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Copies of the two pertinent pages of your passport or a color copy of the front page stamped by Immigration, the end result is the same...
Identification and proof that you are in CR legally.

This trip, I presented the official at Immigration a color copy of the picture page of my passport and asked him very kindly (en espanol) if he could stamp it too. No problema! He landed a bold bright red stamp on the page above my photo.

Even if all of your ducks are in a row there are some cops out there who will phuck with you in order to extort money from you. If it is usual 20mil colone shake down then I would politely decline and ask them to escort me to my hotel where I can produce my original passport. They quite likely may hand you back your papers and ride off into the sunset, looking for another mark. They know that your papers are good. They just want to intimidate you out of some cash. They aren't likely to take you to the police station because, once there, the sergant would probably ream them new ass holes for wasting his time!

Also, at the Immigration desks they have fliers that are published by ICT (the CR tourism dept) that states clearly in spanish and english that you should keep your passport locked-up at your hotel and carry a copy for ID. I carry one of these fliers and will gladly show it to any cop who might try to convince me otherwise!

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Women are like beers. I've never had one that I didn't like. Just some that I like more than others! --Western

Devo-I agree 100% with you and have used this before with success.

Hey,

I haven't had a problem with cops asking for my passport but I've been stopped many times for speeding on the "highway" between San Jose and Liberia, I usually smile and talk them up for a minute and get away with a $10 mordida (bribe).

I've also been stopped in Jaco, walking down the street pretty drunk with a beer, I guess the cops thought I would be easy game to cough up some money. They asked me to empty my pockets so I did, don't think I had my passport but they checked me for drugs, didn't find any, they never asked for money so I didn't offer to give them any, they just sent me on my way.

Happened to me in Cartagena, too. I was in a cab, got stopped by soldiers while I was on my way back to the hotel, they asked for my passport and I told them it was in my hotel, just 100 meters up the road. They never asked for money, again I chose not to give them any.

I am not anywhere near fluent in spanish but I can speak better than I can understand, but they don't know that. I can talk to them enough that they don't feel comfortable talking about me in front of me, maybe they figure that I can go find their commander easier when I speak spanish to them, I'm not sure. I think knowing a little has paid off in so many ways.

Oh, other than that...You act like thhere is nothing wrong with that. Those thugs need to be hung up by the balls and executed. I was wanting to go to SJ but after reading this board I think I will pass. Sounds like things are progressively going down hill. How long before the policia start murdering mongers? One more question...What do you think would happen if U.S. cops started harrassing foreigners and demanding bribes? TYhey would be shot, thats what should happen inCR. The more I read about this shit the less I wanna go give them my hard earned money............anyway...more poosie for you guys I guess.........Mike

Good to hear that another fear Monger who knows little (or nothing) of what he rants will not be coming here. Too many of that kind coming here as it is, along with too many who do not bother to read and understand what is expected of them, and what to do if there is a problem. Or maybe they think the law should not pertain to them

The original poster stated that they did not have with them what is required by law, so they were in the 'wrong"!! Granted (and believe me I would never condon) what the cops did in asking for a bribe is wrong, wrong, wrong, but paying a bribe is just as wrong under the law whether you are in the wrong or not!!

Yes, this kind of action by the cops is an ever increasing problem; or at least it seems to be becoming a much more frequent accurance. but the notion that it is something that is much worse here, and justification for not coming here is utter nonsence!! It is something that does occur in many other countries, including many areas of the USA!! OH! and just what do you think would happen to the vigilantes if, as you suggest, they were to take the law into their own hands, and "shot" the offending cops anywhere in the USA If this is the way in the USA now a days, I am sure glad I live in Costa Rica

It is really a very simple thing, in most cases, to overcome. As long as you have followed the law (and even if you haven't), just ask the cops to take you to where the documents you should have had with you are, or if they refuse, demand that they take you to the station. If you have done nothing wrong, they will, 99.99% of the time just let you go. If you are in the wrong, it will usually cost you about the same as the bribe and you will not be guilty of commiting a crime yourself; AND You will not be adding fuel to the fire. The more gringos pay the bribe, the more the bad cops will try to bribe

In the 1 and 1/2 years that I have been living here I have NEVER been stopped (harassed) by the cops here. I walk all over SJ and walk thru the parks in the Gulch area almost every day and evening, and if I happen to walk by a cop or group of cops, I speak to them and keep walking.

