To give or NOT to give “LA CENA”

[CristoRey]

May we ask why we’re you arrested 4 times ? Was it cause you got set up by the cops ?

Set up?
Nah, more like fed up.
When it finally dawned on those muppets I'd rather sleep in a disgusting cell full of crackheads for a few hours rather than give them my hard earned money...
for some strange reason they stopped bothering me.
It's was always business, nothing personal.

 

[PCMike]

I spend most of my days on the road. All over the country. It is very rare in the past 3 years (new government) to be stopped by police and in 2 cases I indeed had committed an infraction...one, turning left in a no turn situation and one time doing a u-turn down by Blue Mall in Punta Cana. Nobody has played the game with me.

 

[nanita]

Was stopped with 'frens' and one of my frens talked the cop out of the bribe - never gave him a cent although we were there a while but my fren was very tenacious. I would have paid but my fren was feeling resentful and on principle simply wouldn't do it and they let us go.

 

[SantiagoDR]

Characteristic I don’t think so , I dress very conservative almost like a banker :

Of course I experienced it … every month I get pullover and it have to give them $500 or $1,000 pesos just so I can go on my legal way

There's your answer!

 

[Liberator]

In the late 80s (wow... I'm getting old) a pack of donuts was sometimes an option.
My latest experience; from SDQ on the way to BC for a day at the beach. I had to stop (normally I always drive all the way to the left of the road, and now I happen to be on the right... and there he was, together with his police-friend in the middle of the lane)

Long story, I showed him some money and asked if I could keep the beach chair rental. 1000 pesos poorer we could continue.

I still love this country

 

[MariaRubia]

I have driven many times in Santo Domingo, and have been stopped by AMET 3 times, all three times for actually doing something illegal IAW the traffic rules. Twice my wife talked them out of any ticket and once, about 8 years ago I paid 500 pesos to make everything go away. I have never been stopped by the police and been asked to pay CENA.... etc. I don't know anyone else that has either.

I agree with Bob. Over 10 years in the capital. A long time ago this happened more, but only stopped once by the police in the last few years and that was because the policeman wanted my number to buy me a drink. I do see Migracion make very regular roadblocks these days and last week there were quite a few Amet roadblocks, but it's not usual for the grey police to be making traffic stops these days, and quite often I think the ones doing this are fake cops, a couple of guys on a bike dressed as police but who aren't real police. I think most of us old-school expats are replying to this thread saying the same thing, this definitely isn't normal these days.

Edward Then the head of the police said that the police were not going to be doing any more roadblocks. If this keeps happening, I would suggest that you download the Denuncias Virtual app onto your phone and then make a report. You click on Denuncia Anonima (so it won't ask you for your name) and then select Inconducta de un Policia. Give the officer's name who stopped you (they all wear name badges), the location, the time and date of the stop and explain that the officer demanded money. Every time I have used this app I have seen good results, it is very effective for reporting noise complaints.

 

[chico bill]

I have driven many times in Santo Domingo, and have been stopped by AMET 3 times, all three times for actually doing something illegal IAW the traffic rules. Twice my wife talked them out of any ticket and once, about 8 years ago I paid 500 pesos to make everything go away. I have never been stopped by the police and been asked to pay CENA.... etc. I don't know anyone else that has either.

I have not been stopped there either in multiple trips.
I have been stopped for 'refrescos' outside Montellano once and told them, after I paid 200 pesos, to never stop me again and so far they haven't

 

[chico bill]

Of course I experienced it … every month I get pullover and it have to give them $500 or $1,000 pesos just so I can go on my legal way

Did you finally buy a car. Last I remember you were looking ?

 

[Kipling333]

Over the past decade I have not been stopped once by Digeste and only a few times by police when they were stopping everyone normally during a search for certain people. I have not been asked for money in recent years but I always have 100 or 200 pesos close by if they do. I think the OP is way of target with his posting.

 

[drstock]

I don't go to the Capital to often (maybe twice a year) but I have never been stopped there in over twelve years here. I have been stopped several times in other parts of the country, either for infractions or just document checks. For the infractions I hold my hands up and take the punishment. The document stops they check that all is well and send me on my way. I have only been asked for money twice, which I paid (maybe 200 pesos). Once I was stopped at an immigration checkpoint near Barahona and the guy asked me for money. I said I only had a credit card to pay for fuel and asked if he would accept that and for some reason he gave up at that point!

 

[flyinroom]

Threads on this subject always get a great reaction.
Never being one to refrain from jumping on the band wagon...

One time back in the Nineties I was travelling with a friend (let's call him Fabio).
We were halfway between the airport and the city and got waved over by a young policeman.
Of course there was the whole song and dance about how he might have to escort us back to the station unless we could "settle" things right then and there.
Fabio played along until finally agreeing to hand over 50 pesos but saying he only had a hundred peso note and needed to keep some for gas.
The officer agreed to go back to his partner about a mile back and get change.
lol.
As if.
Fabio insisted the kid would come back and the rest of us in the vehicle said..."No way, let's go."
Anyway, Fabio persisted and about ten minutes later the kid arrived with the fifty pesos.
He was all apologetic for taking so long, explaining that his partner didn't have change so he had to search out the nearest colmado.
I couldn't believe it.
Fabio could tell endless stories about life growing up in Sicily.
He claimed that's why he loved the D.R. so much...lots of similarities.

