Tijuana’s chapter of the National Chamber of Commerce (Canaco) has renewed public warnings that police officers are targeting drivers with U.S. license plates for extortion, with Canaco president Olivaldo Paz estimating five to seven cases occur every day. Some reported shakedowns have reached as high as $1,000, according to El Sol de Tijuana.
The pattern is not new, but the business community’s willingness to push back publicly marks an escalation. Paz told media that equipping officers with body cameras would “absolutely help” but added that he hopes officers actually turn them on. Canaco’s pressure comes as Tijuana’s cross-border economy, built on medical tourism, dental care, restaurants, and shopping, takes a hit from visitors who simply stop coming.
A Rule That Creates a Loophole
Part of the problem is structural. Tijuana’s traffic regulations state that vehicles with foreign or out-of-state license plates must pay any traffic violation fine “immediately.” The rule was originally designed to collect from drivers who might otherwise skip out on fines. In practice, it gives officers a pretext to demand cash on the spot, blurring the line between a legitimate citation and a shakedown.
Many visitors and U.S.-citizen residents drive California-plated cars into Tijuana daily for work, errands, or leisure. That makes them easy marks. Atzimba Villegas, president of the Baja California Health Tourism Association, warned in May that “one negative comment can affect us all.”
City Response: Apps, Cameras, and Rule Changes
Tijuana officials have taken several steps this year. The city launched an Emergency Button app for reporting incidents with police and began equipping officers with body cameras. Tijuana Councilmember Ranier Falcón, who chairs the Public Safety and Civil Protection Committee, said officials have received input from nonprofits and business chambers and are considering adjusting the rules around foreign plates.
In May 2025, Tijuana’s mayor urged border commuters to record encounters with “extortionist cops” near port-of-entry lanes, where officers and security personnel had been charging $20 to $40 bribes for access to faster lines at crossings like San Ysidro. Past crackdowns on the practice have failed because officers reportedly tip off colleagues about sting operations.
What Drivers Should Do
If stopped in Tijuana, carry valid identification and vehicle documents. Always request an official written citation rather than paying cash at the roadside. Note the officer’s name, badge number, and patrol car number. Formal complaints can be filed through Tijuana’s municipal Sindicatura, the city’s internal oversight office. The Emergency Button app is another channel for reporting incidents.
The extortion issue in Tijuana was originally reported by El Sol de Tijuana and covered by Gringo Gazette North.