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Morocco Topics specific to Morocco, including Western Sahara west of the berm
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



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  #1  
Old 11 May 2015
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Just to add to what Dave wrote above, regarding speed traps:

I left Morocco yesterday, after having spent 10 days there riding from north to south and back again. I saw lots and lots of police check-points, but at every single one, I was waved through. I think that the Moroccan police have no interest in stopping tourists at these checkpoints, or perhaps they might have even been directed from upon high to leave the tourists alone.

But...

As I drove the final 200 miles north to Tanger Med port, I was just astonished at the number of manned 'radar traps' on the highways, especially on the high speed toll roads. Jeepers, there must have been a radar speed checkpoint every 15 to 20 km. Normal practice was for the person with the radar device to hide in the bushes, then radio ahead to colleagues who would have a presence a few kilometers up the road - typically at the next exit.

Personally, I'm kind of grateful for all this police presence, because I found Morocco to be a remarkably safe country to ride in, so far as traffic is concerned. But, if you have to travel up to Tanger Med to buy your insurance, do not under any circumstances exceed the speed limit!

Lastly - be aware that when you buy the moto insurance, you have to declare whether it is for 1, 2, or 3 (3 being a sidecar) seating positions on the moto. You used the word 'we' in your original post - this suggests to me that you will have to specifically ask for coverage for 2 people on the moto.

Michael

Last edited by Chris Scott; 13 May 2015 at 15:11.
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Old 11 May 2015
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or they could be in a 4x4....................however now I remember, they are on a bmw bike

going rate for a speeding ticket last time I got caught was 300dH. North of the ws checkpoints will wave through tourists but speed traps are very different and they will stop you if speeding.

Anyway has the op got sorted out yet?
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Old 12 May 2015
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Very true about the manned speed-checks on the motorway to Tangiers. Seeing the cop hiding in the bushes in the central reservation was quite amusing.

I was stopped for crossing a solid white line on an overtake. I hadn't crossed it - I'd actually been consciously delaying for the broken line.
The cop was friendly and accepted my argument. but he let me sweat for a few minutes wondering if I'd missed a speed limit sign.

That was the only time I was stopped by a checkpoint - in the north. In the south it's a different kettle of prawns - oh yes!
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Old 12 May 2015
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It used to be 400 dh for speeding, now it's 300 dh, 700 dh or 1000 dh depending on amount of excess speed.

The technology has been tightened up, now for every photo image from the radar gun the cops are expected to collect the relevant fine, so no more 'half price deals'.
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Old 12 May 2015
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Many different views on the speed traps, some Moroccans say they never pay, they ask to be taken to headquarters and then wait it out. Many people actually like the tight speed checks, and it makes sense since they have only had the freeways with high speeds for a decade or so and drivers are still adapting to (in 2007 there were donkeys and people walking on the four-lane to Marrakech. Things have changed, a lot). They think it is necessary to keep accidents down.
As for checkpoints, those are for security and with the presence of ISIS recruiters in the north it is a good thing. One small town I forgot the name, there was noone in the street but they did have _four_ check points. Probably for a reason.
They are of course looking for smugglers and regular crimials too.
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Old 12 May 2015
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Quote:
Originally Posted by priffe View Post
...Many people actually like the tight speed checks...
Yeah, to be honest, I actually came to appreciate the rather heavy traffic police presence in Morocco after riding there for a few days. The drivers in Morocco are a lot better behaved than drivers in many 'fully developed' countries, for example, Canada and the USA, and I am pretty sure this is due to the very conspicuous presence of the traffic cops.

I found myself paying a lot more attention to speed limit signs than I ever did before, and to tell you the truth, it didn't really cramp my style much.

The police were VERY polite to me, as an obvious tourist... they always waved me through the spot-checks, and on a few occasions, when I stopped to ask them for directions or local advice, they were extremely helpful and courteous, absolutely first class in every respect.

Michael
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