www.CostaRicaTicas.com

A funny thing happened to me on my last day of my most recent trip to Costa Rica last Thursday - something that's never happened before in 20 previous trips...

After a nice session with Nicole at ZB (a budding superstar BTW), I walked back up the hill to the INS building to hit the ATMs to get cash for cab money to the airport and the exit tax. Lo and behold, neither of the three machines I tried would dispense any cash, so I set out at a brisk pace down the street adjacent to Parque Espana towards the Del Rey, where the ATMs have never been a problem. I was in a hurry to get back to Sportsmens to catch my cab, which would be arriving an hour from then to take me to the airport.

About halfway down the street, all of a sudden two 'esteemed' members of the local Fuerza Publica suddenly pulled up on motorcycles and stopped me in my tracks. They asked for ID, and I gave them the laminated copy of my passport photo page which I always carry around, which also has my Brazil visa stamp on the other side. I've never bothered bringing around a copy of my current entry stamp page before - big mistake in this case.

They proceeded to make me empty my pockets, frisk me, and then asked a bunch of questions - why was I here, was I in some sort of "trouble" here or in the United States, etc. I actually had to tell them that the outdated entry date shown on my Brazil visa stamp was for Brazil and not Costa Rica. The whole time I tried to stay calm and act in a friendly manner, but as a sudden torrential downpour began I was getting anxious.

The officer that spoke the most English of the two then told me they would have to take me to the station to pay some sort of fine for not having a valid entry stamp, not agreeing to my entreaties to go with me the three blocks to Sportsmen's to see my full passport with the current entry stamp.

Well, I could see what this was leading to, and an offer of a $20 bill - fortunately the only money I had on me at the time - was enough for them to let me go. I then hightailed it back to Sportsmens where I was able to get a cash advance for the airport.

And unfortunately this wasn't an isolated incident, as another individual known to many on the board (identity withheld to protect his privacy) had the same thing happen to him the day prior - and the bastards actually confiscated much of what he was carrying with him at the time.

So a word to the wise - be sure you're carrying a facsimile of your passport with a current entry stamp - as it looks like us gringos are becoming a bit of a "mark" down there...

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Check out http://weluvlatinas.com/ for the web's best info on the latin american monger lifestyle...

This is very good advise, ALWAYS carry a copy of your passport AND CURRENT ENTRY STAMP... It seems lately that gringos are starting to become a mark in the downtown area. I know the other member who got basically robbed by the police as well. Another close friend who lives there was followed out pf the DR one evening last week, noticing he got into his car alone waited until they were out of the downtown area to pull him over and relieved him of several dollars in cash, a gun clip (which he carried legally) among other incidental items before letting him go...
YES these were also Fuerza Publica Policia.

Watch your back guys and try not to walk to much in the downtown area alone.

Is it just me.....or are we seeing more and more of this sort of thing?

Wonder if anyone ever reports these shakedowns? Would any of the local papers even print the story?
It'sonly a matter of time before someone catches one of these crimes on film and puts it on youtube.

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"With foxes, we must play the fox." ~ Thomas Fuller

Shawn

I certany hope your right and this shows uo on YouTube or someones actually get a Name/Badge# and reports them. But as I spoke with 2 of the victims and discussed this. With this security minister (school marm) and all the new police all over downtown I have seen over the last couple trips (I had seen this as a good positive thing up until the latest issues)

Are they not afraid of any backlash or do they think americans will not report it and/or are afraid if they do report it and these policia see them again THEN what !!!

I can see there point, especially the one who lives there and works there.

Not surprising, really. With things getting more expensive in CR and tico families struggling to make ends meet, it's only logical that the CR fuzz is stepping up their pursuit of "alternate income"

I have never had a problem in CR. Having lived in Tijuana, Mexico I have been stopped 130 times in 6 months by the Tijuana police.And about 65 times by the police in Jakarta, Indonesia. My game plan is the same anywhere I go. I am polite and respectful. I will not allow them to handle my money.I keep the money stored someplace away from my wallet for security reasons.They want to search me the money goes in my hand first. I will not enter an unlit area with them. They will search in the lit area or take me to the judge.Period.I will never give them a dime.Ever.I only pay the courts. And yes, I would love to go to the judge.I will even start walking to the back of the patrol car.After this show they realize you are not a pushover and will let you off with a warning regarding something you did not do anyway. A little face saver for them. Do as the locals do. Be fair but firm.These ratero types are not like US cops. Do not treat them the same. And send a report to the tourism bureau. If there is an internal affairs department of the police, stop by. File a report and get a business card. Show them that on your next interaction and you are home free.

