Cars with Mexican License Plates: Who are they?

[KD5NRH]

You have to remember, with the falling U.S. Dollar, the U.S. is ON SALE!! Has been for along, long time. I get "sticker shock" when I go to Europe and have a burger for lunch!!

You know there are burger places right here in Texas, right?

Do you make special trips to Kansas for the seafood, too?

[G26ster]

You have to remember, with the falling U.S. Dollar, the U.S. is ON SALE!! Has been for along, long time. I get "sticker shock" when I go to Europe and have a burger for lunch!!

You know there are burger places right here in Texas, right?

Do you make special trips to Kansas for the seafood, too?

No, I get my fine Chinese cuisine in Kansas. I get my seafood flown in from Utah.

[Mike1951]

I regularly see Mexican plates on US 59, I-20, and I-30. A lot of times I see one Mexican van followed by three or four sets of trucks towing cars, all of them obviously just purchased at auction. One of our major exports to Mexico seems to be used cars.

I see these 'caravans' on I-10 all the time. This is what I've heard.

That is it illegal to import used cars into Mexico. That these caravans are instead reported to be enroute to Guatemala, which may be legal in Guatemala and Mexico. It is likely that most never make it to Guatemala.

[UpTheIrons]

I regularly see Mexican plates on US 59, I-20, and I-30. A lot of times I see one Mexican van followed by three or four sets of trucks towing cars, all of them obviously just purchased at auction. One of our major exports to Mexico seems to be used cars.

I see these 'caravans' on I-10 all the time. This is what I've heard.

That is it illegal to import used cars into Mexico. That these caravans are instead reported to be enroute to Guatemala, which may be legal in Guatemala and Mexico. It is likely that most never make it to Guatemala.

I think the rules changed recently to allow only cars that are 10 years old into Mexico, partly because of NAFTA and CAFTA. These caravans come through Seguin all the time on Hwy 123 heading south.

Here are a couple of links:
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/feb/16 ... clunkers16" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/03/mexi ... 98-models/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[UpTheIrons]

If you shop in Europe, and pay VAT (national sales tax), you can get it refunded. Here's a few ways.

http://europeforvisitors.com/europe/art ... opping.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Well, that's good to know. I did not know that. Thanks for straightening me out.

[puma guy]

Katy Mills Mall (I know, I know) had special deals for foreign shoppers this month, timed for Holy Week.

special deals for foreign shoppers? Isn't that discrimination?

Just like Ladies' Night is discriminatory. And the free kid's meals with an adult entree.

It's been going on for years. What burns me, though, is not the special sales (anyone can go shopping at the mall during Holy Week and fight the crowds, US and Mexican to get the sale prices), but the fact that Mexican nationals can have the sales tax they pay refunded if they take what they buy back across the border. Something about it being unconstitutional to collect state taxes on exports.

So if a foreigner robs the store or shoplifts at one of these sales it would be unconstitutional to read them their Miranda Rights?

[Tass]

I've seen a number of these plates on the west side of Houston and what really irks me is the 'my child is a star @ _____ elementary', etc. stickers on these cars. If those kids are in the country/state long enough to get on the honor roll of a local school, it's high time those people paid the state of Texas for a license plate. (Same with the people who came to town after Katrina...let's face it folks, it's been how long? You are no longer a temporary resident.)

Tass

[The Annoyed Man]

You have to remember, with the falling U.S. Dollar, the U.S. is ON SALE!! Has been for along, long time. I get "sticker shock" when I go to Europe and have a burger for lunch!!

Then stop going to Europe for a burger! We have better burgers here in the U.S. anyway.

[GOP]

"Mexican Elite?"

Um, not sure what that implies...

I'm sure they are just visiting. Not every Mexican citizen is trying to cross in to the US illegally.

[WildBill]

Over Easter, we have an influx of people from Mexico who make a "pilgrimage" to Corpus Christi (Latin: Body of Christ). I was told also that is preferable to come here than stay in Mexico as it's safer here. Also, most of those I saw were ordinary families.

During Easter, when I lived in McAllen, the hotels on the U.S side of the border were packed with Mexicans on vacation. They may be called the "Mexican elite" as they have much more money that the average working class Mexican citizen. These people come into Texas to vacation and spend money, not to live here.

The day after Thanksgiving the border crossings from Mexico to Texas were packed with people going shopping for pre-Christmas sales. Sometimes it took two hours or more to get through customs. Going to a big holiday sale at the mall isn't just an American pastime.

Getting back on topic, there are Mexican plates which are only good for people who live near the border. They used to be orange-brown colored and labeled TAMPS [for Tamaulipas]. They are not allowed to go into the interior of Mexico. That is one way that the Mexican government keeps "cheap used cars" from being sold in Mexico.