Drinking and driving

[caro]

We are going to Desire on September and plan to rent a car for part of our stay. One night we will probably go to Cancun for dinner and probably a Disco. We will obviously have drinks there. Not much but probably more than the tolerated amount. Will it be a problem with the cops? Do they routinely stop drivers at night coming back to the resort?

[OzeFun]

Not the kind of place where you want to get done for DUI I'd imagine. I know speeding offences can disappear with $20, but not too sure about DUI. Wouldn't risk it, grab a cab or take some friends to split the fare.

[MandD]

Cab is definately the best option.

[caro]

Thanks for the replies, but do you know of a case where someone has been actually stopped for no reason at night and submitted to a breath test? Does anyone in the forum gone for a night out and returned late at night driving to the resort.

[werfun]

We haven't been to Cancun yet as we always went to DLC, but will mention the case of a Women that was taken off a bus by the Mexican army and spent a week in jail because they claim to have found drugs under the seat she was sitting on. We would recommend using a cab instead, why risk a free visit to a Mexican jail.

[CokeMann]

Thanks for the replies, but do you know of a case where someone has been actually stopped for no reason at night and submitted to a breath test? Does anyone in the forum gone for a night out and returned late at night driving to the resort.

We have done this, gone clubbing in the Cancun HZ at night 'tl the wee hours(but many years ago) when Cancun tourism and the drug cartels where a lot smaller.

However these days unless you are a local, know the culture and speak excellence Spanish - I personally would avoid driving yourself anywhere after dark, especially in Cancun and the Cancun Hotel zone(where most of the clubs are located).

The Mexican legal system is different, the assumption by the local constabulary is that if stopped you are guilty - it's up to you to prove otherwise.....
btw - a Mexican breath test is the officers opinion as to if you have been drinking and are inebriated - no machines

Every day typically there are several manned police roadside checkpoints set up both going into and out of Cancun and the HZ. They look for locals that may have burnt out lights, etc and also are on the lookout for rental vehicles. There are also patrol cars on the major highway ( hwy 307) which leads in and out of Cancun and the HZ.

Parking in Cancun and the HZ is unsecured - ie if your rental car is stolen and or damaged(even with local insurance) you are in for a potential shakedown by the local rental companies.

I'm not trying to paint an unrealistic picture for you, but really a taxi shared by two couples each way is the safest way to do clubs / dinner places in Cancun and the HZ after dark.

[dnbinmi]

Thanks for the replies, but do you know of a case where someone has been actually stopped for no reason at night and submitted to a breath test? Does anyone in the forum gone for a night out and returned late at night driving to the resort.

What is a night in a Mexican jail worth, compared to the price of a cab??

I have no idea why anyone would want to go into Cancun for dinner, to us the hotel zone is just too commercial. When you are staying at Desire and paying the rates for the atmosphere we make the most of our time there. You could stay at Temptations they have a lot of excursions into the discos for the night and you'd save a lot of money

[bb25]

Am I the only one distressed that it seems the poster feels driving under the influence is OK? It is never OK.

[Mr_big60564]

Am I the only one distressed that it seems the poster feels driving under the influence is OK? It is never OK.

+1

[tndr_cpl]

Drunk driving is an indictable offense (the Mexican version of a felony) The national blood alcohol limit is .08. Most people who are caught driving drunk are taken to jail (do not pass go, do not collect $200). As has been mentioned before, you are guilty until you prove you are innocent.Typically you will get a fine and the offense will be reported to the rental car company and your car will be held for them to pick up. If convicted of the equivalent of an extreme DUI you will be expelled and banned from re-entry up to 10 years.

Now it's possible you'll get a nice cop who will warn you and let you go, but it sure has never been worth it to me compared to the cost of a taxi ride and we go to Mexico many times per year (and I LOVE tequila).

[lm123]

There's a reason DUI is illegal. Getting arrested is far from the worst possible outcome. The cost of a cab can't possibly be worth the risk to yourself, your spouse and the others on the road.

[BTDT]

Pay.a.freaking.cabbie

It's a bad (and frequently oh so damned expensive) idea, stateside or elsewhere, to roll the alcohol/drive dice. Besides, you have no right to put someone else's vacation pleasure at risk, even if you do think you drive just fine after a night of drinking.

[SJCrazy]

The MANY reasons not to should make the decision easy.

If you have the money to throw at a Desire stay where you can either afford to park a car there unused the whole time, or ditch out out on pricy Desire vacation time to wander the Yucatan in your rental car, then you can afford a damn cab. I wouldn't really want to drive around there day or night anyways. It's not like Desire has a lot of cool stuff around you need quick access to. Cabs come fast anyways.

[caro]

Ok, Ok. Point well taken. But just for the record, we weren't thinking of getting drunk at all. We don't do that and drive. We were worried that a couple of drinks or a borderline situation with a breath test might get us in trouble, but you've made it more than clear that it is not worth it. Thanks for the advice