Avoiding police outposts
Avoiding police outposts
Phnom Penh moto drivers: How far out of your way do you go to avoid known police outposts?
I've got my helmet, mirrors, plate and light firmly in the off position, I never stop on the zebra stripes, drive on the sidewalks or turn on red lights, I only drive DOWN 51 and UP 63 and yet there they are again, stepping off the curb trying to flag me down for an unknown offense I don't stick around to listen to. Even when I wear long sleeves and pull down my sun visor to try to hide my white skin, they still find me. Being female, I think, doesn't help matters because I'm perceived to be easy prey. (Then they stare dumbly as I swerve around them.)
I won't go to Lucky during the day anymore because it means negotiating the intersection of Sihanouk and Monivong, where the coppers are absolute vampires. Tried parking in the back garage once but the Lucky guards gave me a hard time - four wheels only. Today I was going north, trying to get to Pharmacie de la Gare (how does anyone manage this?) so I turned left onto 110 and then made my way around the Canadia building to pop out onto Monivong via 108, and there was a guy waiting for me at the junction. This time I stopped and snarled, "What did I DO?" and he told me there was "no outlet." I briefly pointed out that it was unmarked with about half-a-dozen other people buzzing past and he ignored me so that's when I sped off. North, as it were, so I couldn't even get to the goddamned pharmacy.
In general I try to avoid the main roads, when I do drive on them I hang way left at police intersections - sometimes ducking behind trucks so they don't see me (or at least giving me the excuse that I didn't see them). I watch them out of the corner of my eye but never look at them directly. Sometimes I duck right or left onto side streets when I catch them preparing one of their human barricades.
I've hardened to a lot of shit that goes on in Cambodia, but I'm having a really hard time with this one. I'm generally a law-abiding citizen and this constant harassment and what would be an unthinkable response in the "first world" - to run from the police - gnaws at my patience and my conscience. I always worry that the next time they'll actually chase after me, follow me somewhere and impound my bike, or react with violence.
Driving at night is so much less stressful.
Do you guys deal with this, too? If so, how do you handle it - physically and psychologically?
I've got my helmet, mirrors, plate and light firmly in the off position, I never stop on the zebra stripes, drive on the sidewalks or turn on red lights, I only drive DOWN 51 and UP 63 and yet there they are again, stepping off the curb trying to flag me down for an unknown offense I don't stick around to listen to. Even when I wear long sleeves and pull down my sun visor to try to hide my white skin, they still find me. Being female, I think, doesn't help matters because I'm perceived to be easy prey. (Then they stare dumbly as I swerve around them.)
I won't go to Lucky during the day anymore because it means negotiating the intersection of Sihanouk and Monivong, where the coppers are absolute vampires. Tried parking in the back garage once but the Lucky guards gave me a hard time - four wheels only. Today I was going north, trying to get to Pharmacie de la Gare (how does anyone manage this?) so I turned left onto 110 and then made my way around the Canadia building to pop out onto Monivong via 108, and there was a guy waiting for me at the junction. This time I stopped and snarled, "What did I DO?" and he told me there was "no outlet." I briefly pointed out that it was unmarked with about half-a-dozen other people buzzing past and he ignored me so that's when I sped off. North, as it were, so I couldn't even get to the goddamned pharmacy.
In general I try to avoid the main roads, when I do drive on them I hang way left at police intersections - sometimes ducking behind trucks so they don't see me (or at least giving me the excuse that I didn't see them). I watch them out of the corner of my eye but never look at them directly. Sometimes I duck right or left onto side streets when I catch them preparing one of their human barricades.
I've hardened to a lot of shit that goes on in Cambodia, but I'm having a really hard time with this one. I'm generally a law-abiding citizen and this constant harassment and what would be an unthinkable response in the "first world" - to run from the police - gnaws at my patience and my conscience. I always worry that the next time they'll actually chase after me, follow me somewhere and impound my bike, or react with violence.
Driving at night is so much less stressful.
Do you guys deal with this, too? If so, how do you handle it - physically and psychologically?
seidier wrote:Phnom Penh moto drivers: How far out of your way do you go to avoid known police outposts?
I've got my helmet, mirrors, plate and light firmly in the off position, I never stop on the zebra stripes, drive on the sidewalks or turn on red lights, I only drive DOWN 51 and UP 63 ...
Do you guys deal with this, too? If so, how do you handle it - physically and psychologically?
I never avoid the streets I know they'll be on, but I'm ready to swerve around them at any moment.
Also, I have my TAX STICKER very noticeable on the front of my bike so they have one less reason to stop me.
I love it! Nice to have some extra excitement in your life!
