A few days ago I was reading an artice in "The Bali Times" about the Police chief announcing that a new policy is being implemented in order to fight corrupted Police officers extorting money from tourists and expats. Supposedly they will be fired on the spot "without excuses" (if found they extort money) as the rogue officers are hurting the island's image at home and abroad. The police department set up a special 24-hour tourist police hotline which is 0361-224-111. Calls to that number reach the Police Headquaters and English-speaking officers are standing by to assist tourists and expats who are being ripped off from rogue officers. As I was reading this article I stored the hotline number in my mobile phone.
The very next day (yesterday) I was driving my car when two police officers signaled me to pull over. It was quite obvious that they chose me because I was a bule... Anyway, that's nothing new. I tried to be friendly and smiled, but the police officers were very serious and rather "cold".
Unfortunately I still don't have an International Driver's License, which is my fault, so I knew that I would be fined for that. On top of that they told me that I was overtaking (motorbikes) without using the blinker...??? They asked for a total of Rp200'000. "You can pay here!", they eagerly advised me. When I asked them if I could go to court in Denpasar, they weren't very happy and, rather than starting with the usual bargaining, told me that if I didn't pay the fine right then, they would have to keep my car registration documents for security! I then told them that I was going to make a phone call and as I was dialing the tourist police hotline number, the officer asked: "Who are you calling?". I gave him a smart-ass reply: "The Police Headquarters!". He was looking perplexed and in disbelief. The person answering the call didn't speak any English so he passed me on to another officer who was fluent. He asked me about my location and the name of the officer. As I was reading the officers' name aloud from his name tag, the officer in front of me was getting very nervous. The officer from the Headquarters told me that they are not allowed to keep my car registration and of course they shouldn't ask for money. I then handed over my mobile to the officer in front of me. I felt very good having taken power away from this police officer by just calling this hotline number. I was actually surprised that it worked. After a minute or so I was handed back the phone and the officer on the other line told me: "Don't worry sir, everything is okay now. Just don't pay any money to the officer. You can go now.". When I hung up the phone, I smiled in triumph and I could sense the officer boiling inside after having lost face. I took my documents, said goodbye, walked to my car and drove off. I wasn't even given a fine to show up at court in Denpasar!
I know that I could have been legally fined for not having an International Drivers' License, and I will try to get a Indonesian Lincense ASAP. I just wanted to share my story with fellow expats and hope this will help in future incidents. Good luck!
The very next day (yesterday) I was driving my car when two police officers signaled me to pull over. It was quite obvious that they chose me because I was a bule... Anyway, that's nothing new. I tried to be friendly and smiled, but the police officers were very serious and rather "cold".
Unfortunately I still don't have an International Driver's License, which is my fault, so I knew that I would be fined for that. On top of that they told me that I was overtaking (motorbikes) without using the blinker...??? They asked for a total of Rp200'000. "You can pay here!", they eagerly advised me. When I asked them if I could go to court in Denpasar, they weren't very happy and, rather than starting with the usual bargaining, told me that if I didn't pay the fine right then, they would have to keep my car registration documents for security! I then told them that I was going to make a phone call and as I was dialing the tourist police hotline number, the officer asked: "Who are you calling?". I gave him a smart-ass reply: "The Police Headquarters!". He was looking perplexed and in disbelief. The person answering the call didn't speak any English so he passed me on to another officer who was fluent. He asked me about my location and the name of the officer. As I was reading the officers' name aloud from his name tag, the officer in front of me was getting very nervous. The officer from the Headquarters told me that they are not allowed to keep my car registration and of course they shouldn't ask for money. I then handed over my mobile to the officer in front of me. I felt very good having taken power away from this police officer by just calling this hotline number. I was actually surprised that it worked. After a minute or so I was handed back the phone and the officer on the other line told me: "Don't worry sir, everything is okay now. Just don't pay any money to the officer. You can go now.". When I hung up the phone, I smiled in triumph and I could sense the officer boiling inside after having lost face. I took my documents, said goodbye, walked to my car and drove off. I wasn't even given a fine to show up at court in Denpasar!
I know that I could have been legally fined for not having an International Drivers' License, and I will try to get a Indonesian Lincense ASAP. I just wanted to share my story with fellow expats and hope this will help in future incidents. Good luck!