Are Checkpoints our New Welcome Mat?

(FYI: “Retén” = checkpoint. You’ll be using that word a lot down here.)

If you’re driving into Baja these days, don’t be surprised if you get greeted by flashing lights, a clipboard, and someone asking, “¿Y las placas, joven?”

Since April, security checkpoints have popped up like taco stands—starting at San Ysidro, rolling through Playas de Tijuana, Rosarito, the scenic highway, and greeting you again at Ensenada’s toll booths.

Whether you’re local, foreign, or just trying to find a decent beach, odds are you’ve passed at least one. Or five.

The official story? It’s part of a long-term plan to reinforce security across the state. Vehicles without plates, questionable tints, and anything that looks slightly too chill are fair game.

And while some say it feels like overkill, others see it as a welcome sign of order—finally.

The police say they’re just doing their job. Critics call it intimidation. We say: Is this the new normal in Baja? Or just a phase in high-vis jackets?

Your turn:

Have you been stopped? Ticketed? Or maybe you actually feel safer?

Let us know—because we’re all just trying to get to tacos without drama.

Luisa Rosas-Hernández

Luisa Rosas-Hernández is a writer for the Gringo Gazette North, where she covers Baja’s wine scene, good eats, and public safety—with a healthy dose of wit and no bad news allowed. By day, she’s a health researcher recognized by Mexico’s National System of Researchers (SNI), and by night, she handles the Gazette’s finances and dabbles in social media—making sure the numbers add up and the posts pop. When she’s not chasing stories or crunching data, you’ll likely find her in the Valle enjoying a glass of red (or a crisp white with oysters)… for research purposes, of course.

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