Spring Break Safety Tips

Sabrina Smith thought her Spring Break trip to Mexico would be the perfect getaway. But the only place she got away to, in the backseat of a taxi, was a dark neighborhood on the wrong side of town, with no tourists or sandy beaches in sight. "He [taxi driver] did not take me back to the resort. We went to a very shady part of a neighborhood and it was just very scary," Smith, an Ark-La-Miss resident, said. Even after insisting to the driver they were not at her hotel, Sabrinas taxi driver did not take her back immediately. She said, "It was just very scary to be separated from the group, by myself, in a strange country, where nobody is speaking English and Im with a strange man." Being separated could be a life-threatening situation. But, there are a few basic safety tips to perhaps prevent a scary situation from happening to you. Tip: -Use the buddy system -Tell family your destination and emergency contact information -Dont tell strangers where you are staying -Watch your drink -Dont drink too much Each year, according to the US Department of States Web site, more than 2500 Americans get arrested abroad every year. Eric Villarreal, Smiths boyfriend said, "I heard Mexican jail isnt a place you ever want to be." Hes right. Your rights, according to the same Web site, arent the same in other countries as they are in America. Some even impose the death penalty for drug offenses. "Youre in a strange country that youre not used to and different laws, different people, different language, just a whole different background altogether," Villarreal said. Sabrina and Eric both agree: the close calls did not ruin their fun in the sun. He said, "I had a blast." Smith said, "I had a great time....Dont not go because youre scared or scared of what might happen. Just take precautions." -Candace Miers, NBC 10 News