How to handle Bribes/Fines

[BobsCreek]

After hearing more and more stories out of Zim about police demanding money..... How do such bribes, I mean fines, work? Do they pick a random number and you have to pay, or would they ask $50 USD and if you pull out your wallet and only have $20 USD in it, does that work? Seeing as I am going to be driving through Zim in a couple months I need to brush up on my Bribe Etiquette ...

[luangwablondes]

If memory serves, the most expensive legal fines in Zimbabwe are only $20. Anything more than that is...... a bribe.

[luangwablondes]

There are a few tricks to avoiding fines.

 

I always had some cold cokes in the frig. Cigarettes on the dash. Casually offer those up in the midst of negotiations.

 

If you are wearing sunglasses, be sure to remove them immediately.

 

Don't be confrontational, no matter what they are saying. Be a happy chappy and friendly.

 

Get the AAA International Drivers license. So if you are told to meet them at the police or magistrates office, they'll tell you to also give them your drivers license. Hand them that one to them instead of you regular license. Worked for me a few times. Never give the police a ride. Make them find their own ride, so you can make your escape.

 

Anyone who is made to pay a fine at a traffic roadblock and is not sure how much he should have paid must immediately take the admission of guilt receipt to the nearest police station and get confirmation if they had been rightfully charged. If over charged they can immediately get their money refunded.