www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Wow, that sounds a lot like the country, state and county I just left.

Herman, Allow me to educate you:
Cop tells my buddy to turn around and lift his arms parallel to the ground, while doing this, the cop pats his pocket and asks, "whats this" while touching his money clip, my buddy tells him its his money clip, the cop reaches in takes it out while still behind him and my buddy facing away while the other cop is taking my info and my other buddy's info. In seconds and as the cop puts the clip back in his pocket he slides the top 2 bills from his money clip while he's replacing the clip in the pocket. "TA-DA" magician he was not, thief he is! Have you ever heard of or seen a good pick pocket? They're incredible for getting things off your person without you knowing it. Damn man, i'd love to grow up or live where you do, must have been a Mary Poppins type crime free environment. As for him mistaking how much money he had, you'd have to know this guy, he has the first dollar he earned, doesn't gamble big, still sneaks into movies at age 60 and drives thru tolls cause he says theyre unjustified. Did he lose track of 100.00? I think NOT! Regarding the "you" don't see how this is report worthy, it wasn't my goal to please you, I was simply passing along information of what can happen when walking, to those of us who walk downtown and to be careful. This is something "I" would prefer reading about and being informed about here on the board so the fact that "I" saw it as "worthy" was the reason I posted it, don't like it, "TURN THE PAGE", and walk downtown after dark with loads of cash in your pocket and trust the police to protect and serve.

Paco,
That's crazy that he would say that about his own country. Everywhere you go has it's problems and change is not always good )as I stated with the Beatle Bar) but CR is still a beautiful country with alot to do and see along with some genuine and wonderful people. I'm sure i'm preaching to the choir so i'll leave it as, "I will continue to visit and enjoy my home away from home" and just be more careful about my walks thru the parks.

I am sorry I did not make myself clear. I am glad you made the report here on CRT . What I thought was maybe not worth it was going to the Police Station to complain. You brought up an interesting point with all the info we have . Why was the guy walking thru the park with loads of cash in his pocket ? We are told only to have the necessary money for our outing maybe a little more with the rest in the safe. You also brought up a good point that being Karma . In other words What goes around Comes Around . If the guy slips into movies and does not pay tolls I bet he cons and cheats in other ways as well. So maybe he deserved having the reverse happen to him. OK I am glad you told us about this . I was searced in Morazan Park one time by a female police . She took out everything in my pockets then placed it in my hands. When she was finished she said excuse me and I left.

You are telling everyone what they can do. I would suggest staying with the facts and let each person decide for themselves what they can or can not do.
In CR, I have never read or heard of cops planting drugs or arresting sober drivers for DUI. As well, this has not been reported by any of our members, ever- with almost a million post. Do you have factual information of this occurring ?

To me, offering bribes or money to police makes one look guilty and seems highly suspicious. As well, it baits the water, and encourages police to hassle tourist for easy money.

In six years of living here full time with 20,000 plus miles driven, and about 50 encounters with police, transit police, checkpoints, random stops, etc, I have not been issued a ticket, or forced to pay a bribe when I was not in error. One time I did not have a current inspection and the other time I had no ID on me. Each time It cost me 10,000 colon. Another time I received a ticket that cost $4500 colon. The other 47 or so encounters resulted in me receiving my papers back and continuing on my way. Me refusing to offer or to pay a bribe has not resulted in any arrest or false arrest.

_________________
* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

Just from a personal experience about the same. Yep, guilty of paying off when I did something wrong. But never walking around. Papers checked politely a few times and then given back.

Thanks for taking the time to clarify this. A few years ago, I was searched by the police two or three times in CR in bad areas late at night.

Each time I kept my wallet in my hand even when my hands were raised. I absolutely refused to hand the cops my cash. I believe the fact that they see I am not going to be an easy or scared target helps me. I am not saying this will work for anyone else but it worked for me.

Once two motorcycle police tried to wave me over at night on Paseo Colon (for the second time in a month). I drove all the way to Mas x Menus and parked right in front of the door. They demanded to search my vehicle, which was full so I went and got a shopping cart and removed each item myself telling them I was not going to allow them to steal my coins. They were furious that I made them follow me to a well lighted area and due to all my verbal jabbing. I had a Nicaraguan girl with me that did not have her passport with her and they tried to bribe us. I told them that if they wanted to arrest her to go ahead.
They never bothered me any more in that area.



I applaud you for going to the station the next day even if it seemed in vain. I am sad to hear this happened recently and in the gulch area but I do believe that any amount of resistance discourages these robberies.

_________________
* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

Herman, Much xlearer now, no worries. If karma was a factor it's a wonder i'm not in a CR jail cause lord knows karma would dicate at least that! LOL He didn't have a "load" of cash on him but maybe 120.00 as we went to gamble and had lost a little but either way, whatever.
Icstaway, All good points, this is a forum of info and your experiences could help others.
3rdworld, thanks for the insight from someone who most def knows CR.

I for one will take a taxi more often than not around dusk or after dark from now on. 2.00 is much cheaper than the robbery.

To all the rest, Pura Vida, CR is still a great place.

Jac

I know this won't be popular but I prefer cops that are bribable if I was actually doing something wrong. I don't do it anymore but like drunk driving, weed or whatever.