I came up to one of those military looking road blocks last night and saw it while I was still able to make a legit right hand turn at the intersection before reaching them.
Made the legal turn only to be greeted by MANY more officers with AK-47ish guns.
Luckily they pulled the 3 guys with no helmets on 1 bike in front of me that did the exact same thing as me.
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it's cambodia... everything delivers. you just give a list to a tuk driver and pay him to bring it to you.
Those who begin coercive elimination of dissent soon find themselves exterminating dissenters. Compulsory unification of opinion achieves only the unanimity of the graveyard.
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Psychologically, most of us are nuts already.seidier wrote:Do you guys deal with this, too? If so, how do you handle it - physically and psychologically?
Physically? Have a beer.
The last time I was stopped I pretended I was Italian: none of them can speak a word.
I just kept asking them 'Parlo Italiano?",'no comprende' and waving my arms around, in the end they got pissed off and told me to eff off.
ירי ילדים והפצצת אזרחים דורש אומץ, כמו גם הטרדה מינית של עובדי ההוראה.
I admittedly haven't been driving long, but I don't see what the big deal is. Being vigilant and spotting the pig nosed bastards from a distance and making sure to move to a more central lane to avoid them works. And if avoiding them fails and having to cough up a couple of dollars it is all in the game.
One country I lived in a while ago, I used to get stopped while walking on the street by police and would get shaken down for $10-$15USD each time, if I got stopped late at night and pissed this could escalate to a lot higher and depending on the company I was with. Occassionally they would throw me in the back of a squad car for scare tactics etc, but never were they ever going to take me to the police station. These guys did affect my perception of Police and when I would travel home or elsewhere I would instinctively avoid any police. This is not even talking about Traffic Cops which had a lot more imagination to which road rules you have broken, the "fines" would be from $10 to hundreds depending on the situation. So in comparison to here, Cambdodia is a walk in the park
Anyway, I think it is part the unique tapestry of life in cambodia and whether you like it or not, it isn't going to change sometime soon.
One country I lived in a while ago, I used to get stopped while walking on the street by police and would get shaken down for $10-$15USD each time, if I got stopped late at night and pissed this could escalate to a lot higher and depending on the company I was with. Occassionally they would throw me in the back of a squad car for scare tactics etc, but never were they ever going to take me to the police station. These guys did affect my perception of Police and when I would travel home or elsewhere I would instinctively avoid any police. This is not even talking about Traffic Cops which had a lot more imagination to which road rules you have broken, the "fines" would be from $10 to hundreds depending on the situation. So in comparison to here, Cambdodia is a walk in the park
Anyway, I think it is part the unique tapestry of life in cambodia and whether you like it or not, it isn't going to change sometime soon.
LoL, I have a buddy that's a new arrival here and he's acted retarded the 2 times he's been pulled over and they've waives him off shortly after.vladimir wrote:Psychologically, most of us are nuts already.seidier wrote:Do you guys deal with this, too? If so, how do you handle it - physically and psychologically?
Physically? Have a beer.
The last time I was stopped I pretended I was Italian: none of them can speak a word.
I just kept asking them 'Parlo Italiano?",'no comprende' and waving my arms around, in the end they got pissed off and told me to eff off.
(Who was thinking of posting "I bet your friend wasn't acting"? Fess up.)
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"wait... that's not a billy club!"vladimir wrote:My next plan of attack is to act gay...I just hope to Christ I don't target a gay cop...
Then I'd REALLY get pulled up.
Those who begin coercive elimination of dissent soon find themselves exterminating dissenters. Compulsory unification of opinion achieves only the unanimity of the graveyard.
Robert H. Jackson, West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette
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Jesus, I thought Horace was being a dick with his recent comments but now I guess it's finally dawning on me what he meant... Maybe you're just not "made" for Cambodia? And this topic has been covered in detail numerous times. You should post these types of questions on the Cambodia Parent Network (whose forum consist of numerous "Where can I buy bottled water?" type questions).
I have two bikes: one has no mirrors or tax papers, the other has no registration card or tax sticker. I haven't been stopped in years. Actually, correction: I was stopped around a year ago but it was one of those mea culpa moments as I was going south on 63 with no helmet on. He wanted 10 000R and I started to haggle but some khmer and his girlfriend were stopped a second later and he told the cops he was from the countryside and was sorry, he didn't know and promptly paid the 10 000R, which left me with pretty much zero leverage so I paid up and went on my way.
How fast do you drive? My guess is slow enough to be stopped. Or maybe being a woman really does affect how they prey on people but you do come off as a little clueless regardless of gender.
