Anecdote; I was an expatriate in Nigeria a few years and I can second that respect and friendliness goes a huge distance. Also, small gifts can go a long way to stave off forced bribery attempts. I always carried around a box of BIC pens and handed one over early in any encounter to aid them if they needed to write anything down and told them, preferably using both hands shaking theirs, that it would be an honor if they kept it. (I learned this trick from a British traveling salesman there.) During all this time there, I did actually end up at gun point once while riding a bus during a bridge crossing that some overzealous “security guards” were “charging” for. Staying calm and claiming I did not have any money but “here have a couple of pens for keeping us safe” calmed the situation down quickly. Respect and friendliness from the only white guy on the bus lead them to wish us all a safe journey as they left. It’s really simple, don’t be an asshole. Another tip; many of these officials are actually proud of their country, and showing excitement that you get to visit theirs by, f.ex. displaying their nations flag (as a sticker, miniature flag, or patch on clothing or hat [velcro, so it’s exchangeable for the next country] or similar, gets them often in a very good mood.
Again Dan is 100% on with what he says here. I've experienced what he talks about in part 1 and 2, and so has everyone else that overlands in these developing countries. Often times they are just looking for extra lunch money - or to impress their girlfriend that happens to be right there. Show them respect. Don't be in a hurry (I've made tea while waiting at the border). Expect that you will be stopped (although 3 times in one hour having to empty my saddle bags in Mexico was pushing it a little). If you haven't already, take a look at Dan's hidden video footage from Africa (sorry I forget which country that was in) where he's shaken down. He keeps them busy while being respectful. He is much better skilled at keeping them busy than I was. He tends to take the lead, where I was following their lead. I'll have to work on that before I hit the road again (post Corona). Don't let this ruin your day. It will happen. But it's also part of the experience.
Perhaps one additional and also positive note is to point out 'mordida' (or 'the bite') is not universal, not by a long shot. Dan's approach sounds spot on to me. But in the 53 countries we have traveled in (W Europe, N Africa, most of the Atlantic and South Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean & C America), we've only experienced this once. And that one experience occurred on only two of the four times we cleared into that one country (Dominican Republic). Not even in terribly poor Haiti did it occur. So my footnote is to not expect it, and therefore don't fret about it. Just heed Dan's advice when it pops up.
Living in Africa and travelling through most of Southern Africa your advice is spot on. It is mostly the recognition the official wants. Great channel.
...also by having spent 9 years in Africa I would say that a mix of politeness and hard stand is needed. A hard stand might also show them that u know the drill and that u are not going to take it. Except that, loving your vids! Your trip is amazing!
Good advice, not just overlanding. Before I retired from paramedicine, I learned that leading with friendliness, courtesy and respect brought out the best in people, in many, many sketchy situations. It works just as well out of uniform in the third world too. I was adventure motorcycle touring in Belize in February 2020 and I found the military there doing things like making sure the tourists all get back out of the National Park by sunset. Respect.
In Argentina, 2 triangles is required by law. But don't worry if you have only one because the police man usually recommend you a friend that can sell you a triangle for USD100. Talking about South America, I'm from Brazil and I can guarantee that Dan is 100% right with those recommendations. Nowadays is total different than 80s and maybe 90s. I think, because of the possibility of record audio and video with any device, it is easy to generate evidence of corruption, therefore, the corrupt can no longer act freely. One thing I always make clear is that I have a TH-cam channel and I always invite them to follow my channel. They are terrified of being exposed on youtube. With that, I avoid extortion and get a subscriber. 😂
I am glad you made these two videos! Hope more people, tourists and locals could find a way to stop bribes. The locals though often have a tougher job. Same cop stopping you every time you go to work ... is not fun. Working in Tanzania, we hade rule for the organization that we where not allowed to pay bribes. No matter what. So I learned as you mentioned in Part 1. Time is your friend. I once sat outside an office waiting for an officer to put a stamp in new passport to transfer resident permit ... after one hour waiting. He certainly wanted me to pay him to speed up the process. After one hour his boss saw me outside the office ..., He then asked me what I was waiting for. I told him ... :) He then entered the office and I heard some harsh words from the boss. Then he came out apologizing to me and said the passport is ready ... I had time.
In some countries by law you not only need to have a safety vest, but you must have it in a reach from your driver seat. The reasoning is that in case of emergency you never have to leave your vehicle without the vest. Additionally, in some countries it is forbidden to have green safety vests - these are reserved for police only. You need orange.
lol! One time I got stopped for not wearing a helmet, while riding motorcycle in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico; My spanish really was bad, so the ensueing charades of the officer trying to explain my offense, were hysterical, and once I understood the situation, I simply asked to go to the police station, to pay the fine, and the whole situation ended. (I later learned that Mexico does in fact have a helmet law, but having never been stopped for it for a couple years of riding there, I was oblivious to it) The officer's refusal to write a ticket left me certain it was just "the mordita".
Could not agree with more. I got used to it real quickly when I did Africa on my motorbike. I found it fun and a actually made a game of it by seeing how fast I could h them to give up and have a laugh. Made a big difference by taking off my helmet and sunglasses and having a good conversation
good advice on getting a replacement license made ahead of time. Make sure to keep track of which is which and use the copy as the throw away. Your country of origin and those that cooperate digitally may be able to tell that the copy is not valid. There are odd ball situations where this can cause inconvenience.
Great 2 videos on this topic. 2 👍🏻👍🏻. Respect and politeness will get you a long way. Us Canadians 🇨🇦 have this in our blood 😉. As a famous doctor says, « do you want to be right or do you want to be happy » ! Letting the corrupt Cop save face is crucial Cheers Dan
Great video series Dan! Very knowledgeable and informative. Your advice here is just spot on based on what I've experienced and other travelers I've met as well. One topic I'm wondering about is how do you research those not so safe areas where criminal activity is more of a real concern? Places like maybe the DRC, Honduras, or other legitimate hot spots...
Thanks Jon! When you're on the road you have your ear to the ground. You talk to other overlanders and backpackers, you talk to police and military and you talk to locals at road side food stalls. When an area is unsafe, you'll quickly learn about it.
Priceless advice. You are super clear when you talk and they way you retell your stories is very engaging. Thank you for taking the time to share it! 💛
I had an experience in Baja California Mexico in the 1980s when I was just a dumb kid out of college. Me and a friend were riding my motorcycle from San Diego down to Ensenada. I didn't know if Mexico had a helmet law or not so I asked the first Mexican cop I saw what the rules were for motorcycle helmets. He told me they didn't have any mandatory helmet laws so I could take mine off if I chose to ride without it. About 25 miles down the road, the cop at the checkpoint told me I needed to wear a helmet because it was the law and I needed to pay him a fine. I told him that I was confused and didn't understand because the officer at the border station told me I didn't have to wear a helmet if I didn't want to. I didn't argue, I just asked in a confused manner that I didn't understand. The checkpoint cop realized I knew what was up and just flagged us through. I haven't been to Mexico since then, so I can't tell you what the rules are now. Someday I'll go back. Thanks for bringing back this memory Dan! I chuckle whenever I think of it.
