Dear Sir,
Re: June 2-8 edition of the Reporter, page 10. Lakeside traffic chief gets a dose of road rage. As a retired police officer from an unnamed Canadian city, it was with much interest and some concern that I read of the actions of a woman, identifying herself as a Canadian, toward the local traffic commandant. I am appalled by this person’s attitude toward the police, and I wonder if she displayed the same sort of attitude toward the police in her Canadian home.
During the times that I worked as a patrol police officer and also in the communications section, I had occasion to encounter this sort of attitude in Canada. Many people mistakenly believed that if they complained about the police officer issuing a ticket, that the ticket would be cancelled. It did not work that way. I wonder if this woman had the belief that it would work here in Mexico. And with regard to the attempt to bribe a police officer, would you have tried that in Canada? I doubt it as you would have ended up being charged criminally for such an attempt.
Concerning the fact that the police did not stop others who allegedly were also in violation, it is difficult to stop everyone else while dealing with one offender, and you pointing out the other offenders to police while dealing with you only delays the time in which they would finish with you and then go on to deal with other offenders. Furthermore, regarding the statement that police do not deal with Mexicans driving around with passengers “piled up in the beds of their pickup trucks,” or with people not wearing helmets while riding on ATVs, perhaps this woman should acquaint herself with Jalisco traffic laws to see whether or not it is legal to do those things.
Remember the golden rule, as you treat others, expect to be treated yourself. You are a guest in Mexico. Do not try to impose your values on the Mexican culture.
Clay McAdam, Los Sabinos