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Fines are increased if you get caught violating traffic laws and regulations in La Paz. We did NOT independently verify the accuracy of a report by B. Crawford we seen at the cat-litter-box liner. We usual use that pamphlet laying out at some supermarkets aimed at gringos and consists of advertisements and other BS. Take one from 2002 and a 2012 issue. Same doo-doo!! Anyway, talk is about traffic laws and increased fines IF you… before we get into that I like to address a connected issue. very often you hear, mainly at online publications / foras this “La Paz police all corrupt etc.” talk. In a very simple way own experience: Foreigner, living almost 11 years Baja Sur (2 y. Loscabos, 9 y. La Paz). In this almost 9 years La Paz I got pulled over 3 times by La Paz traffic cops (in uniform) and 1 time by PGR at a street-block/control. All of the pull-over been 100% justified. 3 times I did cleary violate traffic rules. At the PGR control it was around midnight in a part of La Paz you rarely expect a foreigner, they stoped EVERY car and i could not produce the vehicle documents. continue

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Officials in Mexico have seized more than two tons of marijuana found floating off the coast of tourist hotspot Los Cabos. The following is the best line we seen so far and, as we informed by sources in a news outlet, was so supplied by authorities. “Law enforcement authorities are trying to link the abandoned marijuana to the drug cartels”… really??? Hmmm…, we thought this was the friendly neighborhood mom & pop pot dealer that went out squid fishing and took 2 tons of marijuana with them to wash of the dust… geeze! Is that all they can come up with?? Is that part of the 6-digit US $ paid north of the border media campaign to create a better image looking at the southern Baja and La Paz?? continue

A major gun-battle took place past night in Cabo San Lucas Prisas Pacifico area (general/near Sorianas) between Mexican military and assumed narco trafficantes. Out inside source (CSL city government personal) informed us that the shot-out lasted about 4 hours from 23:00hr to 3:00 am. One soldier dead, one kidnapper dead and 2 police seriously injured. A independent observer put this video on YouTube. One can expect that this will not remain single incidents.

As we write, 14:40 hrs. Saturday 29. October 2011 we receive information that at this moment at the area of the Plaza Sendero (dont know exact name, general area Sorianas / Prisas Pacifico) is another – related – gunfight with the military taking place. The road to Todos Santos and Aguajito Avenue, just off Plaza Sendero, have been completely closed to traffic. Gunshots can be heard (3:39 pm). continue

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Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon gives the traditional “El grito,” or shout, to kick off Independence Day celebrations at the Zocalo in Mexico City, late Thursday Sept. 15, 2011. Mexico is marking the 201st anniversary of the “Grito de Dolores,” honoring the call to arms made by the priest Miguel Hidalgo in 1810 that began the struggle for independence from Spain, achieved in 1821. In the early hours of September 16th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest in the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato, rang the church bell to gather the townspeople. He called for the people of Mexico to rise up against the Spanish Crown, thus initiating Mexico’s War of Independence. continue

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A strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Sea of Cortez off Baja California, 60 miles east of La Paz, Mexico, the U.S. Geological Survey reported on Tuesday. The quake occurred at 11:44 a.m. local time (1744 GMT) at a depth of 3.1 miles. 86 km (53 miles) SW of Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico 138 km (85 miles) NNE of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
La Paz BCS Infotheque is not aware of any damage. We did not even feel it at the Fidepaz area…. – La Paz, a good place to be continue

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One person drowned and six were missing after a fishing boat carrying 27 American tourists capsized in a storm and sank off Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, authorities said on Monday. The 115-foot (35 meter) chartered boat left the port of San Felipe on the Sea of Cortez, a haven for windsurfers and sports fishermen, on Saturday but was struck by an electrical storm and capsized early on Sunday, port and navy officials said. Emergency services officials in San Felipe said 27 of the 44 people on board were U.S. citizens.
The U.S. Coast Guard, which is sending a helicopter to help with the rescue, said one person was dead and authorities were still searching for six others, but had no information on their nationalities.
“(The helicopter) should be there around 0800 (Pacific time) to assist with rescue efforts,” Coast Guard official Benny Minton said. The boat, called the Erik, was found around 87 miles south of San Felipe, a popular holiday and fishing resort located south of Mexicali. continue

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You propably seen them baskets with gratis pamphlets at some locations in La Paz, we had our find @CheDrauiBaja and this article catched our attention. Not that it was somethings new – you walk across the city with open eyes the past 2 years and that is a ongoing situation, and not just with the restaurants… But now it’s the malecon and areas targeting tourists and worth some attention and to talk about….. Ok, let is quote – the author of the article us named as “TBC” and therefore full credits for this content to “TBC”. Saul Nunez, president of the national chamber of the industry of restaurants in La Paz (CANIRAC) predicts that summer 2011 will be a difficult time for his fellow members in the restaurant industry. continue