We have a safety kit for our car in Panama, but want to bring our van down from the States. Guess we will have to get more supplies - don't really want to carry a fire extinguisher back to the States to bring it back to Panama!
You're absolutely right mate. Don't argue with them, just guide the conversation and make it difficult for them to get money. Respect is indeed important. Once you start to quarrel the guy you're done :-) I also never paid anything so far. Sometimes it take some time to get out of the situation but sometimes it was even funny for everyone involved
getting extorted by a group of guys with guns (even if they don't point them at you) in the middle of nowhere in a lawless country is truly hilarious, i know
Your videos reminded me of exactly my experiences in Mexico when I was a young child, this is absolutely the case, and while I have resting bitch face and am quite a tall large person (so I worry bit about how I come off, especially as I'm on the spectrum and have a difficult time with social interactions) your videos are always very helpful. I also very much enjoy that you don't have some crazy loud intro and fancy bs. Keep them coming!
Not sure if someone else mentioned this or not. At the 6 minute mark when you talk about getting a second drivers licence... I've actually done just this since I was a teenager here in Michigan. But be aware that the magnetic strip on your original 'lost' one gets messed up somehow, not sure exactly the details of it, but I have 3 current drivers licenses and I got them mixed up once and the police couldn't scan it into their computer by swiping the old one, the voting clerk tried to swipe my license into her computer when I went to vote and thought it was a fake because it couldn't swipe. So be careful if you have multiple licenses and just make sure you have a mental note of how to ensure you're using the correct one at the correct time
I wish I had a few more on camera, and I vow to do a better job next time! Maybe I should build in a hidden camera in my drivers compartment just for that reason!
So happy that you and so many others have been so lucky. On a trip to Rocky Point Mexico in 1989 and again in 1990 it cost me most of my cash the first time and all of the cash that wasn’t hidden the second time. When the Policia are pointing guns in your direction you pay. In my opinion you have been extremely lucky or I have no luck. I refuse to ever return to a Mexico because of these experiences. I do agree with you about playing dumb with the language because it helped tremendously get my tools and work parts through Customs in Argentina. They didn’t have any time or patience to deal with me. Travel safe.
Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s I did several overland trips covering most of Africa and can’t tell you how many times we were stopped at police checkpoints and had to go through process of showing all our documentation, including passports. I don’t recall being asked for money directly back then but many times we were asked if we had anything for them! One time I recall each of us individually having to sit in the police chief’s office and answer his question, what is your name, what is your occupation, why are you here, etc. I think he was just practicing his English. Another time we were stopped literally minutes after having just gone through a police checkpoint. The officer approached the truck and asked me “from where have you come?”. I leaned out my window and pointed at the police check point back down the road, you could almost still see it. It’s a good thing the new guy didn’t understand my sarcasm. We went through the whole show and tell again and drove on. I rented a car in South Africa one time and drove all over the place for a month and there wasn’t a single police checkpoint.
The Road Chose Me love your channel, I read your book on your travels through central and South America and have a copy of your 999 days picture book. I’ve travelled all my life with about 64 countries under my belt. I have a goal to visit 100 countries and even with obstacles like COVID and a fight with cancer (with the associated lingering issues), I still plan on reaching that goal. My travels are a lot softer now that I’m in my 60’s and my wife is no longer interested in ‘backpacking’ the way we used to. Now it’s 2 and 3 star hotels versus $1/night for a wooden church pew in places like Arusha or pitching a tent in the Serengeti. I do spend a lot of time living vicariously through various TH-camrs like you, living the dream overlanding. I love travel and for every hour I spend reading about someone else’s travels or watching their videos, I probably spend two or more hours daydreaming, reminiscing or planning another trip for my wife and I. By the way, love your Jeep set up, especially your drinking water system. When my wife, son and I were in China I took a Steripen UV light water purifier and felt much safer. In Africa years ago it was mostly Jerry cans and chlorimine T powder. I’m sure all that chlorine wasn’t really good for liver and kidneys, but then again, neither was the 6 months at a time of anti malaria drugs. It was all worth it though, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Keep safe and keep travelling. If you are ever back in Calgary I’d like to buy you a beer.
Thanks for all the support, and it sounds like you've certainly lived a life of adventure! and continue to do so!! Keep it up, I hope we cross paths at some point!
Dan, Great video, and advice. I’ve traveled some, not nearly as much as you, but a bit. I’ve never experienced serious bribery, but I have a bit of advice for novice travelers. In my younger years, my wife and I were in Mexico, just north of Belize. We stopped for lunch at a small restaurant on the beach. The menu had almost no vegetarian foods, so we asked for some custom meals. The restaurant complied, and the food was great. When the bill came the entrees were $40 each, even though most of the menu entrees were $8 or $10. My wife didn’t want to pay the bill, but I felt trapped, and we hadn’t asked about the price before we ordered. We paid, and learned a lesson… IMO this was extortion still, but with a twist… I hate it, but if we’re in a similar situation we get a price up front.
Exactly right - you make a great point. None of us are experts when we go into it, and we learn our lessons. Stay friendly, suck it up a few times and then be wiser and better able to stop it from happening right up front. Excellent advice!
I've done a lot of driving in Baja California. Check points always went well. Only one time did the guard suggest that he wanted my friend's spearfishing gun. He responded with ohhh nooo... Not sure how else to deal with that one. Maybe insist on a transaction receipt lol.
Love your content Dan. Actual legit travel experience without the click bait BS lol. I’m gearing up for international overland travel myself and I’ve taken notes on a few things other people don’t ever mention. Keep it up.....when are you planning to travel again ??
I watched the Nigerian tire expiration video and I genuinely almost felt bad for that young soldier. Because you will never want to start a conversation about tires with an overlander if you are not into those kind of things, lucky for him he was let off easy!
I have experienced the police/military stops in Nigeria when traveling to the Delta state. I have to honestly say it is scary. What you have to consider is past experience. If you have never been through something like that your mind runs wild and you expect the worst. I often thought, i could be killed, and tossed in the woods and nobody would find me. In 2 trips, driving in and out of the Delta state, I only experienced one bribe attempt. I was a passenger with my father in law, which helped tremendously, but i have the feeling that the American in the car is what caused the stop to begin with . After about a 20 minute stand off the one of the police heard my father in law speaking in his native language and being from the same tribe allowed us to leave. As time went on and we continued to go through stops my anxiety decreased bit by bit. Today i would still be a little nervous but nowhere near where I was the first couple of trip. I think seeing people with large guns in a country with loose rules and lots of variables unsettling to people from countries where things are run a bit differently. Overall though, i do agree that there isnt much to worry about except the hassle of wasting time.
Excellent follow up video Dan! I thought you had covered it all in the last video, but I got a lot out of this one too. Keep up the great content! I definitely get into human psychology and understanding why people do the things the do. I could definitely see enjoying these interactions and making a game out of it.
