Greasing palms is part of life here ...this not unique to the DR as it happens in dozens of other countries and if you want to have a comfortable life you go with the flow...we are only half as bad as India for example .
Greasing palms is part of life here ...this not unique to the DR as it happens in dozens of other countries and if you want to have a comfortable life you go with the flow...we are only half as bad as India for example .
I was digging around looking for some information of arriving to the DR by sail boat and came across something I found interesting in several ways....
If you plan to enter the DR by boat, here are the entry procedures:
- Fly a quarantine flag (Q) in a visible place on approach and wait for boarding.
- Passengers must pay fees, obtain tourist cards, and produce appropriate passports and papers.
- Passengers must sometimes be cleared by military commanders in the port.
- Firearms must be accompanied by proof of ownership.
- Customs officials will often request a small gift upon completion of inspection.
1. I find it interesting it's easy to have your firearm along, just have the paperwork and...
2. Custom officials request a "small gift". Call it what you want, it's a bribe for expedited customs. I can bet if you don't pay, you will be artificially delayed. I'm sure it would take whoever handles rover the drug dog, a few hours to get to the marina and sniff entire boat, including your crotch.
I know this is not an official government website, but I'm sure it's safe to bet these are the official procedures to enter via nautical means.
Source: http://caribya.com/dominican.republic/sailing.and.boating/
Where I live they are very dirty and they openly operate like a gang of thugs.
I avoid them at all cost.
The climate of uncertainty of fairness within the justice system is limiting the country's development. Why would the Govt pay the cops more when they appear to be perfectly capable of extorting additional money from the citizenry? The willingness of the people to participate in this scheme because it's usually only a few hundred pesos at a time, is a part of the problem not any sort of solution. VIP process payments are simply an institutionalized form of inducement given a softer less contentious name. Every person should be able to receive the same efficient level of service from the Govt. without having to pay extra for it. Let me tell you in no uncertain terms, most locals do not pay bribes - revolving door chicas excepted. These "gifts" are mostly solicited from foreigners and well known repeat offenders; Especially those short time foreign visitors who it is assumed won't be around long enough to protest much. Just by looking an official can't tell a tourist from a resident.
The seemingly accepted pervasiveness of small time corruption lays the ground work for larger scale corruption. Corruption that festers unchecked brings about more of the same. Just like the life-cycle of a mosquito, to prevent disease, you have the interrupt the cycle at some stage. For the full time resident the opportunity to have the most positive impact is at the roadside shakedown, at the service window or where cash seems to be a quicker end run around a delay.
When one develops the attitude of acceptance and acquiescence to this filth, they are in fact a part of the problem and make it much tougher for others who do not believe this behavior is something worth promoting. Of course the position of the official is to create a situation where it is much easier to just pay than to opt for the alternative. As I have said before, everyone has to make their own decisions. If you accept being a victim you are helping to ensure that you will be a victim again as well as insuring that others find themselves in the same predicament.
It can be a major inconvenience to take a stand no doubt. It will cost you time, possibly more money that the original bribe, but the end result can be that you become known as being too much trouble to bother with since you will push back - still lots of other easier fish in the sea to fry. With respect to dealing with the police - All local legal issues except for the most serious of offenses are first dealt with at the local level with the local Fiscal. It is very easy and relatively cheap to stand in front of the Fiscal with your lawyer and demand that the official involved justify either the charge, the ticket or the accusation with evidence. Most of the cops bank on virtually no foreigner being prepared to stand up for themselves. When you do, the cops lose every time you mention that you were asked for money. I have yet to see or hear of any instance where the local Fiscal has supported open corruption. Cops know better than to be caught lying to the Fiscal. A unsupportable claim is always withdrawn or dismissed before either you or your lawyer have the opportunity to level an accusation of impropriety.
I know the system can work, I've seen it work. I'm not sure I can say it always works but for a stupid shakedown it does. If you don't have a triangle in your car, take the ticket and pay it. Giving a lesser amount to the cop just encourages them to do it again. When it is no longer advantageous and easy to extort money they will go on strike and get the Govt to provide a living wage. Not today, tomorrow or next week, but in due course. Currently it is way too easy and profitable to accept under-the-table-cash.
When you make it profitable to be corrupt, you have to accept your part in that corruption and expect others who do not wish to conduct their affairs this way, to be reluctant to overlook your part in their ongoing dilemma. I understand you may not wish to be a social activist attempting to bring about radical change, but the least you can do is not make the situation worse solely for your own convenience especially if you already know that you have done wrong and are looking to lessen the cost of that choice. Where I stand, that is just as much of a crime as asking for the payment.
This is intended to be a one sided editorial. Minor league crims and selfcentred individuals are expected to feel differently and should not feel compelled to offer further incriminating justifications, unless you really want to.
Bribes, sobornos, or whatever you want to call them are just wrong. If you choose to participate in that crap, then you are just as bad or even worse than the party who is making the offer because you should know better. This crap about them being poor and just trying to feed their family is just away for some folks to justify paying the bribes. The frigging robbers and stickup artists are trying to feed their family also aren't they? Why not justify that? Is it because they are a little bit more direct by putting a gun or knife to your face and scaring the crap out of you?
Ok don"t pay and see what happens......let me know how that works out for you
Ok don"t pay and see what happens......let me know how that works out for you
Yup. That's one of the reasons why this country is in the situation that it's in currently. I'll take my chances by not paying and am willing to deal with the outcome.
Yup. That's one of the reasons why this country is in the situation that it's in currently. I'll take my chances by not paying and am willing to deal with the outcome.
You really believe what you wrote.... how about the government paying a decent wage... plus we are talking a few peso not a thousand dollars. I definitely want to know how that works out for you.. when they start making up charges and drive you down that dark dirt road...
You really believe what you wrote.... how about the government paying a decent wage... plus we are talking a few peso not a thousand dollars. I definitely want to know how that works out for you.. when they start making up charges and drive you down that dark dirt road...
Make sure you let us know the outcome.