Here’s the drill on getting into and out of Mexico without hassle:

  • Your best bet is to park your car on the U.S. side and walk across the pedestrian bridge (Bridge No. 1) at the south end of Convent Street. If you drive across, use extreme caution, as auto insurance won’t do you any good in Mexico if you’re involved in an accident.
  • Leave guns, knives (even small pocketknives), and, of course, drugs at home. Nuevo Laredo has an ordinance prohibiting “any kind of instrument” that could be considered a knife.
  • You can bring up to $400 worth of duty-free retail items with you. Alcoholic beverages are subject to state liquor taxes and administrative fees. One liter of hard liquor, for example, will cost you $1.10 at the border. Texas residents may bring back no more than one liter of hard liquor, three gallons of wine, and 24 12-oz. containers of beer.
  • Certain food items are prohibited from crossing into the U.S., including mangos, avocados with seeds, citrus (except limes), and potatoes.
  • Certain prescriptions may be obtained in Mexico, but you must show a U.S. doctor’s prescription for the drugs when you reach U.S. Customs. One tourist brochure warns, “Do not bring diet pills of any kind across the border.”

    This article appears in December 15 • 2000.

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    • Amy Smith has been writing about Austin policy and politics for over 20 years. She joined The Austin Chronicle in 1996.