Love your content! I never plan on doing a long road journey in one of these areas but if the option ever came up this issue would be the top reason why I wouldn't. Having to deal with these low lives non-stop would ruin the energy of the entire trip
@@TheRoadChoseMe I'm sure it's great just the constant thought of the possibility of someone harrasing me would be aggravating.. Either way my current life situation is far removed from doing one of these. I did follow ur africa trip from begin to end didn't miss one post. You are living life to its fullest 💪
@@webchamp930 Hi Webchamp, these 2nd or 3rd world countries know that us 1st world countries have no tolerance for this everyday survival corruption game in their country. It's similar to the experience you will have in an open air market where the price will immediately be 2 or 3 or 10 times the going rate for the obvious foreigner and you will need to bargain with them. Like the cops, the merchants throw out a ridiculous offer to see if you will bite...frequently westerners do so it's always to their benefit to start high and only come down if necessary. We have been trained in the west to despise this method of transaction equating it with dishonesty. We all expect our norms and customs to be adopted everywhere else; which when you think about it, is a bit ridiculous. I don't like dealing with these situations when I travel but I know it's part of the game. There are always so many other interesting differences in experiencing the new culture that it is so worth this little bit of discomfort.
@@timhardman4764 true but at the end of the day it still sucks. The fact that its cultural thing makes sense. But for someone who just wants to travel and discover the beauty of a different country it's a major pain and drawback
Having decent language skills coupled with the ability to feign ignorance to said language skills has gotten me out of a few bribery situations 😂 I think that a lot of the situations that people worry about (that don’t really seem to happen) aren’t bribery situations... they are banditry situations. Had some dear friends in Colima who were in an RV and held at gunpoint... this was not the police or the military... these were drug dealers. The take away for me was keep your ear to the ground and when actual travellers tell you about areas that are actually to be avoided don’t decide that the surf is worth it!! Luckily the banditos didn’t want their RV and let them go but the Yanks in the Suburban parked next to them weren’t so lucky... they nearly lost their lives. Travelling during the daylight hours is also critical... darkness encourages behaviour that would never be engaged in during the day!! Great film Dan!!!!
The one time I was in this situation with the Mexican Police, I used the "No Español" excuse with a few word of Japanese thrown for good measure. He got frustrated and let me go.
Amazing show. Awesomeness. Learned a lot. Keep it coming please. Question: How to travel with a big dog ‘ specifically a lab ‘. I’m a solo senior driver. Because of covid started camping in beautiful British Columbia since May 2020. Since clocked 8,500 kms. In two weeks time going up North to Tuktuk! Very intrigue about ‘ Pan American Highway‘. So epic. Thanks
I've never done it, but plenty of people do go internationally with pets! You just have to carry the vaccination reports and you're good to cross the borders
Check on the paperwork and the regulation of the countries you cross, choose bowl for water and food, calculate the water and food needs, make sure your dog has a comfy and safe place in the car, including not getting catapulted in the front should there be an accident. Maybe bring a muzzlle, if you have to take him along shopping or such ; in Europe you might have to muzzle him in some woods, definitely in malls. I had a Golden, not so different from a Lab. Also make sure to let him out at "pit-stops". Most dogs love driving, some don't
Hey Dan! I watched all of your Africa videos and loved them! Would you talk about legitimate fees? Are there import taxes, exit taxes, other types of administrative fees that one should definitely not try to get out of? Also, would have loved to see more of the meals you had (local food) while traveling- I love Ethiopian food and was hoping you'd describe what authentic local food was like (and looked like). Thanks for the great content! 😊
I found that in a couple countries the fees depended on how you looked. Like if it appeared you had $$ or were traveling on a shoestring budget. Case in point, in Zambia I had to pay $50 for my tourist visa while the next guy paid $30. Only difference was the clothes we wore.
What happens if they search you and find 2 identical driving licenses on you or in the car? you're in trouble because one of the two is not valid, but which one? and then you can't have two identical driving licenses, I think it's illegal
Hi Dan. Just two questions please on how you would handle it. If you have a dash cam would you ever consider telling the officer from the outset that you have a dash cam and use that as a deterrant for any bribe. Also if you were bribed and had it on camera would you report as evidence to the authorities after your trip. We have had issues in Namibia and Mozambique a couple of times and I have always thought of the above as my dashcam is always on and also records sound and gps details. Thanks for a great channel.
It's a risk, you never know how an officer is going to respond when you threaten them. Remember, they are desperate and might do desperate things to avoid getting into trouble and losing their ability to put food on the table. I personally wouldn't do it.
"National Police ! Would you have any Nescafe ?" - that was an "extortion" that worked on me - on the other hand, if you committed an infraction, there are countries, where the offer will be a bribe, but they will take out the receit forms and make you pay a - usually higher - fine, which they will deposit, because it will make them look good or they are expected to bring in some fines. Also do not forget, that in some countries, these guys are paid miserably, if at all, and bribes are considered parts of their income, like a waiters tips in the USA
This is not about bribery or extortion but has to do with your money. Be very careful at ATM machines. Before you use a machine have a good look and watch what is going on around the area. Look for people watching the ATM or line. Also recount your money before leaving any bank. My wife was ripped off in Kenya when the bank teller somehow palmed a $100 bill after she says watched the count. By the time we realized what happened, there was no recourse even after calling the bank and even having a local police officer talk to them. On our drives around Africa we kept the truck filled with soccer balls which we gave out when we stopped. When we were stopped the conversation would always go to, what were we doing with all of the balls. When we explained we were giving them away, no one ever asked for money. There were so many happy folks with their new soccer balls along the way. We did the same in India. Of course our hearts were broken in Masai Mara when we tried to give away the soccer balls and the children we met asked for food. Next time we will take food too!!!
Another great video, thanks for sharing all this wonderful information! In one of your Africa video's you mentioned disabling your daytime running lights. Was this just a personal preference or was there another reason for doing this?
Hi. I was watching hing with great interest your vid, as always. I must say that during my 2 years living in Ghana and driving to Benin monthly, I had twice the nosel of a Kalachnikov in my nose. First one I got stopped for check by Ghanean army commando in Ghana and second was on the road check in Togo. So sorry but its a hard time till u sure if the AK is really loaded or if the guy is drunk enough.
In Panama police found us sitting in a bad area too long and asked us to leave. I got a few stories near Mexican border (Texas and California). Some related news stories and some knew a friend of family who was killed. If you're not involved in certain activities, I can't see staying close to the border.
When I'm in Mexico, my technique when the police are "fishing for bribes" is to just smile, look apologetic and confused, and say, "no hablo español"...
Great content Dan. At some point will you talk about legitimate border crossing fees? Also, how do you handle vehicle registrations when you are away from home for years? Registrations here in the states are only valid for a year or two. Thanks
I know this is a bit off-topic, but I would love to get your input on this... I really want to like Jeeps, and I once rented a 2-door Wrangler on vacation and liked it a lot. Seemed rugged, simple, probably easy to work on. They seem overpriced for their simplicity, they have a bad reputation for reliability, gas mileage, and safety/rollover. But I sure do want to like them.
