Yesterday I was retuning to Valle Escondido, after picking up my maid, across from Central Park.I have picked her up once a week for the last 2 years.Earth Day was not my lucky day. I usually have my wallet with me. This day running late, I ran out theHouse and forgot my wallet at home. Since the street I came up on, is one way, I go 1 block back on Cental Ave and make a right, to get back to The valley.Just before I made the right turn, there were 2 motor cycle Boqueta Policias.They immediately pulled me over, they asked were the plates are, I responded, no tango, identification , also did not have it. I called Alto Crimen and Spoke with Rodney who in turn spoke to the cop, but,Thek cops stood firm and Rodney could not convince them to give merged a break, Rodney suggested I give them the keys, after I had refused to give it to them. After 1 hour I returned home to get my wallet, the cart and the cops were gone.I made many mistakes, like not taking the cops name or number, I should have asked why no ticket?I have no idea what I should do to recover the cart. Any sugestions would be appreciated, Thanks, Peter.
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Hi Peter, I found your cart and someone that can help you resolve all of this in Boquete. I need a number or email where I may call you. I have a US number so I need a US number. This needs to be soon so we can get your cart back and avoid David.
Call me (303)719-0370.
Thanks.
Peter Markus > Nancy BurgessApril 26, 2015 at 1:37pm
Hi Peter. i am so sorry this happened to you. I have someone in Boquete checking into this. They are calling the hwy. patrol to get the info on your cart and what it will take to get this resolved.
Your mistake was not failing to ask for the police officer's name or number, who aren't Boquete Policias, by the way. You got caught being an unlicensed driver on an unlicensed vehicle. You're lucky they didn't arrest you for refusing to give them the keys. Your cart is in a pound somewhere. To find out where it is and begin the process of retrieving it, you should probably start at the head office of the Transit Police on the PanAmerican highway east of David.
Peter Markus > Keith WoolfordApril 26, 2015 at 1:35pm
Hi Keith,
Thanks for your advice on recovering my cart, Yes I learned my expensive lesson.
Since you seem to know how things work around here maybe you can give me a hint on why the police
needed to tow the cart instead of just giving me a ticket, that I would have paid and never return with the
cart to the streets of Boquete. After I gave the officer my keys and asked for a receipt, he just waived me off.
I spoke to Rodney 3 times, who in turn talked to the police, but to no avail.
I spent the whole day in David completing all the different things I needed to do and pay for.
First I went to our local police and after a good amount of time he wrote out the ticket, then finally he told me
all the different places I needed go to get the cart back.
I went to the DMV and paid my $100 fine and then 2.50 to get documents copied. After that I went to the Police
in David where there were more documents, I showed my cedula and proof of the purchase of the cart.
Then I needed to go to the pound to pay $250 for the towing charge, do you think perhaps the charge was so high because there is some revenue sharing between the cops and the owner of the pound Mr. Robinson.
They did not except my credit card, it needed to be cash, I was chargedn for two days storage and tax.
Here is the most absurd part of this whole adventure, at the pound they did not ask me for any documents that
I ran around to obtain, they were satisfied in me paying them $284 I was free to take the cart.
I had the Boqute towing take the cart, back to my house, it cost me $160.
So they all had a profitable transactions, playing GRINGO BINGO.
Roger Bellido > Peter MarkusApril 27, 2015 at 9:06am
Well. It Might be or not a GRINGO BINGO. It is plainly the law even if we like it or not. Persons usually tend to criticize some laws when it is affecting them directly and it is understandable. Most of this situations are covered in the REGLAMENTO DE TRANSITO that it is being supposed that every driver in Panama should have read, know and understand.... but nobody take the time to read it and then there is a lot of surprises and complains when something happens later with the authorities.
"SED DURA SED LEX". It is an obligation to any citizen, resident, legal alien in any country in the world to know or at least be aware of what are the laws, regulations, norms in that place. The ignorance of the law is not a defense excuse.
As some people posted here Golf Carts are not vehicles authorized to be rolling in public roads in Panama so the Transito Police will and could be authorized by law to tow them to the pound.
As I say to my kids: "getting experience and learning sometimes is costly"
Peter, I am not surprised the event ended up costing you as much as it did. It could have been worse if the officer wanted to be difficult and ticketed you on some other offenses.
