Quote:
Originally Posted by gigic86
...I would like to go along the long N1 to Dhakla, I wanted to ask you what they require at the various police checkpoints, what kind of information, and whether there is a model (also PDF or DOC) for fiche...
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I just finished riding down to Dakhla. Generally speaking, it was a pleasant trip. Here's some information for anyone else who plans to ride that same route:
1) Road Improvements - with the exception of about a 50 km stretch between 100 and 150 km south of Laayoune, the highway is completely new, and has been built to the same quality standards as a Swiss or German road. It is an amazingly fine road, smooth as silk.
I suspect that the construction on the last 50 kms to be renovated will continue until perhaps summer 2019. There are a lot of 'diversions' along this section, the diversions are quite primitive and will add about 2 hours travel time to the trip.
2) Police Checks - Yes, there are a lot of them, I think I encountered about 15 checkpoints between Laayoune and Dakhla. At every one of them, the police were remarkably polite, courteous, and friendly. When riding south of Laayoune, don't slow down and expect the policeman to wave you on as they do in the north of Morocco - you will have to stop at every single one.
I had prepared a document (a fiche) following the suggestion that Tim Cullis made in his post above. When I did give a fiche to the police, along with my passport, they were very appreciative. But, when I did not give them one, they just photographed my passport, motorcycle, and licence plate with their mobile phone cameras.
So, my suggestion is that you prepare the fiches (about 15 for each direction of the journey), if only because it demonstrates courtesy to the police and will help ensure that they continue to regard tourists & motorcyclists favourably.
3) Speed Traps - Be very careful when approaching Boujdour from either direction. About 10 to 20 km out of the town, both to the north and the south, there are small valleys where the road crosses a bridge, and the Boujdour-based police set up a speed trap (radar trap) there. The usual speed limit is 100 km/h on the N1, but in these small valleys it is 80 km/h.
For the police, it is like shooting fish in a barrel - just about every vehicle (except locals who know better) gets caught riding at 100 km/h through the valley. The fine for speeding between 20 and 40 km/h over the limit (e.g. riding at 101 km/h through these valleys) is 300 Dirhams, payable on the spot.
I was caught. The policemen were, as always, very gracious, friendly, and polite, and they were not offended in any way that I had broken the law - they just gave me a ticket, collected my 300 Dirhams, and wished me a pleasant journey onwards.
Michael