It is Carnaval (Mardi Gras) time in Venezuela and people get in their vehicles to spend time outside the cities. This also the time where the Government decides to set up “alcabalas” (checkpoints) all over the country with armed personnel to allegedly check for criminals traveling or engaged in bad things. Depending on the state and the level of their bank accounts, you can find these checkpoints every 50 kilometers on non-expressway roads (which make the majority of the roads in the country. Think of them as unauthorized tolls with monies going to the pockets of the local cops and Guards. And if you are thinking about being cool, just drive through and “eff” them, they will shoot you without giving it a second thought.
Isn’t this called “civil asset forfeiture” in the US ?
La Mordita is different from civil assett forfieture. Forfieture requires that there is some sort of court process involved, even if just for show.
Miguel – You should know better than to suggest someone would try to just blow off a checkpoint stop – unless they were a truely stupid tourista. Here in the USA we can do that but there are different rules (as well as a different culture) in Venezuela (and most of the rest of the world).
stay safe
Coming to a area near you soon.
We already have them in the southwest. The border patrol checkpoints that are supposedly looking for illegals and drugs. I used to get to go through them when I was driving a truck out to the coast and back.
The first chance our government gets they will expand them to as many states as possible. They have already had their “VIPR” teams set up checkpoints in Tennessee along Interstate 40. Plus them checking bus and train stations. DHS is becoming a out of control monster.
Yep, coming to a road near you…