 

[windeguy]

Of course I experienced it … every month I get pullover and it have to give them $500 or $1,000 pesos just so I can go on my legal way

Yet another reason not to live in Santo Domingo!

 

[Yourmaninvegas]

So anyone that lives in Santo Domingo longer than a day knows that at some point during the week ( assuming that you drive ) you will get stop by LA POLICIA or DICRIM and they will usually start by saying either “esto es un checkeo rutinario” OR any other made up excuse on why they stop you … anyways this it’s just an excuse to either ask (blackmail) you for money or for you to offer them money so they won’t hold you any longer and you can keep on your way ;

This is my personal opinion on what to do IF this ever happen to y’all ; GIVE THEM MONEY ! i repeat GIVE THEM MONEY ! … the consequences of you trying to fight for you or rights and NOT allow yourself
To be push around or blackmail are catastrophic , You may think you standing up for yourself and NOT being a punk or a BI**H , or sucker BUT I repeat for the last time the consequences can be catastrophic…. Besides IF Dominicans give them money to avoid issues what makes you special specially you just a GRINGO !

For those of y’all who are reading Thais thread / post think or about to write a reply saying that I am exaggerating or being paranoid allow me to give you some examples on what can happen to you if you play hardball with the police and DO NOT give them LA CENA $$$ :

1- they can and will hold you on the road or highway for very very long time until you offer to “ comando agarre de eso $$$ pa la cena “

2- let’s say you never give in and offer them money then they will tell you you are suspicious and they need to bring you in to the precinct ( cuartel ) to be DEPURADO ( background check $ ) , and one you there then at some point you will give in and finally say to them “ comando agarre de eso pa la cena $$$ “ … keep in mind that la cena money need to be more $$$ since you are now Inside the precinct and at their mercy

3- IF you get stop and act like you don’t want to play ball ($ ) they will search your vehicle without a warrant ( I don’t think they need one ) and if they found drugs , a handgun , or money then YOU ARE F**K…. Now LA CENA became a jackpot

4- If you get stop by LA POLICIA and start telling that BS about you having rights and they can’t search your car without warrant then they might might plant drugs in your for NOT being a team player

5- if you get stop by police and DO NOT give in for LA CENA $$$ , they can robbed you


IN CONCLUSION: ALWAYS GIVE THEM MONEY or FACE CONSEQUENCES


***PS…. Am pretty sure any replies to this thread will be agreeing with my opinion , anyone that says differently it’s Either just a tourist or just naive

I understand your position.
And agree with much of what you wrote in your post.

I have been stopped multiple times while traveling about in Santo Domingo.
Even one time while I was in a taxi when the taxi driver had done nothing wrong.

I disagree with the majority of posters here.

The exception being RayRay.
He is a stand up guy.
The rest are talking from their position of privilege.

What I have noticed...is that within the last two years random checkpoints on the street have stopped.
And when they are conducted they are strictly business and focused on law enforcement.

Before...all requests for food would be met with "I am hungry too.
Hop in the car and lets go get something to eat".
The reply is "I can't I am working." I would follow up with: "It is hot out today.
"Can I buy you a coke? I bet there is a colmado close".
20 DOP in hand and I am off.

I have been arrested three times and appeared before the fiscalía.
Beat the rap each and every time.
I keep my abogada on speed dial...

 

[DRforme]

Well I guess I’m lucky to have a get out of jail free card. Being a retired NYC policeman I just hand them my retired police ID which they just look at it then look at each other with a puzzled look. And just like that I’m on my way with a watch your speed and have a nice day. But I will agree with handing over a couple of hundred pesos if need be to expedite getting back on the road quickly.

 

[Fulano2]

I never carry my passport or drivers licence here, I don’t like carry papers around.
So a couple of years ago they started in RSJ with control. We got stopped, the AMET asked for my papers, I said it didn’t have them with me.
My wife funny as she is said :” I have got mine!” She pulled it out and it was oké for the guy. “Cuídense”.

 

[NanSanPedro]

I never carry my passport or drivers licence here, I don’t like carry papers around.
So a couple of years ago they started in RSJ with control. We got stopped, the AMET asked for my papers, I said it didn’t have them with me.
My wife funny as she is said :” I have got mine!” She pulled it out and it was oké for the guy. “Cuídense”.

What about pictures of your license and passport? I have them in my phone.

 

[Fulano2]

What about pictures of your license and passport? I have them in my phone.

I trust on my nice face 😄😉

 

[SantiagoDR]

I trust on my nice face 😄😉

This is how they see my face!

 

[keepcoming]

Of course I experienced it … every month I get pullover and it have to give them $500 or $1,000 pesos just so I can go on my legal way

If you are being stopped this much (every month) and giving them $500 - $1000 pesos, I would say that there is a problem. Under what circumstances are you being stopped every month?

 

[Jan]

Just wondering. How long has Rey been living - driving here? I thought he just recently moved here and bought a car. How many months are "every month"?