Hey GR!!! Sure was nice to get to see you for a bit on this trip!! Thanks for giving CR another shot and was very sorry to hear about your experience.
I posted a thread for discussing what to do in cases such as these in the Scams section, because that's exactly what that is, a huge scam! Or just plain robbery...
In nine months here, I've yet to have it happen, but hoping it does. Unlike most, I DO have a lawyer here (with all the right connections) and am willing to deny them their propina. As for consequences, I don't think there will be any but if they try any of that it'll be "Entonces vamos a la officina de policia para hablar con jefe" for me!!

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The only thing that matters is happiness in all it forms...

[quote="MrLasVegas"]

I have never had a problem in CR.

YET

Everyone and i mean everyone gets gypsy phucked one way or another sooner or later. If you havent you just havent been there that much.



Cali

Get, It sounds to me that you offered the $20 to the Cop as a bribe. If so, I'm sure it is hard for him to turn it down.. I have lived in Sj for the last 7 years, as a tourist. I am on the street for hours every day. I have never been stopped for ID. I always carry a copy of my passport and date of entry. Also I carry 5000 extra colones, with my copies, Just for such emergencies. By law you are required to carry the original with you all of the time. You were breaking the law and got off cheap. This is my opinion being you were in a hurry to get to the Airport.
However if there are others that feel they are being singled out, I would sure like to know. I hope this not what the 150 new police are there for.

SEAHAWK

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DO WHAT YOU LOVE AND LOVE WHAT YOU DO

I believe a copy is sufficient as it has been discussed here and articles posted stating that many times? Although they still will hassle you about not carrying your original if they want to.

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

An agreement was reached, a few years ago, between the CR government and various embassies that a photocopy of the information page of the passport as well as the latest entry stamp would be sufficient. This agreement was reached because of the high incidence of passport theft in Costa Rica. The police do have the right to escort you back to your hotel/residence to inspect the actual passport.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

The Fuerza Publica are the biggest scumbags in the country. I bet statistically they are the cause of more crimes than they actually prevent.

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heredia porn king

Corrupt police are everywhere...including various parts of the USA. Its more obvious and understandable even in these small republics where minumum wage is the reality for these "Fuerzas publicas". I have been acosted a few times from Mexico to Costa Rica to Panama. Fortunately, I find by speaking spanish and not showing fear...these people usually go away with a few jokes and calm conversation. I only pay them off if I WAS speeding or buy them a "cup of coffee"...meaning no more than $5-10 donations.

That being said, I already in my mind have 2-3 prepared reactions IF this should happen. If I am in a corner with no outs, I am going to play nice and pay off. But I will be observing everything I can about who is shaking me down. I look for badge numbers. I look for license plate numbers on their cycle or car. If they are not wearing a badge, I ask them to prove they are police by ID. They CAN be reverse intimidated sometimes. Then I will find the highest agency of security I can find to file a complaint and give the info against these people. That is the LITTLE bit we can do to try and fight this corruption. If we do NOTHING, we basically go along with the program...and continue to feel helpless and victimized.

By the way...in San Jose there are two offices for that within a few blocks of the Delrey. The Police office just up the hill from the Delrey has an office to take these complaints. They have photos of officers etc that you can ask to see to see if you can lodge a direct charge. I WOULD take an interpreter with me there if you dont speak Spanish. The even higher office is the OIJ office near the court buildings up on Avenida 8 and 10. Any taxi will know where OIJ is (pronounced "O-EE-Hota). They are like the "National" police/FBI.

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All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts...

I posted an incident in another section( security, scams) that happen to my friends leaving the D.R. It sounds like the same two Mty cops that shook down my friends. They started in with the copies of the Passports was insuffecient, it appears they're intent on supplementing their income via the gringo tax.
Flaco