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Beware of friendly Policemen with Radar Guns. We were on our way back from Jaco and probably going faster than the posted limit, how far over I can’t be sure. My friend was driving and I was in the front passenger seat. I saw the Policeman ahead but I didn’t see him raise the gun toward us. He flagged us down and showed us the reading on his Radar Gun 87 k.p.h. in a 65 area. I sort of suspect this reading could have been from one of his previous stops. A quick scan of our vehicle and there would be no doubt, we were visitors. This fellow was very friendly, courteous and spoke flawless English. After checking our documents and admonishing us, he asked my friend (the driver) to step out. We all knew what was coming next. Out of earshot he told my friend that the fine was $40.00 which could be paid at the airport or at the Car Rental office or we could simply pay him and this would avoid points applied against the Drivers Licence. We know that it is wrong to hand over cash in these circumstances but it was easier than a confrontation. And as I said, he was very friendly, how often do you find friendly Policemen?
I have friends who just returned from C.R. They say they were dinged twice in the same way.
I seem to recall hearing about a 1-800 number for tourists who wish to report police corruption. Does anyone know of this?
This past Xmas I got stopped, this was the first time in 8 years of visits. I smiled, chuckled a little in a friendly manner, told the officer I’ve been visiting his lovely country every year for eight years and of course I know what the speed limit is on this road and I was observing it. He checked my passport, told me to make sure I don’t speed, we wished each other a Merry Christmas and I went on my way. I know I was a little lucky, but maybe there’s something about a friendly denial that threw him off, or maybe he just to pity on me and my horrible Spanish.
Those guys are always out there by Jaco. The fee has gone up, it cost me $20. They also say it is a school zone, which school I have no idea. So I just drive slower now.
Man, like petty thievery and other negatives, it MUST have something to do with high concentrations of North Americans. Of course Jaco qualifies.
I have been “radar-ed” on each of my last two visits in San Ramon, upon coming into town. The officer was friendly immediately stating that he was “jus shecking” and curious as to my business there which I was only too happy to relate to him. I told him I was a tourist taking care of a few details on my property. We had a nice little chat about how pretty the little town near the land was and, with a smile, he sent me on my way. I later was told that they were ticketing cell phone users who were driving while using the cell phone. That doesn’t explain why they pulled me over but I’ll accept the officer’s explanation. It actually was a positive experience to see ANY policemen.This is not a ‘recent’ occurrence, but it certainly has become a more frequent one lately. Many years ago a policeman in Coronado stopped me as I was heading towards IICA. He suggested that I pay him and be done with it, save myself the hassle sort of speak. Policemen on the take are never a fun or a happy event, but Costa Ricans are not typically violent and so when I very politely refused to give him any money and requested that he give me the ticket if he felt I had committed a traffic infraction (which would inevitably have his id on it), he politely told me to be on my way and remember to watch my speed.
If you would like to make a formal complaint, the Ministerio de Seguridad Publica (Ministry of Public Security–police) can be emailed with a:
Denuncia (report an illegal act), Queja (complaint), Sugestion (suggestion) or Solicitud (request)
If you committed no infraction., you did the right thing. If I were to be pulled over for an infraction I know I committed, I would probably pay the fellow. They don’t make much at all and as long as they were not asking for more than $30, I would consider it a contribution and possible time saving action avoiding a court appearance.
I live 30 min south of Jaco & go there weekly for grocery shopping/banking. The speed limit through the area where they normally are set up is 60 kph. I’ve gone through there at 55 kph & still been flagged down so they could check my documents/passport. When the officer saw my residency papers, he moved to the next car before I could even explain what I was holding! I’ve been asked for a bribe every other time I’ve been stopped in this country & I’ve never once paid one. In my experience, I tell them I will simply pay the ticket at the bank & for some reason I get a reprieve. I don’t know if it is because I’m a woman, or because I speak Spanish to them, or because I have residency, or because they don’t want to risk me filing a complaint, but once I refuse to pay the bribe they are even friendlier & eager to send me on my way than they were to stop me & ask me for the $20!
The moment you refuse to give in to the bribe, they would identify themselves via the ticket they give you so you could most definitely ‘tell on them’ and they will gracefully bow out of that scenario…
A bribe is not a ‘contribution’ to having a more ethical society…Although I admit it can be much less time consuming than having to abide by the law. I guess that everyone has to decide if their time is so incredibly valuable that you’re willing to promote corruption in order to earn some convenience. So now the bribe is $20, but what kind of society do you want to foment in CR after all? When this becomes ‘el pan de cada dia’ (an everyday occurrence throughout the country) and the bribes aren’t that reasonable priced and police aren’t that polite about it, who should we blame for that?
POSTED IN THE WRONG PLACE AND REPOSTED HERE BY MODERATOR
Posted Jan 31,2008 9:50 AM robsoilman
I’ve never had the nerve to try this, but I know for certain that a Gringo neighbor of mine from Esterillos has done it more than once. He just smiles and waves at the police officer with the radar gun and keep on driving. He says they have never come after him. I don’t recommend this, just wondering if he is the only one who has tried this.
Scott,
I hope that wasn’t Dave T…
In any case, the radar guns seem to be in a coupla place near Jaco, and on that side of the Tarcoles bridge…I also was stopped once, and told the officer, quite politely, to go ahead and give me the ticket….he hemmed, and hawed a bit…then sent me on my way…since then I’ve slowed down a bit, and just let all the Tico’s pass me…Aww consider it charity. I don’t give to official charities in the States simply because that SHOULD be a function of the state, not the church or other private citizens. We pay a lot of taxes and the government SHOULD be using that money to help less fortunate citizens rather than spend it dropping bombs on people elsewhere.
But every once in a while, when asked by a homeless person on the street, I will “contribute”. The Costa Rican policeman really make lousy money and I don;t see how they survive. I know that paying bribes is not a way to promote a healthy government, but what else can one do for these cops?Charity? Charity???
c’mon now….let’s say he stops 20 people a day…that shouldn’t be too hard, and he gets maybe 1/2 of them to pay up….$200 per day is a far cry from charity…well, so far on this message board, NOBODY has paid into this “charity”. Maybe they have to stop 20 people until they nab a tourist just to collect $20.
Personally, I don’t argue with traffic cops. They are the ONLY uniforms in Costa Rica that we have to deal with. Who else is there to maintain any order, such as it is?Ive been to CR 7 times and have been “radar’d” 5 of those seven times. I have never received a ticket, although one officer tried to get some money out of me. 4 out of the 5 stops I was not driving over the speed limit, they just knew I was a tourist by my car.
Its kind of a pain, but at least I’ve never had to pay. One time I left my passport at my hotel and had NO I.D. on my at all. I was nervous then, but the officer was polite and let me go with a warning.
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