The Transit Police have a 'be legal or tow' policy and they are sticking to it.
They have the authority to tow any motorized vehicle which does not have a current License Plate for the road. I see them towing all the time, usually locals, not expats, driving with expired Plates.
Same situation applies to getting caught as an unlicensed driver. If there is no one available to drive the car home, the Transitos will have it towed.Sorry this happened, maybe you can advise your neighbours that it would be a good idea keep Carts within the development.
Replies
Hi Nancy,
my email is ptmarkus@bellsouth.net
Skype name peter.markus432
Thank you for your help, really appreciate it
Just sent you a message on skype Peter.Talk soon.
Hi Peter, I found your cart and someone that can help you resolve all of this in Boquete. I need a number or email where I may call you. I have a US number so I need a US number. This needs to be soon so we can get your cart back and avoid David.
Call me (303)719-0370.
Thanks.
Hi Nancy,
Thanks for your help.
Hi Peter. i am so sorry this happened to you. I have someone in Boquete checking into this. They are calling the hwy. patrol to get the info on your cart and what it will take to get this resolved.
Your mistake was not failing to ask for the police officer's name or number, who aren't Boquete Policias, by the way. You got caught being an unlicensed driver on an unlicensed vehicle. You're lucky they didn't arrest you for refusing to give them the keys. Your cart is in a pound somewhere. To find out where it is and begin the process of retrieving it, you should probably start at the head office of the Transit Police on the PanAmerican highway east of David.
Hi Keith,
Thanks for your advice on recovering my cart, Yes I learned my expensive lesson.
Since you seem to know how things work around here maybe you can give me a hint on why the police
needed to tow the cart instead of just giving me a ticket, that I would have paid and never return with the
cart to the streets of Boquete. After I gave the officer my keys and asked for a receipt, he just waived me off.
I spoke to Rodney 3 times, who in turn talked to the police, but to no avail.
I spent the whole day in David completing all the different things I needed to do and pay for.
First I went to our local police and after a good amount of time he wrote out the ticket, then finally he told me
all the different places I needed go to get the cart back.
I went to the DMV and paid my $100 fine and then 2.50 to get documents copied. After that I went to the Police
in David where there were more documents, I showed my cedula and proof of the purchase of the cart.
Then I needed to go to the pound to pay $250 for the towing charge, do you think perhaps the charge was so high because there is some revenue sharing between the cops and the owner of the pound Mr. Robinson.
They did not except my credit card, it needed to be cash, I was chargedn for two days storage and tax.
Here is the most absurd part of this whole adventure, at the pound they did not ask me for any documents that
I ran around to obtain, they were satisfied in me paying them $284 I was free to take the cart.
I had the Boqute towing take the cart, back to my house, it cost me $160.
So they all had a profitable transactions, playing GRINGO BINGO.
Well. It Might be or not a GRINGO BINGO. It is plainly the law even if we like it or not. Persons usually tend to criticize some laws when it is affecting them directly and it is understandable. Most of this situations are covered in the REGLAMENTO DE TRANSITO that it is being supposed that every driver in Panama should have read, know and understand.... but nobody take the time to read it and then there is a lot of surprises and complains when something happens later with the authorities.
"SED DURA SED LEX". It is an obligation to any citizen, resident, legal alien in any country in the world to know or at least be aware of what are the laws, regulations, norms in that place. The ignorance of the law is not a defense excuse.
As some people posted here Golf Carts are not vehicles authorized to be rolling in public roads in Panama so the Transito Police will and could be authorized by law to tow them to the pound.
As I say to my kids: "getting experience and learning sometimes is costly"
Peter, I am not surprised the event ended up costing you as much as it did. It could have been worse if the officer wanted to be difficult and ticketed you on some other offenses.
The Transit Police have a 'be legal or tow' policy and they are sticking to it.
They have the authority to tow any motorized vehicle which does not have a current License Plate for the road. I see them towing all the time, usually locals, not expats, driving with expired Plates.
Same situation applies to getting caught as an unlicensed driver. If there is no one available to drive the car home, the Transitos will have it towed.Sorry this happened, maybe you can advise your neighbours that it would be a good idea keep Carts within the development.