@@TheRoadChoseMe thanks... Iove the channel, great information, will catch up on the videos and get more insight into this I'm sure. I suspect some of the reports would be due to how they are being used (abused?), but I still don't see many owners saying they're not happy. I was somewhere today I wanted to explore further but it was impassable for my current vehicle. Used to have an Isuzu Vehicross that was quite capable from the factory and I miss that versatility. My main concern is that this needs to be a good, safe family runabout for us too, and I'm in a line of work that just makes me think about crash survivability more than most because of what we see. I know someone who said hers is susceptible to getting blown around a bit in crosswinds. I would suspect rollover risk is actually less than other higher vehicles because they should be lighter than most and the center of gravity should still be fairly low. Not looking at any extreme overlanding or anything (yet), but definitely interested in family vacations where we can get off the beaten path a bit. Would want to set it up to have decent highway manners too, as I do a lot of that and have a long daily commute.
@@CurmudgeonExtraordinaire it’s not stupid and yes rental cars have them. New cars come with a pack with triangles and vests in it. It’s just something that comes with a car like a Jack, spare wheel or that temporary tyre inflation stuff.
About Mexico, you are so wrong! Cancun Mexico: EVERYTIME any of my crew members rent a car and drive to Tulum they get stopped and have to pay bribe money(100$) for „Speeding“. The mafia, sorry, police threatens to keep the drivers license...
It's happened to me in Mozambique and yes, it was a cop. He was drunk and put a pistol to my head. I dropped the clutch and he fell over. I do between 3,000 & 5,000 km a month in Africa for work. Sometimes you just have to pay. Patience is all well and good, but sometimes you're in a rush. Yes, be polite; yes, have all your paperwork and make sure everything on your vehicle meets local regulations. Smile, make jokes but don't be obsequious. For non-Africans, never, ever treat a cop any different to a cop in your home country. I disagree with the ''yes, sir, no sir'' thing. Never done it; I've got gray hair and it'd just be weird. Also, yes, if they're taking it too far, lose your temper. It'll be fine. Remember, this happens to us ''locals'' every single day, thousands of times across the continent. And every day, we go along with it for a while and very often just drive away. What are they gonna do?
Haha - I drove my first one 40,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina, and my second one 54,000 miles Around Africa. I'm still driving that one every day, and neither of them ever missed a beat!
Strange question here, would you recommend mentioning your own military service to the soldiers/police? Kind of a "Are you army? I did 20 years in the Canadian army, retired two years ago"? I've found it worked with some gate guards while on deployments with the navy, but we had a giant grey boat docked behind us to back up the claim we were military.
I think it varies a huge amount depending on where you are in the world. In West Africa no way I'd let them know you are ex-military. They're still really paranoid about spies and stuff like that, so they'll go for any excuse to "detain" you and claim it's because you are not who you say you are.
@@TheRoadChoseMe That's a fair point that I hadn't considered. In North America it's a bit of a default response, so much so that my drivers license is behind my military ID, so the police can't help but notice the military ID.
I remember going to Rocky Point Mexico and had a gun pointed when I had to many girls compared to guys in the car and I told them I wouldn’t give them my money. That was a fun night. 3 hours of hell in the dunes. I’ve my worst experience in the United States with the police taking my entire car apart on the side of the road for no reason.
Just a thought, but what do you think would happen if you simply called them out in a polite way and tell them that you understad that they are tryin to get a bribe?
If you keep smiling and laughing and play it really cool, I think it will work to your advantage. But it might go the other way. I never tried it directly.
Don't you think that if you let them keep one of your two driver's licenses that they'd simply radio ahead to the next checkpoint? Then those guys take the second one and alert the next crew down the line that you're driving without one.
Has anyone ever ran across a first aid kit getting stolen or 'held hostage' for a bribe? The reason I am curious is because all first aid kits I've ever owned I will basically empty the contents out of a good quality bag and fill it with things that I want and am familiar with. Like burn blankets, suture kits, iv needless and solution. I've spent several hundred dollars putting together really good quality kits. I'm curious if I should buy a $5 Wal-Mart special to have to hold up if anyone asks about it so they don't see the really valuable equipment I have in my good one
![EXTORTION, BRIBERY & CORRUPTION driving the world - HOW TO avoid paying when overlanding [Part 1]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/IOljPXY0Smg/mqdefault.jpg)
![EXTORTION, BRIBERY & CORRUPTION driving the world - HOW TO avoid paying when overlanding [Part 1]](/img/tr.png)
Anecdote; I was an expatriate in Nigeria a few years and I can second that respect and friendliness goes a huge distance. Also, small gifts can go a long way to stave off forced bribery attempts. I always carried around a box of BIC pens and handed one over early in any encounter to aid them if they needed to write anything down and told them, preferably using both hands shaking theirs, that it would be an honor if they kept it. (I learned this trick from a British traveling salesman there.) During all this time there, I did actually end up at gun point once while riding a bus during a bridge crossing that some overzealous “security guards” were “charging” for. Staying calm and claiming I did not have any money but “here have a couple of pens for keeping us safe” calmed the situation down quickly. Respect and friendliness from the only white guy on the bus lead them to wish us all a safe journey as they left.
It’s really simple, don’t be an asshole.
Another tip; many of these officials are actually proud of their country, and showing excitement that you get to visit theirs by, f.ex. displaying their nations flag (as a sticker, miniature flag, or patch on clothing or hat [velcro, so it’s exchangeable for the next country] or similar, gets them often in a very good mood.
Again Dan is 100% on with what he says here. I've experienced what he talks about in part 1 and 2, and so has everyone else that overlands in these developing countries. Often times they are just looking for extra lunch money - or to impress their girlfriend that happens to be right there. Show them respect. Don't be in a hurry (I've made tea while waiting at the border). Expect that you will be stopped (although 3 times in one hour having to empty my saddle bags in Mexico was pushing it a little). If you haven't already, take a look at Dan's hidden video footage from Africa (sorry I forget which country that was in) where he's shaken down. He keeps them busy while being respectful. He is much better skilled at keeping them busy than I was. He tends to take the lead, where I was following their lead. I'll have to work on that before I hit the road again (post Corona). Don't let this ruin your day. It will happen. But it's also part of the experience.
Thanks again for the real world input!
The two dislikes are guys that tried to bribe you without success
Lmao
The key words:
I'M A TOURIST AND I'M GOING TO CAMEROON.
Bonus points if you say it when you are in Mexico :-D :-D
Perhaps one additional and also positive note is to point out 'mordida' (or 'the bite') is not universal, not by a long shot. Dan's approach sounds spot on to me. But in the 53 countries we have traveled in (W Europe, N Africa, most of the Atlantic and South Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean & C America), we've only experienced this once. And that one experience occurred on only two of the four times we cleared into that one country (Dominican Republic). Not even in terribly poor Haiti did it occur. So my footnote is to not expect it, and therefore don't fret about it. Just heed Dan's advice when it pops up.
Living in Africa and travelling through most of Southern Africa your advice is spot on. It is mostly the recognition the official wants. Great channel.
Thanks Bruce! It took me a long time to figure out how to play it properly!
...also by having spent 9 years in Africa I would say that a mix of politeness and hard stand is needed. A hard stand might also show them that u know the drill and that u are not going to take it. Except that, loving your vids! Your trip is amazing!
