I've just spotted this thread and realised that I too had a couple of problems on Ruta 14 back in December 2009. I can't tell you the KM marker but it was between Gualeguaychu and San Jose, so relatively close to Buenos Aires.

I was stopped twice; the first time I was asked for papers, the second I was told that I was doing 130km and had been recorded on a radar. I managed to successfully deal with both incidents trouble free.

I had all my paperwork in order but for the first time in South America the police requested for "seguro" - insurance. I carry a fake laminated international insurance card with details of my bike frame #, registration etc, and then handed a paper supliment to my driving license, which the policeman assumed was the counterpart to my insurance. I was waved on my way.

My advice: carry some kind of fake international insurance card/papers. I have carried mine for 48,000 miles and this is the first time I've had to use them.

The second stop was on a stretch of road that had numerous signs warning of police radars and I was therefore very mindful of my speed. It wasn't long before I was waved down at a police check point. My tactics at police check points are always the same:

Overshoot the police checkpoint. This isolates the policeman from his colleagues and helps any negociation to remain private and allows the policeman the opportunity to wave you on your way without losing face

By over shooting I had time to remove my crash helmet and ingage in a quick and friendly conversation with a truck driver. By the time the policeman arrived I was all smiles and ready to greet him.

I assumed that all the policeman wanted to ask was the normal "how fast, how much" question, so immediately I greeted him with a friendly "como estas". He quickly told me I had been caught in a radar at 130km which I knew was a lie because I had carefully stuck to 100km - I pointed to my GPS and said it was impossible because my GPS recorded my speed... I was still very friendly and with a grin like the cheshire cat. He asked me where I was heading and I used the opportunity to explain I had been to Buenos Aires, that I love his country and that everyone here is "muy sociable"... his chest puffed out a bit.

I should add that my Spanish isn't great and that during the conversation the policeman tried the 130km line on me a couple of times, but I just waved it away with a smile and an "impossible" pointing at my GPS.

Anyway, I was soon waved on my way with a big smile and a handshake from the policeman.

I hope that helps someone

Spanish or no Spanish, this is by far the best way to deal with police - someone should sticky this paragraph up in all the 'border crossings' 'corrupt police theives' alarmist yadda yadda type of conversations here.
95% of the sticky situations are beaten by being friendly, yet assertive.


ps not to say the current thread isn't helpful or relevant. If it helps travellers, I'm all for it.

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The Road To Rio - Locokiwi

We were both exhausted as we neared Trujillo from the north and stopped before a police checkpoint to take a photo. When we started again we were (naturally) pulled over by the police. They demanded insurance papers – seemingly knowing that it’s not required to have them to get the temporary import papers at the border for the bike. I produced my expired (by 3 months) Mexican insurance and assured the policeman it was valid worldwide. My riding partner wasn’t so lucky and didn’t have any papers to show him, so after 20 minutes of arguing, him reading the traffic regulations to us, and threatening to take us to Huanchaco (our beachside destination near Trujillo) to the police station, he finally let us go with a promise to buy insurance in the morning.

Coordinates of the police stop are:
S 8° 00' 23.28" - W 79° 04' 14.60"
Google map of stop and post are: Kuelap Ruins From Chachapoyas, Peruvian Motorcyle Insurance Shakedown, and Back on the Gringo Trail at Huanchaco on the Peruvian Coast*|*Trip on a KLR650 Motorcycle From Canada to Mexico, Central and South America

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2000 KLR650
trip log: http://tripdown.regioncoding.com

I was having a chat with some local lads in Minatitlan, Mexico, and noticed each time the police passed they would flinch or glare. I asked if the Police were good 'Buenos' or bad 'Malos`.
The continued to say that if I was not with them they would likely be subjected to a search, possibly robbed if they had cash.... etc etc.
I aske why my prescence would make a difference, and they responded.... `Because you can call your consulate and comlain and they will get in trouble.'
I have a quad band mobile I bought and had unlocked in Bolivia, and at each border crossing I simply buy a new chip and I`m on the grid again.
Hassle with cops? Pull out the mobile, call, or even pretend to call the `CONSULATE` (make sure this word is said loud and clear so the cops can hear who you`re calling) adn surely this will make them think twice.

