To be fair they could make the law clearer as far as wearing helmets goes. I've been here a while and I'm still unsure on this one and I've never been stopped for not wearing one, but at the same time have been told I should wear one.
Now my understanding is that on village roads they are not required but on a highway they are. Legal or none legal this seems to be the score. But you can't have a half arsed unwritten law and expect it to be followed.
Those lights are nuts, how many times I've stopped at all the lights on that road and I get horned from everyone behind me for having the cheek to stop, tis rather confusing and for a tourist..... I can see how it can be very confusing.
as far as I understand the law about helmets correctly... it is as follows. The law states you have to carry a helmet on your body, it does not specify it has to be on your head. You have to wear it on all roads if you are the driver of the moto. The fact that everybody takes it off once they are of the main roads, is simply because they know Amet will not be there.
only the driver of the moto has to carry a helmet. It does not matter that he carries a paying passenger, these are immune to head injuries. The same goes for seat-belts, the driver has to wear one, but it is no problem his passenger gets his head smashed through the windscreen.
Now that I had my sarcastic releave, I have to admit I have never had any problems with Amet. Yes, I have been pulled over (especially around Playero), but they were always friendly and correct. I did wear my seatbelt, and my papers were in order. I know from good friends they had a different experience, but they admitted they did not wear their seatbelt.
The gun checking blokes (PN or G-2). Well, I once got asked for a propina from Jarabacoa to La Vega, and got away with 25 rds. I once got asked for a propina on the road between Jamao and Sabaneta, and got away with zilch. I almost get stopped weekly between Citymarket and Coastal, but since I had to show my drivers licence and my pic is from when I was 18 years old, they just start laughing, shake my hand, wish me a good weekend and wave me on.
So yes, please answer me, what do you do to antagonize those guys?