My Story and experiences in Dominican Republic

I have never had a problem with the police in dr. I have been stopped many times and they have always been very helpful and nice. They wrestle with my bad spanish and never ask for a bribe.
I always tip them before i leave because i know they dont make much.
Coming home late one night after partying,our car was hit and the other driver tried to speed away.Due to the damage he could not go very fast and nor could we. We followed him until he stopped. We wrote the tag number down and stayed in our vehicle windows up doors locked. My wife called her uncle and police and both were there in 10 minutes it seemed. The police listen to what we said and looked at the seen. They made some notes,called a tow truck and took us to our hotel, I tipped them 10 dollars.
We got a police report the next day and a new car.
I always smile and show humor.It seems to work for me and it will work for you too.

I like your story.  You should start a blog and take us on your journey.  I'd love to hear as you go through the entire process of leaving the states permenantly.  I come to this site often.  Mostly people asking particular questions and getting answers from people that have been there for years.  There are some good blogs, but I haven't found one by someone from the US as they make the move.

Mostly I'm interested because I hope I'm right behind you.  I'm 49 and can't retire for another 7 years.

A nice true story....human is a wolf for others when they eager for power, money, woman and passion.

I wish U can solved Ur problem independently in family finances, U are their God of hope.

Best wishes,

Oommma wrote:

I like your story.  You should start a blog and take us on your journey.  I'd love to hear as you go through the entire process of leaving the states permenantly.  I come to this site often.  Mostly people asking particular questions and getting answers from people that have been there for years.  There are some good blogs, but I haven't found one by someone from the US as they make the move.

Mostly I'm interested because I hope I'm right behind you.  I'm 49 and can't retire for another 7 years.

I read the blog creation rules and i will start a blog. Thank you for the advice,stay tuned,it wont be long.

ani devi wrote:

A nice true story....human is a wolf for others when they eager for power, money, woman and passion.

I wish U can solved Ur problem independently in family finances, U are their God of hope.

Best wishes,

That is so true and those drives are by products of our global economy to a big extent. After visiting dr for a few years now,i have a few ideas on how to suppliment my income but im planning on not needing to. If i do anything it will be to keep the family with a purpose.

All the best to you also

One thing I have learned here in the Dominican Republic is that it is not unusual for a woman to have more than one boyfriend.  They think nothing of it and do not feel they are doing anything wrong.  It happened to me.  It is very easy to get fooled in a romantic relationship so I would advice caution.  It sounds like you are doing a lot for her and her family but also make sure that you are equally benefiting from the relationship.

spacer wrote:

One thing I have learned here in the Dominican Republic is that it is not unusual for a woman to have more than one boyfriend.  They think nothing of it and do not feel they are doing anything wrong.  It happened to me.  It is very easy to get fooled in a romantic relationship so I would advice caution.  It sounds like you are doing a lot for her and her family but also make sure that you are equally benefiting from the relationship.

Roger That!

>Jaxterstone
>I have never had a problem with the police in >dr. I have been >stopped many times and they have always been very >helpful and >nice.

Yes I agree with that. Never had a prob with DR cops and they are usually polite...very friendly too, they sometimes wave and smile as they drive past on their bikes-not many cops I seen in other countries do that!


>I always tip them before i leave because i know they dont make >much.

Yeah, well they are a little corrupt I suppose, but nowhere near as bad as some countries- and nothing wrong with giving them a little tip, if they been helpful, to top up their crappy salaries.

