularly interested in Sonora and Baja California, and the concealed carry and in-vehicle possession of fairly large fixed-blade knives (5-10").

I understand roadblocks and arbitrary searches are not uncommon, and while I want to be as well-armed as possible, I don't want to risk prison or the loss of my knives.

Thanks
 
Good question.

I have no experience with Mexican law. I'll have to research that one.
 
Tough one. You might try the Mexican Consulate to the UN in NY. They might be able to at least point you in the right direction.
 
I don't know the technical answer, but I have been stopped at dozens of checkpoints----mainly in Baja. Things I have been asked about include drugs, firearms, pants (blue jeans smuggling, I guess), and lobsters. Most inspections were just looking through the windows of the vehicle. Only one even came close to being thorough. I was carrying several dive knives and machetes and there was not even an inquiry about them. Machetes are fairly common in Mexico.

If you will pardon a little political commentary, my opinion is that the checkpoints are not really checking for contraband: They are checking for American tax dollars. The Mexican government receives significant amounts of money and equipment for its cooperation in the so-called war on drugs. They want to make it look like they are doing something when U.S. politicians and law enforcement make visits and inspections. My experience is that the checkpoints are mainly a show.

That said, it would still be nice to know what the exact rules are.
 
Dances with Knives,
Your political commentary is much appreciated. My brother works for the Outdoor Ed school in Cornell and he led a trip to Baja for sea kayakers last spring. They were stopped at the border and his co-leaders made sure they "helped" the border patrol do the search. They told him that in past instances these "guards" had been known to plant evidence on people coming across in order to be able to fine them or make false arrests and bolster their image. Re: the knife laws I have no experience in Mexico but I have spent time in Ecuador. Machetes and large survival/outdoor knives were carried by lots of locals as well as tourists and were readily available for purchase in many of the outdoor stores. It seems that as long as you don't go waving things in people's faces or attacking anybody just about anything goes.
Lagarto
 
My Texas-born girlfriend and I went to Matamoros, Mexico as a side-trip (our main destination was Corpus Christi/Padre Island, her birthplace) in March, 2006. I carried a 4" Cold Steel clip-point "Voyager" with the non-serrated edge during the whole trip (except on the flights, of course!) and never had a problem. Another side trip took us into San Antonio and I found out after the fact that they have a local ban on concealed knives. The Mexicans didn't question or search us at all. We parked the rental car on the Brownsville, Texas side of the border since the rental car contract prohibited taking the vehicle into Mexico. We walked across the Rio Grande over a fortified bridge (barbed wire/razor ribbon galore!) and paid 60 cents each to pass thru a turnstile to actually enter Mexico. It was 30 cents on the opposite side to return Stateside. Anyhow, we walked around town, took some photos, and bought a few souvenirs to take home. Had no problem at all at U.S. Customs, either. Declared our souvenirs, showed our Massachusetts driver's licenses as ID and were sent on our way. A young woman agent who works for the State Of Texas Liquor Bureau was collecting import duties on liquor purchased in Mexico by a group of tourists ahead of us. My advice? Keep your folding knife in your pocket (all the way in, no clip showing) and your mouth firmly shut and you should have no problems in Mexico.
 
By no means can I attest to the accuracy of this statement, or its up to dateness, but here is an excerpt from an email that a Mexican Atty. had sent me (the rest of the email was about air guns and firearms). He was a active member of the now defunct packing.org at the time. The email was dated 25 May 2005.

but for the knives and electonic devices there is non.
Click to expand...
 
If you are an American, dont carry a knife in Mexico. Regardless of what laws say, the Mexican Cops dont care. They can arrest you and confiscate. If you are a American Cop or FF, DONT flash your badge! They collect them! Trophies! I know LAPD has been trying their dangdest to collect a armload of Shields shanghai'd down there.
 
I live in Mexico and the rule of thumb is that the blade should be no longer than the four fingers of your hand (ie. 3" should be OK). Our main concern here is GUNS so I doubt that any police officer would care too much about tourist with a 3" blade folder pocket knife (no clip visible) in your pocket. As far as I know there is no limit on what you can have inside your car (in rural areas machetes are very common), Mexican weapon laws (and enforcement) focuses on firearms not knives. I carry a Gerber paraframeII and have never had any comment at all...

Again, this is only based on my own experience after living here for eleven years.
 
swedeinmexico said:
I live in Mexico and the rule of thumb is that the blade should be no longer than the four fingers of your hand (ie. 3" should be OK). Our main concern here is GUNS so I doubt that any police officer would care too much about tourist with a 3" blade folder pocket knife (no clip visible) in your pocket. As far as I know there is no limit on what you can have inside your car (in rural areas machetes are very common), Mexican weapon laws (and enforcement) focuses on firearms not knives. I carry a Gerber paraframeII and have never had any comment at all...

Again, this is only based on my own experience after living here for eleven years.
Click to expand...

you are probably the most educated on mexico's laws here. the impression i get from a couple trips down there is:

they have laws on the books, but enforcement is sporadic and unpredictable.
 
FireInvestigator said:
If you are an American, dont carry a knife in Mexico. Regardless of what laws say, the Mexican Cops dont care. They can arrest you and confiscate. If you are a American Cop or FF, DONT flash your badge! They collect them! Trophies! I know LAPD has been trying their dangdest to collect a armload of Shields shanghai'd down there.
Click to expand...

I heard the corruption was so bad in Tijuana that they took all the local policemen's handguns away . . . and issued ball bearing slingshots! :D

Mexico is fairly lawless, and the "police" are thugs who do whatever they please. Don't call attention to yourself, don't carry knives openly, and carry extra cash and ID in a traveler's wallet (ankle or neckcord).
 
tyr_shadowblade said:
I heard the corruption was so bad in Tijuana that they took all the local policemen's handguns away . . . and issued ball bearing slingshots!
Click to expand...

Yes, they did: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16763344/
If they believe the police are corrupt and working with drug smugglers, why take their guns and let them keep their jobs?? Pretty damn strange.

Between the threat to your safety posed by the Mexican criminals, and that by the Mexican police, I've heard a lot of stories of people not making it back with all of their stuff and their money. Carry extra cash, and keep it hidden.
 
Sounds like common sense stuff.....MAKE SURE THEY KNOW YOU ARE CANADIAN and don't piss of the guy with the machine gun
 
I would not travel to Mex. You are taking your life in your hands. You'll be kidnapped and used for extortion by gangs of thieves many who have their friends here. (This happens). Go To AZ or NM if you like the desert. Or Europe, Japan instead where people are civilized. If you want real adventure go to Burma or join the service and go to Iraq.
 
The State Department's Site says:

"It is best not to carry even a pocketknife into Mexico as this can result in a weapons charge if a knife is found on a traveler who is arrested for a separate offense."

I'm planning a trip down there next year and I'm concerned about this. Many travel advisors recommend carrying a SAK while exploring in a foreign country - not that any of us here need taht recommendation.
 
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