Driving while Gringo (Police corruption alive and well in SD)

[the gorgon]

Well, where I come from, thankfully, if I am all in order ( as in paperwork, etc....) police have no cause to detain/hassle me.
I have never, never ever seen an european police man ( or customs, drug, etc....) get into someones car and and then drive off with them.....w.t f ?
Depending on what agency they are from, they can search my car, search my person, check my ID, etc...... but at the end of the day they will send me on my way without getting into my car.

I had an AMET stop me for tinted windscreen in santiago. The guy just wanted a tip, and i wasnt in the mood to oblige.
But he is doing me a favour, if he takes me to AMET HQ it will take hours and paperwork...blabblablba.
I told him fine lets go to AMET.
So he tries to open the backdoor to my car.....lol.
I am like w.t.f ? I aint no taxi, take your own bloody vehicule.....
He says he doesnt have 1.
Not my problem. Meet us there, take a cab or walk under the rain, its up to you.
........... and he sent us on our way.

actually, malko, he could have told you to get out of the car, and you find your way to AMET. then you get your car back when the matter had been adjudicated, and you present a receipt for the paid fine. that is a bear on Sundays....

 

[wuarhat]

The car is in Wife's name and she does the driving here in RD... I get to see all the country.
In SDO I use my favorite Taxi driver....... Got stopped en route to Santiago once and She told the PN where to get off at and we were flagged on.... he did not want to mess with her.

Hahaha. That reminds me of one of my incidents. They worked my side of the car for about five minutes until it looked futile then they went around to try to get something out of my wife. Then the leader came back to my window and said you are a fine gentleman sir, but your wife tiene boca sucia. Then they told us to leave.

Mainly because of the cops, I have also decided to no longer drive here. It's cheaper and easier to pay for your transportation ala carte. Maybe if I were a resident it would be different.

 

[hard times doug]

I knew when I mentioned that I was a retired cop that I was going to receive negative feedback but I understand that. I have friends who are envious of my $150,000 pension. Hopefully I will collect it for many years to come even with my old throbbing red vein.

I must apologize to everyone for mentioning my pension.  I am ashamed and it was immature on my part. Unfortunately, this guy CristoRey made some condescending comments that got the best of me. I appreciate everyone’s feedback but this will be my last post.  Like in the past, any issues or problems in the future that I have in the DR will be handled privately.  It has gotten me through all these years coming down here.  Thanks to all.  God Bless

 

[bob saunders]

Hahaha. That reminds me of one of my incidents. They worked my side of the car for about five minutes until it looked futile then they went around to try to get something out of my wife. Then the leader came back to my window and said you are a fine gentleman sir, but your wife tiene boca sucia. Then they told us to leave.

Mainly because of the cops, I have also decided to no longer drive here. It's cheaper and easier to pay for your transportation ala carte. Maybe if I were a resident it would be different.

Maybe I've been lucky, because I have been through many roadblocks by the PN and the Military, and either we are waved through or asked a couple of questions, like where are you coming from and where are you going, and have a nice day sir.

 

[Cdn_Gringo]

The roadblocks comprised of several different agencies working together are not usually a venue for extortion. This happens most frequently (as in almost all the time) by the PN acting alone, to a lessor extent Amet (easier to type than the new acronym) when they get you to stop for a violation and when any single agency is able to interact with you sans the scrutiny of other officials.

 

[chico bill]

it's the internet. every poster is Bill Gates, or John Wayne , or...

there are no irrelevant old men, sitting in life's departure lounge. it is all a collection of adorable megastars.

Funny - "Life's Departure Lounge" - I hope my plane is delayed.

More humor Gorgon - I didn't realize you were a wag.

 

[caribmike]

On Independencia in SD they are often, mostly looking for moto drivers but also stopping cars. I usually pass by pretending looking at something at the other side of the road or using a truck (if there is one in front of me) as a cover . Never look for eye contact (difficult anyway having my sunglasses on). They usually don't bother, when there is a lot traffic and just try to pick the next one.

Well, one time they came behind on a moto, knocking at my car to stop, from there it was a call to Tio (after they saw license and cedula but wanted my cellphone to look what it contains) and I was on my way again.

 

[the gorgon]

Funny - "Life's Departure Lounge" - I hope my plane is delayed.

