Police

Here you'll learn the best way to handle police and border officials and bribery on the road

 

 

Be courteous and patient

 

 

I can’t emphasize this enough. I’ve seen many situations where someone (or even myself) has replied not so kindly and it just ends up complicating things. In the end these guys are human beings like you and me. Some of them stand in the middle of the desert for twelve hours a day to earn a few bucks.

 

Start with “How are you? How is your family?” in their language (Google Translate if you have to). This opens doors. A smile and a calm demeanor will go a long way in getting you through every checkpoint you encounter.



Use a second wallet

 

In South Africa and other countries on the continent this is a well known practice: you ride with a small wallet with only your drivers license, a credit card and a small amount of cash. You only use this wallet when dealing with officials. In case they end up being corrupt they’ll see you only have $5 and your card.

 

First, you use the move that’s gotten me out of countless encounters with cops all across the world and the continent ask “Can I pay with my card?” 9 out of 10 times this will work and you’ll be on your way. Worst case scenario you’ll have to leave the $5 there.



Do not provide more documents than necessary

 

When you’re pulled over, do not provide the police with more than your passport or your drivers license unless they ask for it repeatedly. Usually no one wants to see your carnet (CDP), insurance or pictures of your first born. Overlanders are notorious for doing this and it just slows things down at stops. Additionally, it also gives the official (If he is corrupt) more things to “investigate” or “keep for a while”.


 Give them the minimum and wait for other orders. Usually it’s straight forward and you’re on your way with just the minimum. 

 

 

Admit fault if you actually did something wrong

 

There are plenty of situations where the official is corrupt but I’ve known several where the traveller speeds, runs a stop sign, or violates the local laws in some way and doesn’t want to pay the fine. They’ll argue about it forever with the police and try to get their way out of it. If you are at fault and the cop is being reasonable, be reasonable as well and pay the fine (with a receipt of course) and move on. Don’t be the person that messes it up for the next one down the road. 

 

 

How to Deal with Bribes

If you don’t encounter an official asking you for a bribe all the way down to Cape Town then congratulations but we’ll need you have your hearing and eye sight checked. Jokes aside, it’s bound to happen several times on your journey. Here are some ways that I personally dealt with it and that I have found extremely effective. 

 

Patience and kindness

 

Try not to be aggressive, again please remember these people are only human. They are living on a couple hundred dollars a month and you show up with a vehicle that’s worth several years of their salary on the low end. Being right doesn’t get you anywhere. Be patient and kind even if they may not be you’ll get through. 

 

Show them you have more time than they do

 

If they don’t give up within 5-10 minutes, bring out your gas burner and start making tea and offer them some. Pretend like you’re having a great time on the side of the road or at the border. They will give up eventually.  

 

The Nuclear Options

 

If things last a few hours or more and kindness and small talk don’t do the trick, you have a few options. I don’t recommend you using these until you’ve absolutely exhausted your patience and are sure you can’t get anywhere with anyone there. I’ve only had to use this once or twice in my life but they work extremely well. 

 

Demand they call your embassy. This is particularly effective if a police officer or border agent does not want to give you back your passport for some reason. It is the property of the country issuing it. Inform them of this. Most likely they will let you go because they don’t want any issues.

 

If you have camping equipment with you start putting the mattress and the tent in the border area. This again shows them you have time and are willing to stay the night and they have to deal with you. No one wants this.

 

Again don’t use either of these until you’ve truly exhausted everything else after hours of dealing with them!