After a late night party in pop three guys in a crappy pickup crashed into my rental suv while we were in route back to Playa Dorada and drove away. My fiance was onboard and we gave chase. Both vehicles were barely drivable. I just wanted the tag number.
He had a block and a half hobbling lead.My car was hobbling and spitting steam but we were slowly gaining.My fiance was ready with paper and pencil. Just as we got into view of the tag the pickup pulled over and three guys got out. The driver was 40 ish and the other two were middle teens and early 20.
  My fiance wrote down the tag before they blocked it from view as the driver approached my side with one hand in is pocket. He wanted me to roll down my window but i did not!He saw my fiance on the phone and told his partners to block the tag,too late.
Five minutes later my fiance's uncle arrived and made them get away from my car. Five minutes later the police came,did a quick inquiry and called me a tow truck.All of us had to appear at the police station the next day. I tipped the police and they drove us to our hotel. The next day I was proven not at fault with fiance's uncle helping. We had to talk directly to the Captain of police.I needed a report asap to get a replacement vehicle but the captain said i would have a report in three days ,i was leaving in two days.I discretely negotiated a tip for the captain through my fiance's uncle and the report was ready in twenty minutes.I got my replacement car and resumed partying!
I learned that connections are important in dr and to deal with police nicely and discretely you are in their country,always have insurance and some extra money the tips were chicken feed

Jaxterstone

While doing a cross country drive from Santo Domingo to POP and back,i was stopped in Santiago for making some kind of improper turn i did not understand because there was only one way to turn.
The police had other cars stopped also.This was in the middle of downtown.The officer approached my window and started rapidfire spanish and i showed him my passport and and said in my best bad spanish thatexcuse me please im American and dont understand alot of the law here please help me.He looked at my now wife and asked her something and she went bullistic!Arguing is a custom in the dr and even now it makes me a lil bit uncomfortable but while they were going at it i eased a small tip out of my wallet and told her to place it on the passengerside arm rest so he could see but no one else could.During the rapidfire argument btween her and him, he made his way to her side of the vehicle and discretely reached in and took the tip. They continued to argue as he stepped out into traffic and stopped all the cars and allowed us to go.The other cars that were stopped before us were still there. A little way down the road my wife started laughing and told me it was all a big act. But i didnt know that

Jaxterstone

Are you saying that your wife played you? That's rather jive. I think you should be very careful. I think she may be using you. Sounds like it to me.

Hey jaxterstone...good reading your blogs.  I am a retired cop and soldier,.,.,NOBODY ever offered me a tip! some daily tips would've been a nice additive to my living standard!
Are there some larger communities of expats in Puerto Plata near the beaches?...sounds like you spend much of your time deeper in the interior with the locals.?

Your biggest expat communities in the PP area will be Sosua and Cabarete.  However as I said in your other post be careful and it will be difficult to meet the "right" girl there but not impossible.
If you meet her in a bar at night in Sosua she is not the right girl. Now dancing in Cabaret...Maybe.


Bob K

kerryV wrote:

Hey jaxterstone...good reading your blogs.  I am a retired cop and soldier,.,.,NOBODY ever offered me a tip! some daily tips would've been a nice additive to my living standard!
Are there some larger communities of expats in Puerto Plata near the beaches?...sounds like you spend much of your time deeper in the interior with the locals.?

Yes you are right,I am more familiar with the locals.I am still learning and enjoying my adventure and i hope you will too!

Jaxterstone

When all you visitors and/ or people with cash keep giving the police tips this makes them keep pulling people over and trying to get cash out of them. I know the police make very little money but giving the tip is just enforcing bad behavior. You do not reward someone for doing something not right.

I am amazed at how little some people really know about life in La Republica. There is an entire Country out here that has nothing to do with tourist zones and the sorts of problems encountered in those areas. Propinas to Policia Nacional are nothing like many years ago. It was far more commonplace in the 80's .... There were regular stops all along the Autopista Duarte for shakedowns. Usually for people who did not have their paperwork in order. Generalizations about Dominican women and their love lives, are just that. Live and learn for yourselves ! There are no shortcuts to experience !

You realize that this thread is over 4 year old????

Bob K

No, I did not Bob ....  I just keep seeing posts from people generalizing about life in general, women, love and losing ones head over young women. Act like you would anywhere else, and you really cannot get played ! I will check the dates of posts with more of an eye for current topics. Although it seems as though many people who come here are looking for romance in all the wrong places !!

What you say about romance is true many times.

Bob K