Good advice, not just overlanding.
Before I retired from paramedicine, I learned that leading with friendliness, courtesy and respect brought out the best in people, in many, many sketchy situations. It works just as well out of uniform in the third world too.
I was adventure motorcycle touring in Belize in February 2020 and I found the military there doing things like making sure the tourists all get back out of the National Park by sunset.
Respect.
In Argentina, 2 triangles is required by law. But don't worry if you have only one because the police man usually recommend you a friend that can sell you a triangle for USD100.
Talking about South America, I'm from Brazil and I can guarantee that Dan is 100% right with those recommendations. Nowadays is total different than 80s and maybe 90s. I think, because of the possibility of record audio and video with any device, it is easy to generate evidence of corruption, therefore, the corrupt can no longer act freely. One thing I always make clear is that I have a TH-cam channel and I always invite them to follow my channel. They are terrified of being exposed on youtube. With that, I avoid extortion and get a subscriber. 😂
I am glad you made these two videos! Hope more people, tourists and locals could find a way to stop bribes. The locals though often have a tougher job. Same cop stopping you every time you go to work ... is not fun.
Working in Tanzania, we hade rule for the organization that we where not allowed to pay bribes. No matter what. So I learned as you mentioned in Part 1. Time is your friend. I once sat outside an office waiting for an officer to put a stamp in new passport to transfer resident permit ... after one hour waiting. He certainly wanted me to pay him to speed up the process. After one hour his boss saw me outside the office ..., He then asked me what I was waiting for. I told him ... :) He then entered the office and I heard some harsh words from the boss. Then he came out apologizing to me and said the passport is ready ... I had time.
I am not an overlander and I don't plan to be one any time soon... but your videos were very informative and fun - I enjoyed them a lot!
In some countries by law you not only need to have a safety vest, but you must have it in a reach from your driver seat. The reasoning is that in case of emergency you never have to leave your vehicle without the vest. Additionally, in some countries it is forbidden to have green safety vests - these are reserved for police only. You need orange.
lol!
One time I got stopped for not wearing a helmet, while riding motorcycle in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico;
My spanish really was bad, so the ensueing charades of the officer trying to explain my offense, were hysterical, and once I understood the situation, I simply asked to go to the police station, to pay the fine, and the whole situation ended.
(I later learned that Mexico does in fact have a helmet law, but having never been stopped for it for a couple years of riding there, I was oblivious to it)
The officer's refusal to write a ticket left me certain it was just "the mordita".
Could not agree with more. I got used to it real quickly when I did Africa on my motorbike. I found it fun and a actually made a game of it by seeing how fast I could h them to give up and have a laugh. Made a big difference by taking off my helmet and sunglasses and having a good conversation
On a motorcycle do they ask for different things than on a car? Do they expect you to have the fire extinguisher and triangles? Thanks
good advice on getting a replacement license made ahead of time. Make sure to keep track of which is which and use the copy as the throw away. Your country of origin and those that cooperate digitally may be able to tell that the copy is not valid. There are odd ball situations where this can cause inconvenience.
Great 2 videos on this topic. 2 👍🏻👍🏻. Respect and politeness will get you a long way. Us Canadians 🇨🇦 have this in our blood 😉. As a famous doctor says, « do you want to be right or do you want to be happy » ! Letting the corrupt Cop save face is crucial Cheers Dan
Great video series Dan! Very knowledgeable and informative. Your advice here is just spot on based on what I've experienced and other travelers I've met as well. One topic I'm wondering about is how do you research those not so safe areas where criminal activity is more of a real concern? Places like maybe the DRC, Honduras, or other legitimate hot spots...
Thanks Jon!
When you're on the road you have your ear to the ground. You talk to other overlanders and backpackers, you talk to police and military and you talk to locals at road side food stalls. When an area is unsafe, you'll quickly learn about it.
awsome content man!!!
If you want a place to sleep at Overland Expo you'll need to pay me a dozen wings.
That's it? Hell, I was gonna break out the expensive whiskey! 😄😄
Priceless advice. You are super clear when you talk and they way you retell your stories is very engaging. Thank you for taking the time to share it! 💛
You are so welcome!
This is a great channel. I enjoy the common sense approach and all the travel trips you have provided.
I had an experience in Baja California Mexico in the 1980s when I was just a dumb kid out of college. Me and a friend were riding my motorcycle from San Diego down to Ensenada. I didn't know if Mexico had a helmet law or not so I asked the first Mexican cop I saw what the rules were for motorcycle helmets. He told me they didn't have any mandatory helmet laws so I could take mine off if I chose to ride without it.
About 25 miles down the road, the cop at the checkpoint told me I needed to wear a helmet because it was the law and I needed to pay him a fine. I told him that I was confused and didn't understand because the officer at the border station told me I didn't have to wear a helmet if I didn't want to. I didn't argue, I just asked in a confused manner that I didn't understand.
The checkpoint cop realized I knew what was up and just flagged us through.
I haven't been to Mexico since then, so I can't tell you what the rules are now.
Someday I'll go back.
Thanks for bringing back this memory Dan! I chuckle whenever I think of it.
We have a safety kit for our car in Panama, but want to bring our van down from the States. Guess we will have to get more supplies - don't really want to carry a fire extinguisher back to the States to bring it back to Panama!
You're absolutely right mate. Don't argue with them, just guide the conversation and make it difficult for them to get money. Respect is indeed important. Once you start to quarrel the guy you're done :-) I also never paid anything so far. Sometimes it take some time to get out of the situation but sometimes it was even funny for everyone involved
Well said
getting extorted by a group of guys with guns (even if they don't point them at you) in the middle of nowhere in a lawless country is truly hilarious, i know
Your videos reminded me of exactly my experiences in Mexico when I was a young child, this is absolutely the case, and while I have resting bitch face and am quite a tall large person (so I worry bit about how I come off, especially as I'm on the spectrum and have a difficult time with social interactions) your videos are always very helpful. I also very much enjoy that you don't have some crazy loud intro and fancy bs. Keep them coming!
Not sure if someone else mentioned this or not. At the 6 minute mark when you talk about getting a second drivers licence...
I've actually done just this since I was a teenager here in Michigan. But be aware that the magnetic strip on your original 'lost' one gets messed up somehow, not sure exactly the details of it, but I have 3 current drivers licenses and I got them mixed up once and the police couldn't scan it into their computer by swiping the old one, the voting clerk tried to swipe my license into her computer when I went to vote and thought it was a fake because it couldn't swipe. So be careful if you have multiple licenses and just make sure you have a mental note of how to ensure you're using the correct one at the correct time
"500 hundred extortion events", that's funny...a daily event then when you're on the road. Smart words as always
Great job, good information. I agree with everything you said after 40 years of global travel, mostly in third world countries. Keep up the good work!
Thank you, recording these encounters is great to watch though dangerous!
I wish I had a few more on camera, and I vow to do a better job next time! Maybe I should build in a hidden camera in my drivers compartment just for that reason!
One of my favorite channels on TH-cam. I love this advise, keep it up!
Wow, thanks!