Your optons are as follows:
1) Remember where they hang out. In those places either:
-A) Obey every conceivable law
-B) Avoid those places
2) Swerve around them if they try to stop you (assume responsibility for your actions if they do manage to stop you). In your case, if you've done something blatantly wrong, maybe consider stopping.
3) Play dumb. I pull my visor down and pretend to look at shop names on the opposite side of the street, or if they signal for me to stop, I'll drive slowly/at a constant speed, cock my head back in surprise, point my index finger at my own chest, look behind me while maintaining the same speed as if thinking they're after someone behind me and just drive past them without the need to swerve. I'll then look behind at them while maintaining that surprised look and shake my hand in a "what?" movement. Works like a charm if you know how to pull it off.
If they do stop you:
1) Play dumb (act like "Vlad").
2) Be very polite and bargain.
3) Pay up.
BTW sorry for coming off like a dick. I'm a normally pretty helpful guy (especially in person).
I have two bikes: one has no mirrors or tax papers, the other has no registration card or tax sticker. I haven't been stopped in years. Actually, correction: I was stopped around a year ago but it was one of those mea culpa moments as I was going south on 63 with no helmet on. He wanted 10 000R and I started to haggle but some khmer and his girlfriend were stopped a second later and he told the cops he was from the countryside and was sorry, he didn't know and promptly paid the 10 000R, which left me with pretty much zero leverage so I paid up and went on my way.
How fast do you drive? My guess is slow enough to be stopped. Or maybe being a woman really does affect how they prey on people but you do come off as a little clueless regardless of gender.
Your optons are as follows:
1) Remember where they hang out. In those places either:
-A) Obey every conceivable law
-B) Avoid those places
2) Swerve around them if they try to stop you (assume responsibility for your actions if they do manage to stop you). In your case, if you've done something blatantly wrong, maybe consider stopping.
3) Play dumb. I pull my visor down and pretend to look at shop names on the opposite side of the street, or if they signal for me to stop, I'll drive slowly/at a constant speed, cock my head back in surprise, point my index finger at my own chest, look behind me while maintaining the same speed as if thinking they're after someone behind me and just drive past them without the need to swerve. I'll then look behind at them while maintaining that surprised look and shake my hand in a "what?" movement. Works like a charm if you know how to pull it off.
If they do stop you:
1) Play dumb (act like "Vlad").
2) Be very polite and bargain.
3) Pay up.
BTW sorry for coming off like a dick. I'm a normally pretty helpful guy (especially in person).
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These stories remind me of a time driving thru Texas when I and the lady were pulled over for speeding (the old crest of the hill radar gun trick) and the big fat Texas cop came up to the car and the first thing he said was…..
"Hi y'all, how much money y'all got on you?"
We were young and naive enough to give him all the cash we had on us….about $45 bucks...
"Hi y'all, how much money y'all got on you?"
We were young and naive enough to give him all the cash we had on us….about $45 bucks...
seidier,
I can relate to your paranoia for the first year I had a license I was stopped 13 times. They always found something, I was stopped five minutes or less after I took my drivers license, racing, beer in the car, another time going 60 MPH in a school zone taking a friend to the emergency room, stolen cars, and CHP conflicts so these stops in Cambodia don't mean so much to me.
There is no question in my mind, they pick on women. You might try a change in your helmet. Is your helmet a unique color? A white or generic looking helmet could make a difference. I promise you that you will get over it. Don't let it interfere with your Cambodian experience.
You just might like to stop and give one a can of pop and wave to them every time you pass them. They won't forget you. Knowing them makes a difference.
I can relate to your paranoia for the first year I had a license I was stopped 13 times. They always found something, I was stopped five minutes or less after I took my drivers license, racing, beer in the car, another time going 60 MPH in a school zone taking a friend to the emergency room, stolen cars, and CHP conflicts so these stops in Cambodia don't mean so much to me.
There is no question in my mind, they pick on women. You might try a change in your helmet. Is your helmet a unique color? A white or generic looking helmet could make a difference. I promise you that you will get over it. Don't let it interfere with your Cambodian experience.
You just might like to stop and give one a can of pop and wave to them every time you pass them. They won't forget you. Knowing them makes a difference.
If I knew for certain that a person was coming to my house with the intent of doing me good, I would run for my life HDT
Sorry, this doesn't work!!willie wrote: You just might like to stop and give one a can of pop and wave to them every time you pass them. They won't forget you. Knowing them makes a difference.
I tried this theory when I first started using my moto as there is a police outpost not far from where I live. So, one day I decided to stop by and have a chat to the local policemen and give them some pop. At the time it seemed to work, everyone was happy and we shared some jokes.
A couple days later I came home to find the same pop sitting outside our apartment......
So, if anyone recognises this man please come and collect him!
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