More humor Gorgon - I didn't realize you were a wag.

it seems like at least once per week i get the news that one more of my schoolmates, or collegemates, or guys i worked with, has passed on. between November of last year, when my brother dropped dead at his front door, to this morning, i have lost 13 friends. me, i am just waiting my turn in the barrel..

that, in part, should explain why i do not take too much ish from people.

 

[chico bill]

it seems like at least once per week i get the news that one more of my schoolmates, or collegemates, or guys i worked with, has passed on. between November of last year, when my brother dropped dead at his front door, to this morning, i have lost 13 friends. me, i am just waiting my turn in the barrel..

that, in part, should explain why i do not take too much ish from people.

Don't turn moribund on us please.

Joke - An English gentleman was very ill and his son went to visit him in the hospital.
Suddenly, the father began to breathe heavily and grabbed the pen and pad by the bed. With his last ounce of strength he wrote a note, dropped it, and then died.

The son was so overcome with grief that he didn't remember picking up the note and slipping it into his pocket. At the funeral, he reached into the pocket of his coat and immediately felt the note.
He excitedly read it thinking it might be something he could recite during the service.

It said: YOU WANKER -- GET OFF MY OXYGEN TUBE!!!

 

[william webster]

Last year I had 3 friends die... all in less than 30 days

Just the time of life.... +/- 70... they start falling

Me?
I'm scraping through...

still on this side of the grass

 

[the gorgon]

Last year I had 3 friends die... all in less than 30 days

Just the time of life.... +/- 70... they start falling

Me?
I'm scraping through...

still on this side of the grass

it's just the witching hour, WW.

 

[william webster]

One was lung cancer - never smoked - 3 weeks

other was lung cancer that jumped to adrenal cancer... high pain...28 days

forget the 3rd one.. I was numb by then

tough stuff..........

 

[AlterEgo]

Guys, we’re wandering off topic......

 

[william webster]

our leader has opted out....

 

[william webster]

We are poor little lambs
Who have lost our way.
Baa! Baa! Baa!
We are little black sheep
Who have gone astray.
Baa! Baa! Baa!

 

[ExDR]

In the states my concealed permit is concealed just like the gun and only comes up if they ask me to exit the vehicle. Absolutely file a complaint, and call the US embassy too.

Also how do you know the major? I care more about getting a card like that in my wallet, than about residency, a cédula or local license. But I don't know where to meet and befriend any high up police officers in Santiago [emoji28]

Go to the nearest police headquarters and ask to see the Colonel. Invite him and his wife to dinner at a restaurant. Around X-mas, take a gift to them. Usually the business card from one of these high ranking is enough to deter these idiots. I don't worry when stopped b/c I pull out my military ID. Along with my last name, big General in DR, they let us go on our way without paying nothing. When the taxi driver ask for money to pay the bribe, I pass him my military ID, problem solved.

 

[the gorgon]

Go to the nearest police headquarters and ask to see the Colonel. Invite him and his wife to dinner at a restaurant. Around X-mas, take a gift to them. Usually the business card from one of these high ranking is enough to deter these idiots. I don't worry when stopped b/c I pull out my military ID. Along with my last name, big General in DR, they let us go on our way without paying nothing. When the taxi driver ask for money to pay the bribe, I pass him my military ID, problem solved.

that is not problematic. where the problem comes in is when you pay the fine, then try to get the guy in trouble..

 

[ExDR]

Many years ago I arrived in Santo Domingo with a friend to attend another friends wedding We were both active duty Navy Lieutenant Commanders

I was stopped as I headed down Lincoln toward the Hotel Santo Domingo by a PN on a motor Myself and guy I was with didn’t speak/understand a bit of Spanish The “officer” did convey that he wanted my license and money

I had placed everything in a “go bag” in the trunk along with neatly folded Mess Dress uniforms Not sure if any of you have seen USN formal uniforms but they look more like a Polish general than something a USN officer would wear The cop took one look at the uniforms, hopped on his motor and last I saw he was headed west toward Haiti

I guess he figured he had stumbled upon a couple US Generalies or however you say it

They are scare to death of a military uniform. When I want to bring in items and not have the security at SDO going through my bag, I put my dress greens with medals and all on the top of my packed suitcase. As soon as they open it, I get escorted out a side door and to a taxi.

