I can't believe you paid 50 dollars on the spot and like robert said, your dominican friends let you pay that amount? I can see what type of dominicans were riding with you in the car. Please folks stop acting like victims. These police officers are chicken-sh*t thugs in cheap uniform.
Here is what you do: Don't get upset with them at all or this will simply derteriorate the situation. When they come to you, show confidence and shake his hand first before he even says a thing. Squeeze his hand tighter than normally and say, how can I help you in spanish. This will give him the impression that you are no turkey and know a few things in this country. When he would say that you have passed the red light, simply laugh and say, "you must be joking with me. I would never break the law....etc etc" and keep you cool and stand erect. Don't act like a dumb blond tourist and don't talk to the cop if you are a woman and accompanied by your husband or male companion. Let the guy take charge and let him handle the situation. Police respect men more if they take charge rather than him sitting inside and you doing the talking. He would seem like a whimp and the cops will become lions.
Most foreigners often become very tense in situations like these and totally lose their composure. they begin to fight with the authority and try to point out that its not fair or just etc etc. Don't try to change their minds by arguing and insutling them. Play their game and win.
EX: I was driving to moca and was stopped by radar gun holding cops. They were not Amet but rather regular street police. When the guy approached me, I gave him a big smile and shook his hand tight and said: "dime compadre, en que puedo servirle?" he told me that I was way above the speed limit. I acted dumb and said (in spanish) "oh I am so sorry to hear that, but you see I am not from here, I am a foreigner and I don't know the law."
he looked at my face and saw that I was also a "tigre" (wise guy). He asked me where I was from, so I told him I was from "katmandu". You should have seen the confused look on his face. he simply shook my hand and let me go.
You see, these cops are dumb idiots who are simply looking for the next prey. When they come across a guy who is more smarter than they are, they get intimidated.
The problem with foreigners are that they are good at making themselves excellent victims. They are so straight that a kid can sell them sand on a deserted beach. You folks have to become smarter and know the ropes and learn the rules of any country before you visit.
Another example: I was in a bar in moscow, russia with a friend. A fight broke out and a few people got hurt badly. We couldn't leave because the action was at the door. Cops came in and broke up the whole scene and let us out. The cop had seen who we were and what we were doing inside (drinking). later we went to another bar and my friend got drunk. I had to take the wheel and drive back. At red light, guess who we found? We found the same cops who broke up the fight in the bar. Those cops quickly stopped us and asked me to hand over my license and papers of the car. Then he accused me of being drunk which I was not. Before I took the wheel of the car, I had already done some research on the scams the russian police pull on foreign drivers. They stop foreign drivers for DWI and then proceed to insert a dirty IV in their vein to take out a blood sample to test for achohol in a machine. Its all a trick to panic the foreigner when he sees a dirty needle coming towards his arm. They quickly settle for 50-100 dollars to get out of the predicament. USA embassy was well aware of these abuses by cops so they put pressure on moscow to bring in american citizens to the embassy's doctor for blood analysis rather than performing on the street by incompetent cops. This was the new rule in effect at the time for americans and I knew it.
Now these cops intimidate you by coming closer to you while talking and actually letting the barrel of the AK47 assult rifle touching your chest. Many foreigners simply get scared and pay up but I knew the law so I told him that I was not going anywhere with him except the embassy. He kept insisting that he would perform the blood test himself but I kept telling him that I will only go to the embassy's doctor because I am an american citizen and I have the right to see my doctor. After a few minutes of bickering, he simply gave up and told me to leave.
So you see, there is always a way out. If you think you are really in a jam with these cops ex: red light offense etc, please don't pay 50 dollars. Try to pay50 pesos if you are being generous. If your dominican friends let you pay 50 dollars, they are not your friends at all.
Better luck next time.
regards,
AZB