I don't smoke but a packet of decent cigerettes/cigars (I've not seen a cop in South America who doesn't smoke) might immediately break the ice with a cheeky copper.

A big smile always helps as does talking about the weather and asking directions in crap Spanish.

Talk to them in a friendly way before they can "try it on".

Human nature usually prevails.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

POSADA:

2 police cop stopped me at 3 am for a check up and told me since i had my head phones on and no seguro they were gonna confiscate my bike and that i could have paied the fine the next day.

i asked if there was a faster way, maybe , perhaps i can pay the fine here now to them?? he told me he was gonna help me...20 dollars after that i was free to go.

PUERTO IGUAZU:

the next day i meet with 3 other guys from Brasil , by the end of ruta 12 "apparently there are radars" we got caught overtaking a truck on a double line on a corner, no seguro and over the limit.

i am pretty sure there are no radar, the limit on the last 20km is somethinf like 40km/h..... insane...way tooo slow, all the locals truck are doing 100km/h anyway!!! hw said that they also have an other radar but this one wasn't working but the colleague told him we were speeding over the radio.
Total fine..... 1500 Pesos!!!

960 pesos for speeding
250 pesos no seguro
360 pesos overtaking on the double line.


he started entering the data of one of the guy on the computer, didn't ask for the other 3 of us then after a smoke and a long long bollocking he told us we could be let go fro 100pesos each.... we all place them in the drawer of his desk and left.

if it wasn't for the bad overtaking we could have argue a little !!!

QUESTION:
any good soul would like to e mail me a copy of any kind of international licence??


thank you!!!

Of to see Iguazu tomorrowwww!!! Yeahyy!!!P

You can always argue! Politely, of course....but their demands for a lot of money are just opening offers. Even when you deserve to pay a fine, it never needs to be as much as they first ask.

As I've said before, my conclusion has been that US$5 pays any fine, anywhere in Latin America. A trucker I spoke with in Honduras said that for him, one or two dollars (equivalent) is always enough. So when the cops demand hundreds of bucks, or even twenty.....negotiate. They expect it. You need the practice. It will work.

Mark

2nd these....
Worked perfectly in many occasions..

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brigginggaps.com.au

I do not worry about corrupt cops anymore, never paid them anything.

A few days ago I've been asked to stop about 3 or 4 times going down that road, the cop just put 2 fingers on the side like a "please pull over", I just don't stop, I respond by a similar 2 fingers sign that say "hey hello dude" and keep going slowly without stopping, I look back in the mirror see what they do. They've never chased me!!

It's very funny to watch, the cop look at me then do the same sign to the car behind, the car pulls over...

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Current trip: Canada to Ushuaia
http://aventuresdesimon.blogspot.com

I usually wave and honk, unless I'm bored, then I stop and have a few laughs with the guys while they try to get money from me. Dot worry about this kind of stuff, it not a big deal.

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http://www.southontwowheels.com

I can't believe after all these stories and reports that they're still there doing their thing... Surely someone local in the right position must hear of all this and put an end to it.. It's one thing hearing about a vague checkpoint that something happened, and a whole different story hearing about the same exact km and the same 3 guys ripping tourists off...

I hope they get what's coming to them soon...

Then where will be the adventure on this flat and boring road???
Well those things don’t work in that way down here…
“Someone local in the right position” are doing the same in a big scale. Or if are good people are worry about important stuffs.
Now at least you are warned, if you don’t get angry or impolite your experience will be just anecdotic.
If tourist are not silly and don't pay they will get tired and quit to stop them…
Just my 2 argie cents.
Saludos

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Javier...
Dakar Motos “ ”

Yeah right, that is horrible advice for this check point. This checkpoint is definitely different then all the other ones.

It is better to have a few lines of Spanish memorized where you can tell the corrupt cop that you have heard stories about the corruption at this checkpoint.

Another good idea, if you have a fancy camera, is to have it out and ready when you get to this checkpoint and start taking pictures of them when they stop you. Tell them that you are a journalist and are writing an article about the police in Argentina.

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http://www.journeyrider.net Latin America blog (07-8)