Sorry if this is old news, but we were driving from Lima north on the Pan-American and as we approached a police check point at km 99 we got pulled over. The policemen were apparently very keen to pull us over as they were initially dealing with another motorist and as they recognised us as foreigners (we are in a Land Rover) one of them leapt into the road waving and shouting. Then two of the police came over and attempted to accuse us of speeding, then not having reflective strips, illegally importing a righthand drive vehicle and then not having a medical kit. Fortunately we are good actors and kept saying that we didn't understand what they were saying as we didn't speak Spanish. The really comical thing is that we can only drive at a maximum speed of 60mph (1972 diesel engine) and he tried to tell me that we were going at 90mph! If he could make us go at that speed I would gladly give him $100! In the end they got bored after 30 minutes of us repeatedly telling them that we didn't understand Spanish and that we were going to Ecuador, and told us to go (I'm a Yorkshireman you don't get money out of me that easily, HA!).


Oh yea and I think its only public transport that needs reflective stripes, and we did have a medical kit but I recon if we had opened up the back and showed them they would have accused us of carrying prohibited medicines. As for them telling me that it was illegal to drive a right hand drive vehicle in Peru, CODSWOllOP! Tourists can temporarily import right hand drive vehicles. So if this happens to anyone else don’t believe any crap these idiots come out with.


Must say that this is the only time we have met any corrupt police in Peru, every other time we have been stopped the police have been polite, friendly and straight. In fact after nearly 30000miles of round the world travel these are the first bent coppers we have come across.

Jason

I had the same experience in the same vicinity so I guess that the Peruvian police in that area sees most overlanders as "potential atm's".

I also had the same experience as you, that most other places you have little or no problems with the officials.

So fear not, others going that way, just keep calm, don't get angry, be patient, and DON'T PAY THE .........

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Peter Kongsbak
South East Asia, USA, Central and South America and Scandinavia.

I had the same trouble riding south to Lima, starting around 150 miles north of Lima, ending about 50 miles north of Lima. I was several times. Each time the cops demanded $200. Each time I told them to fuch off. Literally. Oh they were pissed! At one point I actually thought they were going to arrest me. Twice I used my Sat phone to call home- and as luck would have it, the first person to answer the phone was my mother, who called my sister (on another line), who googled the US consulate in Lima, who said DO NOT PAY. The cops sure were mad when I told them I had the US Consulate on the other line, and that if they kept me one more minute, they would lose their jobs.

Each time I rode away, the cops would call the next town's cops, and they would be waiting for me. It ended up taking me several hours to go 100 miles.

Earlier that day I'd met a German (on an old airhead with a side car) that he'd been forced to pay $200.

If a cop ever demands $200, and not local currency, then that's a pretty good tip that he's corrupt.

I think this thread should be sticked. These corrupt cops are a known group of bandits.

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Latin America Ride Report
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