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How many passports can you have on border crossing?

Got stuck on Panama-Costa Rica border, what to do?

  • We were visiting Costa Rica from US, exploring places using the rental car. We crossed Panama border in Rio Sereno, there is absolutely no border control there, you just drive through to Panama. No signs at all saying that you are crossing the border or about any rules or anything. Today when we were leaving Panama back into Costa Rica in Paso Canoas crossing, Panamian border control stopped us. They said that we crossed border in Rio Sereno illegally, no stamps in passports, and rental car isn't allowed to go into Panama. Border officer said that if I pay him some money he will just let us go. He didn't tell how much. I refused to pay bribe. So they wrote some paperwork, had someone come back with us in our car to David town (capital of their province), they placed us into the hotel in David, took our rental car. And said that tomorrow they will pick us up in the hotel and we will have to go into the immigration office and pay some fine. I am looking for the advice. I don't feel we did anything wrong since the border in Rio Sereno is very transparent and there is no way to know that we are expected to have stamps and can't come in a rental car. Its pretty much drive though with fewer signes than in drive through McDonalds. I am going to argue with them tomorrow. But what is your advice? Should we just be aggressive and not pay anything and demand they let us go?

  • Answer:

    I want to give you one advice, don't be agressive. The more agressive you are the more you pay, and they'll give you a very hard time. State your case very calmly and apologize, and hopefully you get away with a reasonable fine. If you are agressive they will probably confiscate the rental car, and then what. You are liable for the rental car, don't forget that.

jerry M at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source

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Immigration definitely has the upper hand. Whether intentional or not, you broke the law, and aggressiveness is just going to cause you more trouble. Pay your fines and get on with your visit.

Hondu

Regardless of how you "feel", you have no attorney and no legal right to stand on. These law enforcers know the rules, and apparently want some money. I'd pay the fines and get the hell out of there.

Your Uncle Dodge!

Listen. I lived in south america for a year. Bribing down there is not bad. It is normal. it is usually how police support their families because they don't get paid much. The best thing to do in that circumstance would have been to pay the cops $30 and be on your way. You are lucky they didn't take you to Jail. Jails there make US jails look like a five star hotel.

Stephen C

Well.........since you refused to pay the bribe......the next one will be more expensive.......pay it or find yourself in the biggest pile of @hit you have ever seen.............demand what you want..........be aggressive..........they eat your type of attitude on a daily basis.........shut up ............pay the bribe and be on you way........your mouth has gotten you in enough trouble already.............your not in Kansas any more Dorthy............

kapn

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