SANTO DOMINGO.- Soldiers conducted extensive searches for guns, drugs, stolen vehicles and fugitives on the Santo Domingo-Samaná highway Tuesday morning, an operation which began around 10 a.m., by agents deployed on both sides of the highway starting at the Las Americas exchange.
The military asked the motorists to step out and show their vehicle registrations and IDs cards, although the officials in charge didn’t report if they seized illegal items or stolen automobiles.
The people who carried firearms had to produce their permits at the checkpoints, in the operation reportedly implemented to counter crime.
Written by: BASTA, 4 Aug 2009 2:19 PM
From: Dominican Republic, = Ghetto-SPM-Barrio Blanco
After paying an outrages toll on a collapsing new highway, we have to put up with this. Long may our leader soon disappear.
Written by: xwill7, 4 Aug 2009 2:35 PM
From: United States, Chicago
Cops always ask if you have any guns in the car. The never had searched. Im shocked!
From: Netherlands
Those police actions don't serve any goo dreason. Just an oportunity for the miltary and the police to extort money from the public. Always a pleasant experience for an innocent tourist in the Dominican Republic. At the end of the day they can't even report of the result of these operations.
My experiences with police controls has always been that they were "buscandolo", what means trying to get money from me.
Written by: josean, 4 Aug 2009 3:49 PM
From: United States
They are afraid of the popular uprisings that brewing everyday!
From: Dominican Republic
do not know what Basta is talking about...the tollis appropriate,and it saves more in gas and dangerous driving considering the old way was 6 or more hours over dangerous small 2 lane road thru small towns and barrios...I guess you never drove the old way to Samana....and I do not see aroad that is collapsing,as a matter of fact,they are paving already,to keep in in great shape....drove it today and the police did not stop us,but they did have a couple of cars pulled over..
I love the new highway and hope they build more...and tools are a way to maintain them with private monies...ever been to ORLANDO...EVERY MAJOR ROAD IS A TOLL....
OSCAR
Written by: xwill7, 4 Aug 2009 4:12 PM
From: United States, Chicago
I hope that the road stays in good shape
From: Dominican Republic
Last time I got stopped the cop wanted a propina...
Written by: xwill7, 4 Aug 2009 4:25 PM
From: United States, Chicago
If there were more female cops you can give her a propina
From: Dominican Republic, Santiago
They should only stop the stupid bastard who established the three tolls on this highway and check to see if he has a brain onboard!
1.$rd143
2.$rd46
3.$rd127
Now that would save time getting thru!
From: Dominican Republic, la Romana
The road cost the country nothing ..it was built by Columbians who I think now have the new contract for the Coral Highway to Punta Cana .The toll is quite reasonable and is free for motor bikes .The searches are a great idea and are very common on the road between la Romana and Higuey ,,at least once a week . The only problem is that it can be very frightening for visitors to be confronted by men carrying automatic weapons but it is the only way that many Dominicans will stop .I have never seen or heard of money being asked for by these army people and I have never been asked to leave my car .
Only the guilty have anything to worry about .
From: United States
Ricardolito,
It seems extremly unlikely that you travel in the DR by car, because if you did you would know that stopping motorists is common practice to supplement inncome by the police and military.
From: Dominican Republic, la Romana
I travel every day in my car and have been stopped many times and not once have I been asked for money in the past 3 years ,,,before it was a widespread problem but now that is in the past and these guys do a great job in stopping cars and looking for criminals, illegal immigrants, guns and drugs as well as drivers without any license or insurance.
Not all the police or all the army are corrupt here and in fact I think most do a good job on ludicrously low pay
Written by: abc200, 4 Aug 2009 9:32 PM
From: United Kingdom
Written by: jonbonz, 4 Aug 2009 10:54 PM
From: Dominican Republic, santo domingo part time afghanistan the rest
In the 12 or so time I was stopped 10 were attempted shake downs. A police friend of mine told me to show my retired military ID and it will stop all the mess. since I started using that they leave me alone within 10 seconds.
Written by: Grosero, 5 Aug 2009 8:19 AM
From: United States
It's a Goon tactic that will not work....
Only fools-suckers- &- gringos will fall into that trap
Written by: xwill7, 5 Aug 2009 9:41 AM
From: United States, Chicago
Ric,
I have been stopped by the military and police. Both ask for propina. I told one cop that I did not have any cash on me (estoy pelao...lol) and he had the balls to tell me that how could I be driving a nice SUV with no cash.
From: Dominican Republic, Punta cana
I travel between Punta Cana and La Romana twice a month. I haven't been hit up for money in the last 3 years. The Army guys have never asked me for money.
Written by: xwill7, 5 Aug 2009 3:32 PM
From: United States, Chicago
easy,
just drive on any of the other roads. Even in SD and Santiago this goes on in plain day light. I always tell them in a nice way that I have none on me.
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My experiences with police controls has always been that they were "buscandolo", what means trying to get money from me.
I love the new highway and hope they build more...and tools are a way to maintain them with private monies...ever been to ORLANDO...EVERY MAJOR ROAD IS A TOLL....
OSCAR
1.$rd143
2.$rd46
3.$rd127
Now that would save time getting thru!
Only the guilty have anything to worry about .
It seems extremly unlikely that you travel in the DR by car, because if you did you would know that stopping motorists is common practice to supplement inncome by the police and military.
Not all the police or all the army are corrupt here and in fact I think most do a good job on ludicrously low pay
http://www.destinationtropicals.com/tropical_plants/jackfruit.asp
Of course not the Durian as in some countries it is prohibited to take the fruit on public transport.
S.
Only fools-suckers- &- gringos will fall into that trap
I have been stopped by the military and police. Both ask for propina. I told one cop that I did not have any cash on me (estoy pelao...lol) and he had the balls to tell me that how could I be driving a nice SUV with no cash.
just drive on any of the other roads. Even in SD and Santiago this goes on in plain day light. I always tell them in a nice way that I have none on me.