And, thanks for leaving ALL the fantastic pu*sy here to us guys who are not afraid to visit and/or to live here

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Old and retired but still bang, and bang, and bang!!!

stay home. gracias,

I'm far too lazy right now to read the whole thread so if this answer has already been provided.....well, here it is again.

A photocopy is fine, you are also allowed by be escorted by the cops to your hotel to produce the original.

If the cop is adamant about asking for a bribe, get his badge number/name, he'll decline and try and intimidate you with immigration, when it happened to me, I said "let's go, immigration can ask you for the badge number you've refused to provide for me". If the cop gets on a radio and the dude on the other end backs up his story, that's good for you, because now the bribe has to be split 3 ways. If the cop makes you talk to the guy on the radio always double what the cop asks for, that way the guy on the other end will expect a bigger piece.

What will usually happen more often then not is they'll drive you around in circles and drop you off in a undesirable location hoping you'll get mugged/lost.

Always, get the licence number or any ID off the cop car and make sure you make a big effort to show the cop you know who he is.

These guys want easy marks, plain and simple. I can't blame guys that just pay the 20,000col but when the cop starts the bidding at $100, dig in your heels and make it as inconvenient with as many people involved as possible.

You better hope that's all that happens if they drop you off at Barrio Mexico, or some other ghetto. Getting the plate number will be the last thing on your mind, especially if it's dark out.

I got lucky then, they drove me around the same block 3 times, when I commented that we should be getting close to immigration as I've seeing the same buildings 3 times, the cop that could understand me, laughed.

His partner got pissed, they realized I wasn't scared (and wasn't going to pay a damn dime) and out the door I went, right behind the cop car was a taxi that I jumped into and went on my merry way!

Damn Mike you kind of sound like a puss. Yea, if CR worries you it's best to stay in Kansas..

Cujo

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"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

Little harsh, no?

Oh, did that sound harsh? Ok..

Cujo

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"Pain is the fuel that fans the flames of my pyre. A battle plan is only as good as the general carrying it out on the field. This is my war son, and I have the biggest bombs and the smallest conscience"...

I just think Cuj was responding the okiemike's hysteria. Maybe Mike should look for corruption a little closer to his own dusty home. Like Tenaha, Texas.

Today I saw a news story about the town of Tenaha stopping Texans on their way back to Houston from Shreveport's casinos. The police are pulling cars over without cause, searching the vehicle without cause and when they find something of value, they extort the item from the people with threats of jail. In one case, they threatened to take a couple offspring away if they didn't pay a "fine". There are over 200 cases where the city of Tenaha is filing forfeiture papers on vehicles and property when there is not even a violation recorded on the persons.

Stay in Oklahoma, Mike, and stay away from Shreveport!

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"Your love gives me such a thrill
but your love don't pay my bills,
I NEED THE MONEY!" - John Lee Hooker

Disclaimer: The above is merely the opinion of the author unless specific scientific data is included.
Your mileage may vary. https://costaricaticas.com/phpBB2/viewto ... 978#206978

Not only that they have earthquakes

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Living well is the best revenge
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwUtj_YnNoY

I'd like to get a copy of this flier, Western...can you tell me where I can get one? I've never had any problem with the cops (knock on wood), but it never hurts to be prepared.

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I fart in your general direction. Your mother was a hamster, and your father smelled of elderberries. Now go away, or I shall taunt you a second time!