hi all
wasnt sure where to post this,but here goes.
what do you do when the police stop you for a minor traffic offence that you havnt committed.
i was talking to someone who got stopped for jumping a red light which they hadnt.(in sofia if i remember rightly)they were on the long journey from the uk to there house.
the police said pay 180 euros or come to the station.
they gave the officer 200 euros because they didnt have the right money and the officer threw the money in the car and told them to be on there way,so they did that.
what would you do or to be more precise what should you do.
hop.

Personally I would never pay a cop a fine at the roadside. Always pay at a Police Station. Plus 200 Euros is a bit steep as I assume they never got a receipt? Sounds like a big back pocket payment :Headbang:I thought this type of thing was a thing of the past

you dont pay police any cash today. any traffic offence will result in a ticket being issued or a letter being sent to your home, either way you pay your fine through the bank.

hi
i gave a brief description of what happened to my friend,as to get some advice for all travellers to bg who may be a little naive,like myself.
you dont argue with cops with guns do you!!!!!!!!!!!
hop

As an ex Suffolk traffic cop my advice to anyone if money is demanded from a Bulgarian police officer is to ask to see his superior at his station! I have this on good advice from my friend "
Gosho"
who is a Bulgarian police officer and he said any police officer demanding monies will back off at this request as the Bulgarian police authority will take a very dim view of this as they are trying to stamp out this practice.

house of payne wrote:

hi

you dont argue with cops with guns do you!!!!!!!!!!!
hop

YES ...unless you want to be ripped off.... stand your ground.........you can actually report them these days for asking for a bribe ... and they have been known to get done for it...

varnagirl wrote:

house of payne wrote:

hi

you dont argue with cops with guns do you!!!!!!!!!!!
hop

YES ...unless you want to be ripped off.... stand your ground.........you can actually report them these days for asking for a bribe ... and they have been known to get done for it...

I agree with VG you really need to to stand your ground otherwise you will be a target for the rest of them when they find out.

sallyann wrote:

I agree with VG you really need to to stand your ground otherwise you will be a target for the rest of them when they find out.

Last time I got stopped was just plain daft. Despite answering all their questions correctly (in Bulgarian) and producing all the documents I was asked for, I was then sat in the back of the police car and breathalysed (10.30 in the morning!) and it was made quite clear to me that unless I produced the cash, then I would be there a very long time and they would eventually find something wrong with my car or documents.

I decided at this stage I'd had enough and phoned my lawyer. After about five minutes of the policeman saying nothing and my lawyer screaming down the phone I was relieved when he came off the phone rather red-faced, wished me a very good day and apologised for delaying me!

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You would think that by now the police would have stopped this kind of practice and joined in with the rest of the civilised world, let be honest this type of action doesn't the country any good so if they wish to improve their lives then they need to get a grip and quick because time is running out for Bulgaria.

some great responses and some not so great,i understand that you should not let yourself be bribed.
but you have to put yourself in the situation.
i think having your lawyers phone number on hand is the best solution.

hop

house of payne wrote:

but you have to put yourself in the situation.

hop

oh , but I have been in it ...and still stand by what i said !

the days of dominance and bullying are over. before they were not accountable for what they did,said or demanded. bulgaria is learning how to be accountable which is something relatively new. complying within the law is something they too have to abide by.

Reading this post yesterday morning must have jinxed me!!

I had to pop to my sons school yesterday - a few kms from our village. Just got to the "
main"
road and the police were there doing document checks. As I was just nipping out the the next village I had not even thought of taking my handbag with me....

Of course I got pulled over handed them the car documents - but as I had no handbag I did not have my passport, residency card or drivers licence with me. But I had checked before I left home that I had no old insurance stickers on display still, and that I had my lights on...doh.

I explained that I was popping to my sons school to see the headmistress, we got talking (!) they told me to carry on the the school then go home and come back with my documents for them to see!! No mention of a fine or bribe :Great:I have never been fined here or asked for a bribe yet - I have been pulled over 3 times, in 5 years, where I was at fault and could have been fined.

A couple of years ago my husband got pulled for not wearing a seatbelt and was fined on the spot 50 Leva - but he did get a proper written receipt. He was happy to pay there and then as coincidentally one of our Bulgarian friends happened to have been pulled over in front of him for the same thing and he was also paying the fine.

A friend in the Yambol police told me - women should flutter eyelashes and act a bit dumb - men should be hugely apologetic when pulled over!!