Just doing their jobs!

HOMETOWN DISADVANTAGE

Originally Published the Week of Oct. 30, 2022 in Western Outdoor Publications

If you’re a sports fan, you know about the term “homefield advantage.” It’s a fairly common term.

It means the home team has an edge.  It means, they know the field of play or know the court better.  They know the crowd and vise versa. 

They know how the ball bounces and calls by referees and penalties seem to favor the locals.  The local team gets the better locker room, etc.

It’s like that in other sports as well.

In fishing, I’d rather fish with a guy who has lived all his life on a certain stretch of river or ocean than a guy who tells me he’s fished all over the world.  There is nothing like local knowledge.

When I was a trial attorney, we hated to do a trial in another city or especially a “hometown” city or small town where everyone knew each other.

We called that “getting homered.”   We knew the odds would already be stacked against us.  

A perfect example was a case my first had against the Disney company in Orlando, Florida.  

Impossible to get a completely impartial jury or judge when everyone in the city either worked for Disney; had family or friends who worked for Disney; or had stock or other business relations with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

It’s just the way it is and you play the cards you’re dealt.

It worked the same way if they came to our town.

That subject came to mind this past week on two separate occasions at our restaurant.  On both occasions, the tourists I was chatting with were complaining about Mexican laws.

One had been pulled over for speeding.

Another had been pulled over for going through a stop sign.

One said, he knew he was going faster than the posted speed limit, but he was “keeping up with the flow of traffic and there were still people speeding faster than me!”

The other admitted he only drove through the stop sign because he saw others driving through the stop sign.

Fortunately, neither of them got tickets which is pretty unusual as police officers tend to ticket tourists most times.  However, it’s still unnerving  anytime a cop stops you.  

It’s natural for anxiety levels to jump when flashing light bars come up behind you with that loud WAH-WAH siren blowing up in your ears. 

Even moreso in Mexico, I imagine.

Neither spoke Spanish, but could garner from the respective police officer that they had gotten stopped for their specific traffic infractions.  The officers did speak a little English and were professional and polite.

Both admitted that when the police officers approached, their brains went into overload wondering about jail, shakedowns, fines; etc.  All the terrible traffic cop stories they had heard.

Gratefully, the officers told them what they had done wrong and basically they received a stern lecture about being safe and a warning to be careful.   One even said, “Enjoy your vacation.”

Breathing collective sighs of relief, they drove on…ever more cautious, but understandably looking over their shoulders through their rear-view mirrors.

I did explain to them that laws are not applied equally.  Yes, there are home-town advantages and tourists (visiting team) should be aware of those inequities.

For one, tourists in rental cars stand out.  No two-ways about it.  You probably have a shiny late model car with no dings or bondo covering old accident damage.

Rental cars are clean. All the tires match.  The rental car has “car rental stickers” on the bumpers or rear hatch…a dead giveaway.

Plus there are the simple nuances of driving down here.

First and foremost follow the posted laws and use common sense about speed.  Use your turn signals.  Observe passing and turn rules, etc.  Basic stuff you learned in driver safety instruction.

But, beyond that, in Mexico just assume everyone else has the right-of-way.  Not kidding. 

It’s the safest thing to do.  No matter who gets to the stop sign or corner first or who is making the left turn assume they will take the shot. 

It’s not rude.  It’s just the way it is. Drive defensively.

By the way, stop signs are “just a suggestion.”  It’s a common joke.  Never assume someone is going to actually stop at a stop sign.

Or a traffic light.  Or, when it turns green, people zoom off the mark.  Let them go!

Usually, whichever vehicle has the most “momentum” has the right of way.  Let them go ahead and don’t get mad.  It’s just the way it is.

All vehicles are supposed to drive on the right lane.  The left lane of a two-lane highway is technically ONLY for passing.  Everyone else stays to the right.

So, pass someone then get back on the right side.  You CAN get a ticket for driving in the left lane without passing.

Open containers…ah yes.  It’s Mexico so it must be OK, right?  Beer drinking is what everyone does. 

No.  No. No.

It’s what lots of locals do.  Openly driving with a beer can in hand or six packs between the legs is common.  Or tossing a can out the window and all the passengers clearly are also enjoying cold ones.  No big deal.

I see it daily as folks drive by our restaurant on the waterfront.  I wave.  They wave back with a big smile.

It does NOT apply to you.  Definitely a big no-no.  Guaranteed to get you pulled over. 

Seatbelts?  What seatbelts?  Missing taillights?  No problem.

Not allowing someone on a crosswalk the right-of-way?  You should have stopped.  Even if everyone else almost runs them over.

Hometown rules.  Just the way it is.

Be careful.  Use common sense and safety first. 

Oh, and if there’s an accident.  No matter what.  It’s always going to be YOUR fault.  So, don ‘t get in an accident.  Best way to buzz-kill your vacation.

In all fairness, the police are not specifically out to target tourists.  In 30 years down here, almost all my interactions with law enforcement have been professional and often cordial if not downright friendly. 

I have gotten the occasional ticket, but I deserved it (went the wrong way on a one-way street and another time drove through a stop sign).  Like law enforcement everywhere, they have a job to do and it’s not an easy one.  

They drive by our restaurant or when we pass on the street, we wave.  They wave.  Often get a smile.  I just never try to give them a reason not to smile back! 

That’s my story!

Jonathan

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