San Diego Border Roleplay splits its map into three distinct ways to play, and each one hands you a different vehicle, uniform, loadout, and set of objectives. The border checkpoint sits at the center of everything. Some players run the line as agents, others try to slip contraband past it, and the whole thing plays out across San Diego, California and the crossing back into Mexico.
Quick answer: You can play as Border Patrol (scan and process vehicles or pedestrians at the checkpoint), Police (patrol the city and arrest wanted civilians), or a civilian smuggler (buy contraband, cross the border, sell it, and launder the cash). Each team earns XP and a salary while playing.
Border Patrol role: scanning and processing the checkpoint
Border Patrol is the federal enforcement team responsible for securing the border, stopping illegal entry, and catching contraband. You start at the trainee rank and work the checkpoint booth, deciding who gets through and who gets pulled aside.
E to View Passport when the driver reaches your window.R to Grant Entry, which pays out +$20 XP, or press F to Send to Inspection if something looks off.E to run the Truck Scanner Scan as a vehicle passes through, then move to the pedestrian building marked SCANNERS and press E at the body scanner to run the Border Scanner Scan.The pedestrian scanner shows a full RESULTS readout of what a person is carrying, listing each item with a checkmark, such as Car Keys, a Flute, and a Passport. Running your first pedestrian scan unlocks the Scanner Operator badge.
When someone runs from the scanners, you can pursue them with handcuffs equipped, tase them, and bring them in. Detaining a criminal civilian pays +25 XP, and the arrest that follows pays +40 XP. Backup from other officers makes takedowns faster.
Police role: city patrols and arrests
Police focus on the city rather than the checkpoint, securing streets from criminal activity, arresting civilians tied to shady deals, and checking player data across the map. You begin at the cadet rank.
The core loop is a three-step takedown. Tase a wanted civilian for +10 XP, detain them for +25 XP, then arrest them for +40 XP. You can chain this on multiple suspects, whether they are out on the street next to a parked car or hiding inside a location like the XXL GYM.
Police get a cruiser to cover ground quickly, which matters at night when smugglers are trying to slip away with a briefcase of cash. The role pays a Police – Cadet salary of +$1,913 while you patrol.
Civilian smuggler role: buy, cross, sell, and launder
Playing as a civilian is the smuggling side of the game. The goal is to buy contraband, get it across the San Ysidro Port of Entry, sell it on the US side, and bring the money back to Mexico without getting caught.
E - $150 - Detection: 10%.
E to sell. A single crate of avocados sells for $390, and the first sale awards the First Sale badge. You receive a briefcase of money to carry back to Mexico.
E to Launder Cash at a washing machine. Laundering the $390 finishes the smuggling loop and awards the Briefcase Business badge, with a confirmation reading that the money was collected and the smuggling tutorial is complete.Tip: Ditching your vehicle and changing clothes throws off pursuit faster once you have lost sight of the police.
XP and salary payouts by action
Both enforcement teams earn XP for individual actions plus a flat salary, while smuggling pays out in cash you have to launder. These are the values shown in play.
| Action | Reward |
|---|---|
| Grant entry at booth | +$20 XP |
| Scan a player (truck or pedestrian) | +20 to +30 XP |
| Playtime | +20 XP |
| Tase a criminal civilian | +10 XP |
| Detain a criminal civilian | +25 XP |
| Arrest a criminal civilian | +40 XP |
| Evade authorities (wanted level 1) | +10 XP |
| Border Patrol – Trainee salary | +$1,913 |
| Police – Cadet salary | +$1,913 |
| Sell 1 crate of avocados | $390 |
Badges tied to team activity
Progress across the roles unlocks badges as you hit specific milestones. Scanning as an agent and completing the full smuggling run each award their own.
| Badge | How it unlocks |
|---|---|
| Welcome to San Diego | Awarded early after starting out |
| Big Balance | Awarded early after starting out |
| Scanner Operator | Run a Border Scanner Scan on a pedestrian |
| First Sale | Sell your first smuggled goods |
| Briefcase Business | Launder your cash at the Laundromat |
The game is built by the San Diego Border Community and runs on biweekly updates, so exact items, prices, and vehicles can shift over time. Cheating and exploiting are not tolerated, and it stays a roleplay experience, so respecting the rules and other players is part of keeping access. Pick the side that fits how you want to play, whether that is running the line, patrolling the city, or gambling on getting a crate of avocados past the scanners.