Well, I know this sounds kinda fugged up too, but the majority of cops here will take a bribe for something you have done wrong. There are those special few who are tryin to shake people down all the time whether you are doing something or not. So I think that you are not in danger of having troubles with getting out of things.

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“In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity"

Yes, I do have factual information. I posted it earlier in the thread. It happened to me and I was told by others, in PM's, they have had the same scam pulled on them as me. Good for you, your lucky. I cannot believe YOUR in such a state of denial. The cops are well know and their corruption has been documented in AM Costa Rica, La Nacion, Inside Costa Rica and other periodicals on numerous occasions,.....the latest being the EXTORTION of Tourists north of Jaco. Hope your good luck continues. Very curious why you would have 50 encounters with the police in CR in six years. I haven't had more than 5 encounters with the police anywhere in the world in my 56 years of life and I've probably driven a million miles. Makes me wonder?????? I guess you got off cheap paying the diez mil BRIBE....Mine cost me veinte mil.......and as I previously stated....the Cop (TRANSITO) put my drivers license and passport IN HIS POCKET AND HAD NO INTENTION OF GIVING IT BACK TO ME. I guarantee YOU I was much better off paying the BRIBE than any of the other alternatives.

You are telling everyone what they can do. I would suggest staying with the facts and let each person decide for themselves what they can or can not do.
In CR, I have never read or heard of cops planting drugs or arresting sober drivers for DUI. As well, this has not been reported by any of our members, ever- with almost a million post. Do you have factual information of this occurring ?

Oh and P.S. I did not tell anyone what "THEY" can do. THEY can do anything THEY want. I was simply stating that IN MY OPINION, if the cop wants to hassle you THEY CAN and there isn't much you can do about it. It's clearly up to the individual to decide whether to pay the bribe, get a ticket (guilty or innocent) or any other of the possible alternatives. MY CHOICE was to pay the bribe. Think you mixed a few thread together with mine and I suggest you review the numerous DOCUMENTED reports of police corruption in CR. I also did not OFFER a bribe to the cop......"HE LET ME KNOW IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS IT WAS PAY HIM $40 MIL OR HE WOULD ARREST ME."

I got stop North of Jaco a few months ago for speeding which I was. Let me go, nada.

Actually you did.


So I offered you living proof that I, maybe not you, When doing nothing illegal can back them down and get my license and passport back without a bribe.

I don't want to leave you in wonder so I'll try to think it through for you.

Six years living here with 2100 days driving 20,000 miles in Costa Rica is 2100 days divided by 46 stops (encounters) This equals to one stop every 46 days. Those stops include random police-transit roadblocks, DUI Check points, leaving the Del Rey at night 700 times, and random wave downs because I drive a nice vehicle, I guess.

Approximately 50 encounters in 2100 days work out like this:
10 stops leaving the Del Rey (They used to shake down Gringos here. I never gave them a single coin even when his partner was asking me for "coffee money".)
2 stops/encounter in front of Fago Brazil going home (DUI Check Point)
3 stops/encounter going to from Jaco (Check Point)
5 stops/encounter in Avenidea Central (Paperwork check)
5 stops/encounter turning onto the freeway going toward Escazu DUI check.
2 times motos waving me over in Paseo Colon (They threatened to take a girl to jail but I called the bluff)
1 stop/encounter illegal turn at Sodia Tapia (Yelled at me and warned me)
1 stop/encounter illegal turn on Paseo Colon 4500 colon ticket issued
3 stops/encounter leaving Hatigos going toward San Jose
3 stops/encounter turning from the 'Caribe -Limon Bus station going toward the Sportsmans
1 stops/encounter when a crazy drunk girl wouldn't get out of my car
4 check/encounter points in Limon 10,000 colon bribe for no current inspection
2 stops/encounter Guadalupe into San Jose around 4 in the afternoon.
1 stop/encounter leaving EPA under the bridge in Escazu 9,600 colon bribe for no license or ID on person

I don't have any idea what this has to add to the thread topic but I'll admit, it sounds boring. Since it seams relevant to you, I'll bite. I've probably had 15 to 20 tickets for speeding in the USA and they hardly ever caught me.

_________________
* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.

Sorry, I can't stop laughing. You've made my Sunday. Thanks for the amazing recall of events. Do you have time, date and the weather information also? Also, if it was raining please provide me with the total rainfall the day of the events. Thanks Again.

Glad I was able to help. They say, 'if you want to get something done, give it to a busy person as they know how to get stuff done'.

About the rain, I can add that the sewers fill up downtown San Jose when the heaviest rains come and it smells really bad.
If you have a roof leak, I would suggest just repairing it yourself and not waiting for the 'home owner's association' to fix it.
If your waiting for a girl from the mountainous area during rainy season, you may want to make the date for earlier in the after noon as often the roads get washed out in the early evening.
No rain here for the last month or so. I think it starts again in March, but I really don't keep track of the seasons, I just navigate them.

_________________
* These are the "Good Ole Days". Enjoy Them.

* RENT but, "Don't Buy a Home in Costa Rica" until you have lived here for THREE years.