Comments on: Still paying off corrupt Traffic Cops? Try this instead… http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/ Life is what you make it! Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:33:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: David http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-53372 David Sat, 30 Apr 2011 12:10:55 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-53372 Really nice article to steer clear of traffic cops. Hope none of the cops in Bali reads this :) Really nice article to steer clear of traffic cops. Hope none of the cops in Bali reads this

]]> By: Chris http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-53214 Chris Tue, 26 Apr 2011 11:20:35 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-53214 <strong>Will</strong>, nice addition and thanks for your observations and sharing your story and tips! Will, nice addition and thanks for your observations and sharing your story and tips!

]]> By: Will http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-52900 Will Mon, 18 Apr 2011 10:46:33 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-52900 I just had an experience that is worth sharing here. I was stopped on the side of the road trying to work out how to get back to my hotel when a police officer stopped to ask me if I needed help. He was nice to us then asked for my licence and registration. I showed him my australian drivers lisc, he wanted to look closer and I let go of my license as he pulled it closer to himself (massive rookie error). He said that he would show me back to my hotel and we would deal with it there, we were at a big intersection. On the way to the hotel he pulled us into a small side road. He started to threaten court and trial in Denpasar and that the on the spot fine was 250,000. I said that was too much and asked him when the trial date was. Then he started to really drive hard at getting the registration papers for the hire bike. I took the key out of the bike (good move) he was trying to find the button to open the seat but couldn't He showed me about five other rego papers that he had and said it's what he had to do. He called another policeman on his mobile he came but left after 10min. I figured that if it was official he would have used his radio. At this point my wife was ticked and took a photo of him which he didnt like at all.. He said "Ok you go to court" and started writing out a ticket. He asked for the registration papers a few more times then gave me the ticket and rode off with my license. I have found out that I can hire someone to try and get it back but it is about the same as what it would cost to get it replaced in Australia. Lessons. 1. Dont give up your licence. 2. They will try and get the rego papers because the hire company fee is US$100 and there is a lot more money in that bribe to give the bike owner his rego papers back. Just don't give them up. 3. Dont wait on the side of the road near an intersection. 4. Be respectful and just wait it out. Good Luck Riding a scooter is so much better than getting a taxi, you see so much more. Happy holidays. I just had an experience that is worth sharing here.

I was stopped on the side of the road trying to work out how to get back to my hotel when a police officer stopped to ask me if I needed help. He was nice to us then asked for my licence and registration. I showed him my australian drivers lisc, he wanted to look closer and I let go of my license as he pulled it closer to himself (massive rookie error). He said that he would show me back to my hotel and we would deal with it there, we were at a big intersection. On the way to the hotel he pulled us into a small side road. He started to threaten court and trial in Denpasar and that the on the spot fine was 250,000. I said that was too much and asked him when the trial date was. Then he started to really drive hard at getting the registration papers for the hire bike. I took the key out of the bike (good move) he was trying to find the button to open the seat but couldn’t He showed me about five other rego papers that he had and said it’s what he had to do. He called another policeman on his mobile he came but left after 10min. I figured that if it was official he would have used his radio.
At this point my wife was ticked and took a photo of him which he didnt like at all.. He said “Ok you go to court” and started writing out a ticket.
He asked for the registration papers a few more times then gave me the ticket and rode off with my license.
I have found out that I can hire someone to try and get it back but it is about the same as what it would cost to get it replaced in Australia.
Lessons.
1. Dont give up your licence.
2. They will try and get the rego papers because the hire company fee is US$100 and there is a lot more money in that bribe to give the bike owner his rego papers back. Just don’t give them up.
3. Dont wait on the side of the road near an intersection.
4. Be respectful and just wait it out.

Good Luck
Riding a scooter is so much better than getting a taxi, you see so much more.
Happy holidays.

]]> By: Harry0309 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-51698 Harry0309 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 09:22:05 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-51698 Thanks Chris, I negotiated with the owner and ended up paying him 100k (10 USD). We talked about the local police that targets on purpose foreigners to get bribes and how it impacts its business as well with angry tourists not renting bikes anymore. Anyway, Thanks for all the info on your website. -H Thanks Chris, I negotiated with the owner and ended up paying him 100k (10 USD).
We talked about the local police that targets on purpose foreigners to get bribes and how it impacts its business as well with angry tourists not renting bikes anymore.
Anyway, Thanks for all the info on your website.

-H

]]> By: tempo dulu http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-51693 tempo dulu Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:13:25 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-51693 just get an international driver's licence AND obey the traffic rules. That way you will never have to pay bribes. just get an international driver’s licence AND obey the traffic rules. That way you will never have to pay bribes.

