I got stopped the other day in Santiago.
The reason was they were looking for pistolas.
"NO SPEAKA SPANISH.
Then he mentioned the word "Propina".
I pulled out the "Papers" for the car and said "papers"
He then again said they were looking for pistolas.
NO SPEAKA SPANISH and said "Papers"......
I showed him my Driver's license.
He said it expires in November.
I said thanks, I know.
Anyway back and forth with "No speaka Spanish", "Pistola", "Propina" and "Papers".
He finally waved me on.
The area was also a motoconcho stop, and the guys on the bikes kept telling the PN, "He doesn't speak Spanish".
I can be just as persistent as they are......
Oh never worry, if someone has lived in the country and on no occasion ever paid a propina in any way.......................... I just don't believe them. Seems an unavoidable passage. Whether it be to get something done or avoid something happening...
Oh never worry, if someone has lived in the country and on no occasion ever paid a propina in any way.......................... I just don't believe them. Seems an unavoidable passage. Whether it be to get something done or avoid something happening...
A friend of mine was driving back that route last week from the capital to the north coast when she encountered one such road block near Nagua.
She was initially asked for a propina. "No, I only have a little money and need for gas."
She was then asked for papers and license. "They are all up to date."
She was then asked if she was Venezuelan. "No"
She was then asked if she was from Argentina. "No, I'm Canadian"
She was then asked if she liked to dance bachata. "No, not much."
She was then asked if she liked to dance merengue. "No, not much."
She was then asked where she was going. "To Cabarete to be with my boyfriend."
She was then asked if her boyfriend is moreno. "No, he's white."
She was then advised that morenos are better, and that maybe she should come back to visit him. "My boyfriend wouldn't like that"
She was then asked if she had a blackberry. "No"
She was then asked if she had facebook. "No"
She was then wished a nice day & sent on her way.
She tells me that all the questions about dancing were accompanied by him demonstrating his dance moves for her, while cars backed up in a line behind them.
Propina is one thing, bribing some stupid cops if you haven't done anything wrong is another thing.
A friend of mine was driving back that route last week from the capital to the north coast when she encountered one such road block near Nagua.
She was initially asked for a propina. "No, I only have a little money and need for gas."
She was then asked for papers and license. "They are all up to date."
She was then asked if she was Venezuelan. "No"
She was then asked if she was from Argentina. "No, I'm Canadian"
She was then asked if she liked to dance bachata. "No, not much."
She was then asked if she liked to dance merengue. "No, not much."
She was then asked where she was going. "To Cabarete to be with my boyfriend."
She was then asked if her boyfriend is moreno. "No, he's white."
She was then advised that morenos are better, and that maybe she should come back to visit him. "My boyfriend wouldn't like that"
She was then asked if she had a blackberry. "No"
She was then asked if she had facebook. "No"
She was then wished a nice day & sent on her way.
She tells me that all the questions about dancing were accompanied by him demonstrating his dance moves for her, while cars backed up in a line behind them.
Yes, but they know the game too well now as somewhere down the line people began folding on them and paying up. If you get cut off in a no lights area at night, or even on the highway unlit believe me, you don't really consider your rights, not for the sakes of a few pesos, just getting out of the situation once you have weighed up the situation. It hasn't happened a lot to me over the years, but it has happened. If PN stop a vehicle it isn't for traffic offences, we know that, or should do.
Dont get me wrong, if they pull you during the day, then stand your ground. At night is a different game, no lights, no people.
I posted a short while back that the difference in today's PN is they tax people, everyone ( you don't need to be an expat to get taxed these days) night or day, traffic or not. They don't care anymore, they kind of wn the streets now, according to them, ruthless bast ards.
If they try to stop me at a not well lit place with nobody around and it looks like an assault I just don't stop, period.
I am driving here for more than 20 years...
I am driving here for more than 20 years..., come on, if there are road blocks at night which are legit, they are in well lit places and with lots of people around, usually several cars lined up.
I have never mentioned a road block, I have never been taxed at a road block. I have when PN appear along side down unlit roads. That is my point. Roadblocks are not an issue.