So happy that you and so many others have been so lucky. On a trip to Rocky Point Mexico in 1989 and again in 1990 it cost me most of my cash the first time and all of the cash that wasn’t hidden the second time. When the Policia are pointing guns in your direction you pay.
In my opinion you have been extremely lucky or I have no luck. I refuse to ever return to a Mexico because of these experiences.
I do agree with you about playing dumb with the language because it helped tremendously get my tools and work parts through Customs in Argentina. They didn’t have any time or patience to deal with me.
Travel safe.
The world has changed a lot in 30 years.
Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s I did several overland trips covering most of Africa and can’t tell you how many times we were stopped at police checkpoints and had to go through process of showing all our documentation, including passports. I don’t recall being asked for money directly back then but many times we were asked if we had anything for them! One time I recall each of us individually having to sit in the police chief’s office and answer his question, what is your name, what is your occupation, why are you here, etc. I think he was just practicing his English. Another time we were stopped literally minutes after having just gone through a police checkpoint. The officer approached the truck and asked me “from where have you come?”. I leaned out my window and pointed at the police check point back down the road, you could almost still see it. It’s a good thing the new guy didn’t understand my sarcasm. We went through the whole show and tell again and drove on. I rented a car in South Africa one time and drove all over the place for a month and there wasn’t a single police checkpoint.
I can tell you it's still the same in many parts of Africa today!
The Road Chose Me love your channel, I read your book on your travels through central and South America and have a copy of your 999 days picture book. I’ve travelled all my life with about 64 countries under my belt. I have a goal to visit 100 countries and even with obstacles like COVID and a fight with cancer (with the associated lingering issues), I still plan on reaching that goal. My travels are a lot softer now that I’m in my 60’s and my wife is no longer interested in ‘backpacking’ the way we used to. Now it’s 2 and 3 star hotels versus $1/night for a wooden church pew in places like Arusha or pitching a tent in the Serengeti. I do spend a lot of time living vicariously through various TH-camrs like you, living the dream overlanding. I love travel and for every hour I spend reading about someone else’s travels or watching their videos, I probably spend two or more hours daydreaming, reminiscing or planning another trip for my wife and I. By the way, love your Jeep set up, especially your drinking water system. When my wife, son and I were in China I took a Steripen UV light water purifier and felt much safer. In Africa years ago it was mostly Jerry cans and chlorimine T powder. I’m sure all that chlorine wasn’t really good for liver and kidneys, but then again, neither was the 6 months at a time of anti malaria drugs. It was all worth it though, nothing ventured, nothing gained. Keep safe and keep travelling. If you are ever back in Calgary I’d like to buy you a beer.
Thanks for all the support, and it sounds like you've certainly lived a life of adventure! and continue to do so!!
Keep it up, I hope we cross paths at some point!
Dan,
Great video, and advice. I’ve traveled some, not nearly as much as you, but a bit. I’ve never experienced serious bribery, but I have a bit of advice for novice travelers. In my younger years, my wife and I were in Mexico, just north of Belize. We stopped for lunch at a small restaurant on the beach. The menu had almost no vegetarian foods, so we asked for some custom meals. The restaurant complied, and the food was great. When the bill came the entrees were $40 each, even though most of the menu entrees were $8 or $10. My wife didn’t want to pay the bill, but I felt trapped, and we hadn’t asked about the price before we ordered. We paid, and learned a lesson… IMO this was extortion still, but with a twist… I hate it, but if we’re in a similar situation we get a price up front.
Exactly right - you make a great point. None of us are experts when we go into it, and we learn our lessons. Stay friendly, suck it up a few times and then be wiser and better able to stop it from happening right up front. Excellent advice!
Great advice and content 👍
Appreciate it!
I've done a lot of driving in Baja California. Check points always went well. Only one time did the guard suggest that he wanted my friend's spearfishing gun. He responded with ohhh nooo... Not sure how else to deal with that one. Maybe insist on a transaction receipt lol.
Awesome stuff! Thank you for answering my Q regarding the Ol' paperwork snatch. Seems so obvious now! All the best!
No worries!
Great advice, thanks for that! Best regards from The Netherlsnds
Glad it was helpful!
Love your content Dan.
Actual legit travel experience without the click bait BS lol.
I’m gearing up for international overland travel myself and I’ve taken notes on a few things other people don’t ever mention.
Keep it up.....when are you planning to travel again ??
Thanks! I'm flying to a new continent in 6 days !!
New vehicle build, new adventure, should run about 12-15 months. I can't wait!!
Neat trick. I have lost and then foundy my drivers licence and I a couple of times. Thanks for the honesty and openess! Greetings from argentina
I watched the Nigerian tire expiration video and I genuinely almost felt bad for that young soldier. Because you will never want to start a conversation about tires with an overlander if you are not into those kind of things, lucky for him he was let off easy!
Sometimes I do almost feel bad for the younger guys.. I Know for sure the others give them a hard time when they come back empty handed!
Great channel mate. Can't believe it's taken me so long to find such a great channel
Welcome aboard!
A very good info ..
Thanks a lot .. really helpful
I have experienced the police/military stops in Nigeria when traveling to the Delta state. I have to honestly say it is scary. What you have to consider is past experience. If you have never been through something like that your mind runs wild and you expect the worst. I often thought, i could be killed, and tossed in the woods and nobody would find me. In 2 trips, driving in and out of the Delta state, I only experienced one bribe attempt. I was a passenger with my father in law, which helped tremendously, but i have the feeling that the American in the car is what caused the stop to begin with . After about a 20 minute stand off the one of the police heard my father in law speaking in his native language and being from the same tribe allowed us to leave. As time went on and we continued to go through stops my anxiety decreased bit by bit. Today i would still be a little nervous but nowhere near where I was the first couple of trip. I think seeing people with large guns in a country with loose rules and lots of variables unsettling to people from countries where things are run a bit differently. Overall though, i do agree that there isnt much to worry about except the hassle of wasting time.
good video again.
indeed, don't be terrified, see it as a game, one that you can win!
Excellent follow up video Dan! I thought you had covered it all in the last video, but I got a lot out of this one too. Keep up the great content! I definitely get into human psychology and understanding why people do the things the do. I could definitely see enjoying these interactions and making a game out of it.
Thanks, will do!
Hi Dan: thanks for your videos, they are very clear and illustrative. And what I like is they are from your personal experience. Thanks again.
Glad you like them!
Love your content! I never plan on doing a long road journey in one of these areas but if the option ever came up this issue would be the top reason why I wouldn't. Having to deal with these low lives non-stop would ruin the energy of the entire trip
It really doesn't ruin the trip, it's still very much worth going!
@@TheRoadChoseMe I'm sure it's great just the constant thought of the possibility of someone harrasing me would be aggravating.. Either way my current life situation is far removed from doing one of these. I did follow ur africa trip from begin to end didn't miss one post. You are living life to its fullest 💪
@@webchamp930 Hi Webchamp, these 2nd or 3rd world countries know that us 1st world countries have no tolerance for this everyday survival corruption game in their country. It's similar to the experience you will have in an open air market where the price will immediately be 2 or 3 or 10 times the going rate for the obvious foreigner and you will need to bargain with them. Like the cops, the merchants throw out a ridiculous offer to see if you will bite...frequently westerners do so it's always to their benefit to start high and only come down if necessary. We have been trained in the west to despise this method of transaction equating it with dishonesty. We all expect our norms and customs to be adopted everywhere else; which when you think about it, is a bit ridiculous. I don't like dealing with these situations when I travel but I know it's part of the game. There are always so many other interesting differences in experiencing the new culture that it is so worth this little bit of discomfort.