]]> By: Chris http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-51692 Chris Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:27:36 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-51692 <strong>Harry</strong>, best would be to not show your 'white ass' at all when trying to get the papers back, you will only increase the price for the owner. Let him handle it amongst locals and he might get away with paying 20-50K Rupiah only. He might still try to extort more from you, but you can only leave it to their hands. Every action you will take as a foreigner, will make matters more complicated, lengthy and more expensive -> for you only. ;;) Harry, best would be to not show your ‘white ass’ at all when trying to get the papers back, you will only increase the price for the owner. Let him handle it amongst locals and he might get away with paying 20-50K Rupiah only. He might still try to extort more from you, but you can only leave it to their hands. Every action you will take as a foreigner, will make matters more complicated, lengthy and more expensive -> for you only.

]]> By: Harry0309 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-51657 Harry0309 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 09:55:31 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-51657 Well, that's it, I just got stopped by 10 policemen, stopping mainly tourists. Tried negotiating with the guys at the table taking all the information down, but he asked for 500,000. I only had 20,000, he then went down to 200,000 and he wouldn't take my 20k. So he issued me a ticket. He kept the bike's registration papers which the owner will have to claim in 2 weeks. Frankly I'm pissed with this situation. I feel like people, especially the police, are completely corrupt, always trying to screw you over a few dollars. When I was in Bali 10 years ago it wasn't like that. It doesn't make me want to come back to this place, have a very sour taste in my mouth. Anyway, any tips on what I can do so that the bike rental place gets their registration papers back are welcome. Thanks, Harry Well, that’s it, I just got stopped by 10 policemen, stopping mainly tourists.
Tried negotiating with the guys at the table taking all the information down, but he asked for 500,000. I only had 20,000, he then went down to 200,000 and he wouldn’t take my 20k. So he issued me a ticket. He kept the bike’s registration papers which the owner will have to claim in 2 weeks.

Frankly I’m pissed with this situation. I feel like people, especially the police, are completely corrupt, always trying to screw you over a few dollars.
When I was in Bali 10 years ago it wasn’t like that. It doesn’t make me want to come back to this place, have a very sour taste in my mouth.

Anyway, any tips on what I can do so that the bike rental place gets their registration papers back are welcome.

Thanks,

Harry

]]> By: Rubia http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-51060 Rubia Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:41:12 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-51060 Thank you for giving me peace of mind, man. I got stopped yesterday and did everything you advised not to do and it didn't serve me well at all. I was scanning the internet to find out how the hell I was going to get hold of an International Drivers license and where I was going to find the time and the money to do it and stumbled upon your page. Now I'm not going to bother. I'll enjoy playing the game in the future instead. Thank you for giving me peace of mind, man. I got stopped yesterday and did everything you advised not to do and it didn’t serve me well at all. I was scanning the internet to find out how the hell I was going to get hold of an International Drivers license and where I was going to find the time and the money to do it and stumbled upon your page. Now I’m not going to bother. I’ll enjoy playing the game in the future instead.

]]> By: Susan http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-50215 Susan Fri, 05 Nov 2010 21:50:23 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-50215 Oh my goshhhh! I laugh my ass off whit this article.. but you gotta be absolutely right.. it happens just like that here in my country, although here it’s a little bit more dangerous simply because this police man are not afraid to use violence as there is no law at all.. but I’m pretty sure every single one of those tips would work perfectly in almost every 3rd world country.. again, great great article! Oh my goshhhh! I laugh my ass off whit this article.. but you gotta be absolutely right.. it happens just like that here in my country, although here it’s a little bit more dangerous simply because this police man are not afraid to use violence as there is no law at all.. but I’m pretty sure every single one of those tips would work perfectly in almost every 3rd world country.. again, great great article!

]]> By: Chris http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-47639 Chris Fri, 09 Apr 2010 04:23:12 +0000 http://www.nomad4ever.com/2007/07/29/still-paying-off-corrupt-traffic-cops-try-this-instead/#comment-47639 <strong>Why8</strong>, thanks for sharing your experience with corrupt cops and glad you got away with not paying too much. These days the police is definitely much less aggressive in cashing in illegally. The new governor in Bali really seems to have made a difference. Also, you can now mentioned the Korupsi Kommission and there is even a Telephone Number advertised at the airport, if you have trouble with the police. I don't have the number right now, but just mentioning it, could help a lot. If you really did nothing wrong, just insist on not paying and write down the name of the police man and that should definitely help. ;-) Why8, thanks for sharing your experience with corrupt cops and glad you got away with not paying too much. These days the police is definitely much less aggressive in cashing in illegally. The new governor in Bali really seems to have made a difference. Also, you can now mentioned the Korupsi Kommission and there is even a Telephone Number advertised at the airport, if you have trouble with the police. I don’t have the number right now, but just mentioning it, could help a lot. If you really did nothing wrong, just insist on not paying and write down the name of the police man and that should definitely help.

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