Traffic rules in Argentina are something of an enigma, even more so when it comes to the question of when these rules are enforced and when they are not. In Argentina this boils down to a mysterious mix of [bad] luck, location, moment, the police officer and the driver's attitude. What is the best way to deal with [corrupt] traffic police and traffic fines in Argentina?
How to Deal With Traffic Police in Argentina
When one is motioned to stop, the traffic police will always ask for documents. They will often move behind the car to check the license plate and sometimes confer with a colleague. Stay patient, smile and be friendly. An arrogant attitude, or showing signs of being in a hurry, will have a negative effect.
It is up to a police officer to decide the severity of the violation and therefore the price of the fine. A traffic fine is based on the price of a litre of nafta multiplied by a number – this number is decided by the traffic police and depends on the severity of the offence. The fact that the law doesn't state fixed prices and that traffic fines depend on the price of a litre of nafta is the result of an unstable economy that Argentina has known.
The driver will be given a traffic ticket and be asked to pay it at the Municipal office. Traffic police doesn't [shouldn't] accept the money. The moment they don't give a ticket and demand to be given the money themselves, a scam is up.
Traffic Police in the Northeastern Provinces of Argentina
In general one can travel without worrying about traffic police through Argentina's Andes Mountains, Ruta 40, Patagonia, its central provinces as well as the province of Buenos Aires. On the larger part of Argentinean roads traffic police are nice fellows simply doing their job. Often, they are curious about a foreigner and his car or motorcycle and just like to chat.
Unfortunately, the northeastern regions of Argentina are the corrupt ones, at least when it comes to traffic police. Ruta 14, kms 341 in Entre Ríos, is notorious: at this permanent police post one can be assured of getting a traffic fine – for a real or imaginary offence.
Whereas foreigners can count on being motioned to the side of the road, Argentinians are targeted as well. In these corrupted provinces it may happen that even when the driver complies with all requirements, the traffic police make up an imaginary offence – and they can be quite creative in that respect. For a car it is mandatory to carry two warning triangles, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, a rigid tow bar and at the back of the car a red, reflective sticker. At some petrol stations these items can be bought in one complete set for about 200 pesos.
How to Deal With a Corrupt Traffic Police Officer
Contrary to the larger part of Argentina, where it's always good to chat with traffic police officers, in the northeastern states it may be wise to pretend not to speak Spanish. Just smile and remind yourself you have more time than they do.
In case of an imaginary offence, or if the police officer does not want to write a traffic ticket but wants to receive the money himself, experience has taught travellers that the best way to deal with this is to first agree to pay. Instead of taking out the money, however, present them with a form asking for their names, functions and other relevant information and ask the officer to fill it in. Don't forget to take a picture of the police officers, or at least pretend to have every intention of doing so. Tell them that you have no problem with paying the fine, but that you want to protest the traffic fine at a higher level. There is a good chance they will back off and motion the traveller on.
Information on Traffic Police and Complaint Forms
The website of Horizons Unlimited has several threads about corrupt traffic police and traffic fines. The website of the Ministry of Justice provides a form that can be used when one really wants to protest a fine or behaviour of traffic police.
Argentina is a wonderful country for overland travelling, for the larger part of the country is peaceful, beautiful with friendly inhabitants. Don't worry too much about traffic police; always stay polite and if coming across a traffic police officer, have a form and camera at the ready and the problem will most likely solve itself.
Resources for Travel in Argentina
Argentina is a wonderful country for overland travelling, for the larger part of the country is peaceful, beautiful with friendly inhabitants. Don't worry too much about traffic police. Stay polite and if coming across a traffic police officer, have a form and camera at the ready and the problem will most likely solve itself.
Karin-Marijke Vis - Karin-Marijke Vis is a bilingual writer (Dutch-English) who has been traveling in Asia and South America since 2003.
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