 

[ExDR]

since there is the possibility for a bad outcome, err on the side of caution.

I agree Gorgon, discretion is the better part of valor. With the kind of money this guy makes, the amount he was asking was nothing. However, he did not earn that money so I would have been ****ed. That guy would have been in trouble if he had stopped me after a few drinks. I was not giving him my gun. Safety off and my hand on the grip ready to draw and fire. I would have kept the idiot between me and the other fools and I would have told him 1. I am a cop and a deadly shot. 2. you aren't nothing but a thief and you are not going to steal my money 3. you can get in your truck and leave or someone is going to die here right now. With that, you have to be prepared to kill each of them. He would have turned around and gone on his way. You have to punch a bully in the nose.

 

[ExDR]

Fear and intimidation is the name of the game. The goal, is the age old Dominican desire to come out on top in a transaction. $RD 5000 is the standard denomination for firearm extortion by the police. There is room to negotiate, however, the Sgt in this case, needs to pass on the tithes to his superiors for continued protection by them. He needs to get enough to pass some to the others in his posse and to his Lt and CO. The Colonel of the detachment always gets his share and often ends up with the firearm in his desk drawer if the money was not paid immediately. Later negotiations will see the firearm returned for the full $5000 after some representative intervenes on your behalf.

You have to choose, to be a victim or not. Yes, corruption fosters uncertainty in that the person being extorted wishes to get off with the smallest payment possible and doesn't wish to escalate the situation further by being detained. The latter almost never happens and if it does, it is a short term measure to make one final attempt to get the victim to cough up some cash. If you call a lawyer, the lawyer negotiates the amount while you cool your jets and shortly, an amount is reached and off you go, to collect your car, or your gun or just to run home with your tail between your legs.

When you are arrested, the paperwork has to start. There is a representative of the fiscal assigned to each police station. They count the heads of those detained and then count the number of arrest reports to make sure the numbers match. If they don't there are issues. With only an allegation of wrongdoing and no supporting evidence, the fiscal will order you released immediately upon learning of your presence. Even a trumped up charge where the PN assert that you are a terrorist will get you hearing before the fiscal in a few hours assuming it's not the middle of the night. Otherwise it will be next morning.

The PN do not want to be standing in front of the fiscal spouting a story that is unsupportable. If such a situation does play out, the fiscal tells the cops they are idiots, orders you released and your property returned. If you do nothing else, eventually everything is as it should be. If you are in a hurry, of course the PN offer a VIP service for a fee and you get your stuff back immediately as opposed to later that day or the next. Sorry the Colonel isn't here to release your pistola, come back tomorrow...

Most of the time it never goes this far but sometimes it does unfortunately. That's the game.

If you are going to pay, then get it out of the way on the spot at the first opportunity. If you choose not to be a victim, then go all in, refuse to pay, refuse to hand over your firearm, refuse to go to the police station, refuse to get out of the vehicle, take out your phone and pretend to dial a number and begin talking to your lawyer, military friend or god himself.

The extortion will end when it is clear that you cannot be persuaded to take the easy out they offer. They can't win if they arrest you, they generally don't want to cause you harm, they just want to use your fear of the process and lack of knowledge against you to obtain your agreement to conclude the extortion.

I can't say with a straight face that the PN who do this type of thing aren't stupid. But I can say, they know the limits that they can approach without crossing that will see them protected by their superiors because usually the returns outweigh the risks. No one is really prepared to put you in front of the fiscal or a judge for reasons that are not justifiable, as they will get their hands smacked.

You need to push back enough that you are no longer considered worthy of their continued attention and the situation will go away immediately, or steadfastly refuse to comply and if you do get detained and you continue to refuse to play, it'll be over in about 24 at most.

You do need to let someone know that you have been detained and having a lawyer or even a Spanish speaking friend show up at the station is usually enough to hurry the eventual resolution along.

If you give in and pay, don't be surprised if it happens again. If you push back, you won't have any further problems from that detachment again, as there are lots of other fish to introduce to the frying pan that won't flop about making things difficult. They all talk to each other and word spreads quickly that you are too big to catch with a fly rod.

Not easy for a foreigner to do the first time, but like most things, it gets easier with practice.

Well said Gringo.