@@timhardman4764 true but at the end of the day it still sucks. The fact that its cultural thing makes sense. But for someone who just wants to travel and discover the beauty of a different country it's a major pain and drawback
Having decent language skills coupled with the ability to feign ignorance to said language skills has gotten me out of a few bribery situations 😂
I think that a lot of the situations that people worry about (that don’t really seem to happen) aren’t bribery situations... they are banditry situations. Had some dear friends in Colima who were in an RV and held at gunpoint... this was not the police or the military... these were drug dealers. The take away for me was keep your ear to the ground and when actual travellers tell you about areas that are actually to be avoided don’t decide that the surf is worth it!! Luckily the banditos didn’t want their RV and let them go but the Yanks in the Suburban parked next to them weren’t so lucky... they nearly lost their lives.
Travelling during the daylight hours is also critical... darkness encourages behaviour that would never be engaged in during the day!!
Great film Dan!!!!
I have a friend that drove the freak bus back in the day. London to Delhi and back again.
Excellent content and videos, simple, well explained, you have some great people skills. If we ever bump into I'll buy you a 🍺
Much appreciated!
Great advices Dan, really appreciate it!
Glad it was helpful!
The one time I was in this situation with the Mexican Police, I used the "No Español" excuse with a few word of Japanese thrown for good measure. He got frustrated and let me go.
Amazing show. Awesomeness. Learned a lot. Keep it coming please. Question: How to travel with a big dog ‘ specifically a lab ‘. I’m a solo senior driver. Because of covid started camping in beautiful British Columbia since May 2020. Since clocked 8,500 kms. In two weeks time going up North to Tuktuk! Very intrigue about ‘ Pan American Highway‘. So epic. Thanks
I've never done it, but plenty of people do go internationally with pets! You just have to carry the vaccination reports and you're good to cross the borders
Check on the paperwork and the regulation of the countries you cross, choose bowl for water and food, calculate the water and food needs, make sure your dog has a comfy and safe place in the car, including not getting catapulted in the front should there be an accident. Maybe bring a muzzlle, if you have to take him along shopping or such ; in Europe you might have to muzzle him in some woods, definitely in malls. I had a Golden, not so different from a Lab. Also make sure to let him out at "pit-stops". Most dogs love driving, some don't
Sir, really appreciated. Well done. Thank you for sharing. Buen Camino.
You are very welcome
Hey Dan! I watched all of your Africa videos and loved them! Would you talk about legitimate fees? Are there import taxes, exit taxes, other types of administrative fees that one should definitely not try to get out of? Also, would have loved to see more of the meals you had (local food) while traveling- I love Ethiopian food and was hoping you'd describe what authentic local food was like (and looked like). Thanks for the great content! 😊
Thanks for the kind words and absolutely, I can cover those topics!
I found that in a couple countries the fees depended on how you looked. Like if it appeared you had $$ or were traveling on a shoestring budget. Case in point, in Zambia I had to pay $50 for my tourist visa while the next guy paid $30. Only difference was the clothes we wore.
🙋🏻♂️ Thank you 🇪🇦💛👍🏼
Great advise . Thank you very much.
Fantastic perspective and info! I hope you post more!
That's the plan - new videos every Monday and Thursday!
Super interesting as always 👍👍
What happens if they search you and find 2 identical driving licenses on you or in the car? you're in trouble because one of the two is not valid, but which one? and then you can't have two identical driving licenses, I think it's illegal
I got searched a few times, and they found both passports, and drivers licenses and licenses from multiple countries. They never said anything.
Hi Dan. Just two questions please on how you would handle it. If you have a dash cam would you ever consider telling the officer from the outset that you have a dash cam and use that as a deterrant for any bribe. Also if you were bribed and had it on camera would you report as evidence to the authorities after your trip. We have had issues in Namibia and Mozambique a couple of times and I have always thought of the above as my dashcam is always on and also records sound and gps details. Thanks for a great channel.
It's a risk, you never know how an officer is going to respond when you threaten them. Remember, they are desperate and might do desperate things to avoid getting into trouble and losing their ability to put food on the table.
I personally wouldn't do it.
Thanks for the lessons of hard earned experiences.
You bet!
Great content, one of the best overland channels I’ve come across. Definitely under appreciated IMO.
Appreciate that, welcome aboard!
Another great vid, thanks!
You bet!
"National Police ! Would you have any Nescafe ?" - that was an "extortion" that worked on me - on the other hand, if you committed an infraction, there are countries, where the offer will be a bribe, but they will take out the receit forms and make you pay a - usually higher - fine, which they will deposit, because it will make them look good or they are expected to bring in some fines. Also do not forget, that in some countries, these guys are paid miserably, if at all, and bribes are considered parts of their income, like a waiters tips in the USA
This is not about bribery or extortion but has to do with your money. Be very careful at ATM machines. Before you use a machine have a good look and watch what is going on around the area. Look for people watching the ATM or line. Also recount your money before leaving any bank. My wife was ripped off in Kenya when the bank teller somehow palmed a $100 bill after she says watched the count. By the time we realized what happened, there was no recourse even after calling the bank and even having a local police officer talk to them. On our drives around Africa we kept the truck filled with soccer balls which we gave out when we stopped. When we were stopped the conversation would always go to, what were we doing with all of the balls. When we explained we were giving them away, no one ever asked for money. There were so many happy folks with their new soccer balls along the way. We did the same in India. Of course our hearts were broken in Masai Mara when we tried to give away the soccer balls and the children we met asked for food. Next time we will take food too!!!
Another great video, thanks for sharing all this wonderful information!
In one of your Africa video's you mentioned disabling your daytime running lights. Was this just a personal preference or was there another reason for doing this?
Bribery. They love to say it's illegal to have your lights on and you have to pay a fine.
I'll talk about it more in the future!
Hi. I was watching hing with great interest your vid, as always. I must say that during my 2 years living in Ghana and driving to Benin monthly, I had twice the nosel of a Kalachnikov in my nose. First one I got stopped for check by Ghanean army commando in Ghana and second was on the road check in Togo. So sorry but its a hard time till u sure if the AK is really loaded or if the guy is drunk enough.
In Panama police found us sitting in a bad area too long and asked us to leave.
I got a few stories near Mexican border (Texas and California). Some related news stories and some knew a friend of family who was killed. If you're not involved in certain activities, I can't see staying close to the border.
Great advice .
Next episode: your water purification system please!
Ask you you shall receive - th-cam.com/video/geGO_yNmVKM/w-d-xo.html
Merci beaucoup! Well made!
When I'm in Mexico, my technique when the police are "fishing for bribes" is to just smile, look apologetic and confused, and say, "no hablo español"...
