Of course, we all need help from time to time. Here in the DR if one plans to venture away from an AI it is vitally important to develop the basic skills necessary to procure information. The OP has been a user of DR1 since 2006 - that's like 11 years to you and me. If one has been reading this site, visiting this country off and on and using a computer for 11 years, they should by now be skilled enough to figure out that the bus they are interested in catching leaves every couple of hours from SD and costs $RD350.
The question about luggage security is in my opinion quite valid and not something one can easily answer without the first hand experiences of someone else. I'm tickled that there are still people who do not mind answering the most basic of inquiries. I used to do that too. Now when someone poses a question that I can look up for myself in less time than it took to write the question, I try to point out to that person that it is a more productive and beneficial use of their time to get the answer for themselves rather than just typing the question and relying on someone else to do the basic research.
No swipe at you personally, anyone else who replied, or even the OP. I'm savvy enough to know when someone has hit the all too frequent DR information brick wall and when they are just taking the shortest and easiest route from question to answer. Trying and failing before asking for help is admirable and teaches us something in the process - Time and again relying on the good graces of others so that we do not have to make the effort ourselves, not so much. This country does not always make things easy for foreigners. If you wish to thrive in this country as a resident or a tourist, you need to be prepared and able to take some initiative on your own. This country does not coddle to the same degree those from afar who are used to calling 411 for all of life's conundrums. In the end, everyone is free to respond to questions as they see fit and my way of thinking is not necessarily the only valid view point. If an easily searched question can foster a meaningful discussion and bring about a teaching moment for the individual, the respondents and this forum all the better.