Our loved police... 🏝️ Country and People of the Dominican Republic

Hola mis Steemians

The police in the Dominican Republic - a topic that is really very interesting and every now and then you can even smile a bit...

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Ok, let me go back in time - about 15 years, during my first island holidays here. At that time there was actually only the "Policia National", which was simply responsible for everything; or thought it had to be. The wages were at this time so low that the dear law enforcement officers saw (knew) no other way out than to rip off the population - above all motorists were constantly the sufferers.

It even came to the point that policemen had to attend training courses in order to learn how to deal with tourists, because they brought money into the country. But many policemen saw them as the best and most rewarding source of income.

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It even went so far that you could "rent" the policemen for any private use. In my family there is always the story of a friend (whoever) who had to pay alimony to his ex-wife every month. But since she didn't have a bank account, he apparently always had to give it to her in cash.

To be absolutely sure, he always rented a policeman for every meeting, who just stood there and had to do nothing. But his ex-wife always signed the receipt without grumbling. If this policeman always knew exactly why he was standing there, I don't believe it. For him it was only important to get 300 - 500 Pesos (5-9 Euro) for it.

Today, more than 15 years later, of course, a lot has changed. The Dominican Republic today has the Policia Nacional, the Tourist Police and Amet as its pillars.

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The Policia National

today has the main mission to ensure peace and order in the country. They actually patrol the whole day and are always ready to go. Basically, they have little authority over road traffic, but it can happen that they carry out checks especially in remote parts of the island - actually "rip off" (or try it...) Whether you stop? I don't want to give a tip or recommendation, just that much, we never stop there, but we always wave to them friendly and drive on.

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The Amet

this is the real traffic police - it can be found everywhere, at every major intersection and very often on motorcycles. And everything that you are not allowed to do at home in Germany or Switzerland, you are not allowed to do here anymore:

• Obligation to fasten seat belts
• Mobile phone ban while driving
• do not cross the traffic lights in red
• for motorcycles compulsory helmet etc.

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Actually they are quite nice and helpful, but here you should always stop when asked... Only good that the streets are "free" again from about 20.00 o'clock (usually the AMET doesn't do any checks at night). And from then on dear friends, from then on you can experience again how the Dominicans drive with red over the traffic lights or do also many other strange things...

The Tourist Police "CESTUR"

as the name suggests, they are responsible for the interests of the tourists. You see them mainly on the beach and are the contact persons for the tourists, should there be any problems:

• Bath towel dispute - calls the Cestur
  -Problems with illegal beach vendors - the Cestur regulates the
• Problems in the beach bar - the Cestur is on the spot
  etc.

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In addition, there is a special drug police force

a hardcore troupe that you can experience here from time to time. For example, when they organize their raids at night in well-known discotheques. They are to be enjoyed with caution, nob ody likes to get excited.

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And since very recently there is supposed to be a special police, which is responsible for disturbing noise, too loud music, etc.. Honestly? I've never seen them in action before.

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More articles about country and people:

• Children in the Dominican Republic
• School and educational situation in the Dominican Republic
• One Island - Two Worlds - Haiti and the Dominican Republik
• Criminals do not sleep...
• CRIME...

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all posts by @followmikecee here in the overview

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Hasta luego.
mikeCee aka Captain Mike Sparrow the steemian of the caribbean

@limesoda

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