Small tips on the police and corruption on the roads of Playa del Carmen in Mexico;
For the most part, the police are very helpful and are there to keep the roads safe. There are checkpoints across the state of Quintana Roo, where Cancun and Playa del Carmen are. There are solar powered cameras on poles before you get to some checkpoints, you just have to slow down there. The good news is that the police rarely stop you on the highway. But if you are arrested just make sure you have all your papers ready. Sometimes they just try to start a conversation about where you’re going and they give helpful instructions. Try to understand the problem but without showing them too much that you speak Spanish, most of the time if they see that they cannot have a conversation with you,
If you have committed an offense, then the police are only doing their job. It is best to wait for them to give you a ticket. Most of the time if it’s a minor infraction or maybe you’re not sure, they’ll just make you wait a little while, they “vaguely check something” hoping maybe for a bribe but it is best to wait to see if they are actually making you a ticket. If they write a ticket, it goes to their file and will have problems if it is for a bribe then it is not to their advantage to make tickets without good reasons. It may seem easy to donate money to avoid the hassle, but most of the time, you won’t even get a ticket. The patient is the best asset!
If you are a tourist and have rented a car, there is a regulation that gives tourist fines for minor offenses, for example if you are not wearing your seatbelt, talk on the phone while driving, get lost in a without unique, etc .. see the following article,
Wow! Exemption from fines for tourists on the roads of the Riviera Maya !!
If you have committed a major offense, for example speeding, they can fine you. In this case, they will give you a ticket and leave with either your driver’s license or the vehicle license plate. Then you have to go to the police station to go pay and collect your documents.
Respect the speed limits and especially never drive when you have been drinking. You could have big problems if you get stopped drinking!
An educated driver is the best defense against corruption.
Driving in the Riviera Maya is very safe and pleasant !!