No nintendo!
@@TheRoadChoseMe -- "No PlayStation" works also... :)
Many countries also require you to pack a blood alcohol level test kit.
so informative, in all your videos
Glad you like them!
love your work.
Thank you!
Great content Dan. At some point will you talk about legitimate border crossing fees? Also, how do you handle vehicle registrations when you are away from home for years? Registrations here in the states are only valid for a year or two. Thanks
Hi Robert - sure, I can talk about that stuff!
I know this is a bit off-topic, but I would love to get your input on this... I really want to like Jeeps, and I once rented a 2-door Wrangler on vacation and liked it a lot. Seemed rugged, simple, probably easy to work on. They seem overpriced for their simplicity, they have a bad reputation for reliability, gas mileage, and safety/rollover. But I sure do want to like them.
The two I've had have been fantastic. Over 100,000 miles on the worst roads in the world without a single breakdown. I'll take that!
@@TheRoadChoseMe thanks... Iove the channel, great information, will catch up on the videos and get more insight into this I'm sure. I suspect some of the reports would be due to how they are being used (abused?), but I still don't see many owners saying they're not happy. I was somewhere today I wanted to explore further but it was impassable for my current vehicle. Used to have an Isuzu Vehicross that was quite capable from the factory and I miss that versatility. My main concern is that this needs to be a good, safe family runabout for us too, and I'm in a line of work that just makes me think about crash survivability more than most because of what we see. I know someone who said hers is susceptible to getting blown around a bit in crosswinds. I would suspect rollover risk is actually less than other higher vehicles because they should be lighter than most and the center of gravity should still be fairly low. Not looking at any extreme overlanding or anything (yet), but definitely interested in family vacations where we can get off the beaten path a bit. Would want to set it up to have decent highway manners too, as I do a lot of that and have a long daily commute.
Thanks for the awesome video! on average how long do the bribery attempts last? 10 mins or are you sitting there for hours?
It varies greatly. Sometimes 5 minutes. Often less than 10. Very, very rarely 30 minutes.
Thanks. What about passports? Had that issue in the DRCongo. We paid lots of bribes.
I've found they never really mess with my passport - like they know that's a lot more serious
@@TheRoadChoseMe I was going to ask that one. I ordered a second driving licence after watching your video. Thank you.
Reflective west, In Europe you need one for every outside in case of accident, It must be reached from driver position and put on from that position.
That's a stupid rule... Do rental cars come with them? I've never noticed them in any rental car that I ever had while over there...
@@CurmudgeonExtraordinaire it’s not stupid and yes rental cars have them. New cars come with a pack with triangles and vests in it. It’s just something that comes with a car like a Jack, spare wheel or that temporary tyre inflation stuff.
About Mexico, you are so wrong! Cancun Mexico: EVERYTIME any of my crew members rent a car and drive to Tulum they get stopped and have to pay bribe money(100$) for „Speeding“. The mafia, sorry, police threatens to keep the drivers license...
It's happened to me in Mozambique and yes, it was a cop. He was drunk and put a pistol to my head. I dropped the clutch and he fell over. I do between 3,000 & 5,000 km a month in Africa for work. Sometimes you just have to pay. Patience is all well and good, but sometimes you're in a rush. Yes, be polite; yes, have all your paperwork and make sure everything on your vehicle meets local regulations. Smile, make jokes but don't be obsequious. For non-Africans, never, ever treat a cop any different to a cop in your home country. I disagree with the ''yes, sir, no sir'' thing. Never done it; I've got gray hair and it'd just be weird. Also, yes, if they're taking it too far, lose your temper. It'll be fine. Remember, this happens to us ''locals'' every single day, thousands of times across the continent. And every day, we go along with it for a while and very often just drive away. What are they gonna do?
Excellent videos, What do you recommend about recording police when they try to bribe you? It seems like they do t like it
They for sure don't like it... but maybe it will make them angry which is never a good thing. I'd say be careful.
Can't imagine doing does kinda trips in a Jeep. that would give me more anxiety than bribery or crossing borders, or driving in the dark in MX
Haha - I drove my first one 40,000 miles from Alaska to Argentina, and my second one 54,000 miles Around Africa. I'm still driving that one every day, and neither of them ever missed a beat!
machinery is what you make it, but yeah, don't drive after dark in Mexico, too many hazzards.
Strange question here, would you recommend mentioning your own military service to the soldiers/police? Kind of a "Are you army? I did 20 years in the Canadian army, retired two years ago"?
I've found it worked with some gate guards while on deployments with the navy, but we had a giant grey boat docked behind us to back up the claim we were military.
I think it varies a huge amount depending on where you are in the world. In West Africa no way I'd let them know you are ex-military. They're still really paranoid about spies and stuff like that, so they'll go for any excuse to "detain" you and claim it's because you are not who you say you are.
@@TheRoadChoseMe That's a fair point that I hadn't considered. In North America it's a bit of a default response, so much so that my drivers license is behind my military ID, so the police can't help but notice the military ID.
I remember going to Rocky Point Mexico and had a gun pointed when I had to many girls compared to guys in the car and I told them I wouldn’t give them my money. That was a fun night. 3 hours of hell in the dunes.
I’ve my worst experience in the United States with the police taking my entire car apart on the side of the road for no reason.
Just a thought, but what do you think would happen if you simply called them out in a polite way and tell them that you understad that they are tryin to get a bribe?
If you keep smiling and laughing and play it really cool, I think it will work to your advantage. But it might go the other way. I never tried it directly.
Don't you think that if you let them keep one of your two driver's licenses that they'd simply radio ahead to the next checkpoint? Then those guys take the second one and alert the next crew down the line that you're driving without one.
I have seen videos of Kenyans getting upset with police officers and telling them exactly that.
The content was awesome and I thank you for that. But three ads in a 15 min video are too much
Has anyone ever ran across a first aid kit getting stolen or 'held hostage' for a bribe? The reason I am curious is because all first aid kits I've ever owned I will basically empty the contents out of a good quality bag and fill it with things that I want and am familiar with. Like burn blankets, suture kits, iv needless and solution. I've spent several hundred dollars putting together really good quality kits. I'm curious if I should buy a $5 Wal-Mart special to have to hold up if anyone asks about it so they don't see the really valuable equipment I have in my good one
I've had corrupt guys go through mine more than once... they never seemed interested in taking anything from it.
I wonder if they expect motorcycles to carry a fire extuinguisher and all that other stuff
This almost makes me want to get bribed just so I can play the game. Almost
I know it sounds strange - but some days it really does feel that way!
They like to take your Driver's license in Nicaragua.
How do you find/pick camping sites?
I'll make a video on that soon!
Have you ever gone through Libya? Any experience with situations there?
No, I couldn't get a visa at the time, and it was severely off limits. I'd love to get there one day
@@TheRoadChoseMe I’d like to connect further. Is there a better way to communicate more formally?
I'm dan at theroadchoseme.com
you should have 2 triangle i have an african drive licence and we know that we should have 2 but they never ask you for if your local
I like being rude so Africa and these jerks are not for me.