CNN iReport

Story of my trip through honduras to get to managua ,Nicaragua,

by rodolfo A. Benitez Mendez

From the moment I crossed the El amatillo border between el salvador and honduras i could not shake away the sense of lack of  security  one feels when driving in another country, specially central american countries now  that honduras is in such a bad shape.

There are at least 10 police roadblocks on panamerican highway between el salvador and nicaragua, and at least 15 between honduras and costa rica, which is ok, if it wasnt for the fact that they are mostly there TO iINFLUENCE TRAVELERS TO PAY THEM FOR BOGUS TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS > FOR EXAMPLE

1- BROKEN TAILGATE LIGHTS OR ANY LIGHT ON THE CAR CARRIES A MINIMUN OF 3 YEARS IN PRISON OR A $100 FINE.

2- MAKING A LEFT  EVEN IF THERE IS A TRAFFIC LIGHT IS ILLEGAL FOR FOREIGNERS AND THEY MUST PAY $50 FINE OR 1 YEAR IN PRISON.

3- THE CAR MUST HAVE AN EMISSION STICKER ON THE WINDSHIEL OR MUST PAY $20 DOLLARS   ( FUNNY , WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT EMISSIONS WERE HE DID NOT KNOW?)

those are some of the examples, and there is a long list, the main point of all is that  police corruption on panamerican highway  goes from those bogus violations to acept large payments to let drug traffickers and illegal aliens go by when the correct sum is paid.

PLAN MERIDA, is a detailed anti drug trafficking project created by the United States to assist central american countries in their daily fight against it.

The main question now is, if the Police departments are so underpaid, and so pron to acepting bribes on daily basis, how is this program going to work.

if you have not traveled by car through honduras and nicaragua, you have no idea what a hassle is to deal with police officers who lie and invent things that you as a normal person know they cannot be true, but , that you decide to pay the fee just to be on the safe side, because, you are on their turf afterall , and you do not want to be arrested for, lets say   drug trafficking or something ugly , right>???

As a traveler, it leaves me with such a disgust feeling, and so powerless, because i am not able to complaint to their superiors , because as gas prices,,, money goes up  the hill , to the boses.

every single police post from the border of el Salvador to Costa Rica is corrupt and if you are going to travel through theses countries and do not want to pay their bribes take the following into consideration:

IN A NUTSHELL

1 ; if the vehicle is rented, you need an autorization from the rental company to take the vehicle out of the country, it must be notarized by a lwayer, needs to have all your personal information and the dates to use the car out of the country must be at least a week.

2- fire extinguisher, emergency cone or triangle, all the necesary items, extra tire, jack etc.

3- all the fluids in the vehicle must be full, oil, brake fluid, radiator  water, etc, if not, they wil make you leave the car and go get some, or pay the $50 fine.

3- all driving documents, license, registration, your personal documents, passport, resident alien cards, cedula, duit nit  etc.

3; if traveling with children, all their documents, and yellow fever card  ( i know , i know, it is not mandatory, but not having it can cost you $100 dollars and a hassle)

4: DO NOT argue or makes remarks, comments that could make the issue bigger. just follow the rule of law as we follow it in our countries an stay safe.

as for THE HONDURAN AND NICARAGUAN GOVERNMENTS:

it is NOW the time to make changes in the manner in which your police departments are treating the travelers. I personally am tired to getting  (legally robbed by your police officers)

it is not correct for them to be charging people for not giving them a ticket. if one of us traveling your country violates the law, then give us the fine, we will go pay for it and continue our way, but getting paid not to give a ticket is a crime, from here to china.

help us out, make a change