Spring Break is around the corner, and everyone on campus seems tobe asking the same question: “Where are you going?”

For some students in San Diego, their answer might be a littledifferent than people at other universities: They’re going to Mexico.

Thousands of San Diegan college students will head 30 miles southof Interstate 8 to party over the one-week break.

Tijuana is just one of the places in the country students willvisit to get “wild and crazy.”

However, drinking excessively, acting rowdy and the consequencesof those actions could all result in dangerous situations.

Physical therapy freshman Nick Brown knows the risks of going toTijuana all too well.

Although Brown has been several times, he recalls an incident atClub Safari that he’ll never forget.

“I woke up on the floor, I lost my shirt, I had puke all overmyself, I had footprints (on me) and there was no one at the club,”Brown said.

Also, the Mexican police — especially the federales — have anotorious reputation in America for extorting tourists, particularlycollege students.

International business sophomore Robert Jackson said he is atestament to that. He has had several problems with the police in thepast year.

“We were walking down the street and the cops grabbed us andstarted searching us,” Jackson said.

Thecops asked Jackson and his friends if they had any drugs becausetheir eyes looked bloodshot. None of them did. Jackson and hisfriends had to give the cops $50 to let them go.

In a different incident, Jackson said he was pulled over for notwearing a seat belt. The cops asked him for his registration. Jacksonwasn’t able to find it and said he had to give the police $40.

Ruben Herrera, who works for the federal police in Tijuana, feelsthat the department has been viewed unfairly.

“We are only here to help the state police (in the battle againstdrugs),” Herrera said.

Although Herrera has only been working in Tijuana for one month,he said most of the corruption and extortion taking place in Mexicois coming from the municipal police.

“It is necessary for (tourists) to behave and not indulge inexcesses so that they don’t commit misdemeanors and other crimes. Thelocal police will take advantage to get money out of them and extortthem,” Herrera said.

Manuel Ledezma, an agent of the municipal police, acknowledgesthat there have been cases of corruption within his department.However, he says that those cops don’t work for the department anylonger.

Ledezma also added that people can’t generalize and think thatevery cop in Tijuana is corrupt.

“Just like there are good and bad people, there are good and badcops,” he said.

In addition, Ledezma emphasized that it is important for Americansto realize that cops are not always looking for their money. In fact,a lot of times it is the Americans who offer to pay off the cops ifthey have been disorderly and broken the law.

Tijuana has also been on heightened alert prompted by the recentdeath of one of Mexico’s top drug kingpins and the arrest of hisbrother.

Last month, Ramon Felix-Arellano was shot down by police agents inMazatlan. A little while later, another head of the cartel wascaught. This time it was his brother, Benjamin Felix-Arellano. OnTuesday, there were three bodies found in Tijuana that are possiblylinked to the drug cartel.

The Mexican government has increased security by adding morefederal troops around the city. Police say it’s because they fear abattle will take place to lead the Tijuana drug route to the UnitedStates.

The presence of more police is evident through the streets ofTijuana, especially in the downtown area. On every corner, federalagents stand with shotguns.

Ledezma said the most important thing to remember is to obey allthe laws, especially when it comes to driving.

“If you are coming to have fun (and drink), then don’t drive,”Ledezma said.