# Surrender your pass-a-ports! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 14, 2002, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrender-your-pass-a-ports/136697 "2002-11-14T08:25:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrender-your-pass-a-ports/136697/21 "2002-11-17T15:27:34Z")
From \*\* clairobscur \*\* > [@](#): > > Errr…I don’t know what the situation is in the south-american country you happen to live in, but the OP was refering to something happening in _Morocco_. I’m not aware of war lords reigning in the shanty subburbs of Moroccan cities (though there certainly are drug dealers), > nor about massive numbers or kidnappings. After reading my response again, I think I should apologize for such a quick reaction, I think I could have been clearer, just when I see stuff like the OP I get a bit hot under the collar. The answer I was trying to formulate had to do with, From \*\* chriszarate \*\* > [@](#): > > …It seemed unlikely that they would try to run a scam on camera, but perhaps they are that bold? The answer is, hell yes, they ARE that bold, and why not? Because it isn’t right, BAH! Its so easy to take advantage of tourists, and tourists are constantly doing stupid things that put them into hot water. First, I well understand the OP was talking about Morocco, I was demonstrating how generic the situation is, weather you are in South America, or North Africa. Why did the cops demand the American’s pass ports? What had they done, were they suspected of something - yeah, they were suspected of having a bunch of money, as evidenced by their manner and the film crew that happened to be along for the ride. Why turn off the camera? No proof of the cops poor behavior? And while there may be no war lords running the local ghettos - a ghetto is still a ghetto, and the Americans were lucky to fall into the hands of the cops and not somebody who would have been just as happy to blow everybody away and keep their money, documents, clothes, camera gear (ransom?) etc. And finally, just to make a point, exactly how did \*\* Amazing Race “Security”\*\* straighten things out? Threaten to call in an air strike? HA, they paid off the locals and were on their way. I submit this is why they were hassled in the first place - and it looks like it worked out for the cops after all. That is, unless any one here can show me how the “Security” team got the players off the hook without paying a fee, or fine or some such extortion. I’ll be happy to admit I was wrong, this would go a long way to restoring my faith in humanity. > [@](#): > > You’re not necessarily at risk of being abducted/killed as soon as you’re too long away from a Mac Donald, you know… Obviously not, or I would have disappeared YEARS ago, I was using “Mac Donald’s” as euphemism for all the comforts, amenities, and basic rights we Americans have come to take for granted in our daily lives. When you find yourself in a place where the folks are generally disadvantaged as compared to you, you just better watch your back. That’s that, If you think I’m full of it, you just go a head and take a stroll through Watts tonight, or through a Favela , in Mexico City, or even a poor suburb of Marrakech, you’ll see what I mean. From \*\* Monty \*\* > [@](#): > > You do realize, I trust, that a police officer is a bona fide official? Yes Monty, you are absolutely right, I just don’t see some one who cant even read the visa they just confiscated as an bona fide _ **anything** _. My point was that If I don’t have the documents they need and they suspect me of something, I will (and have) end up at a police station, where there is usually a commander, or a judge or something. If they REALLY want to know who you are they can call family, or the consulate - and they know it. If its just an “official” cop, doing a shakedown, then he gets to see my photocopies. If he confiscates them, that’s ok, lots more where they came from, but he wont be ordering credit cards, cashing checks in my name, or keep me from leaving the country when I want - that’s for sure. Hope that clears things up regarding my first answer, and sorry about the brash response. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrender-your-pass-a-ports/136697/22 "2002-11-17T16:37:08Z")
Janx: It’s not local law enforcement’s responsibility to do your homework for you. It’s incumbent upon you to abide by the terms of the visa you were just describing. But if you prefer spending your vacations in the various jail cells of the world, have at it. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrender-your-pass-a-ports/136697/23 "2002-11-17T16:43:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Janx \* > > That’s that, If you think I’m full of it, you just go a head and take a stroll through Watts tonight, or through a Favela , in Mexico City, or even a poor suburb of Marrakech, you’ll see what I mean. I already did so. That’s not the safest-looking place I visited in my life, but obviously I lived to tell the story. I also already surrendered my passport to the Moroccan police. Very surprisingly, they gave it back to me. I don’t know whether or not your description of São Paulo is accurate, but IMO, you should refrain from passing judgement on all develloping countries on the basis of a limited experience in one particular city (or geographical area). I certainly have less overall confidence in the Moroccan police than I would have in say, the British police, but I don’t just assume that I’ll be robbed/scammed/arbitrarily arrested and fined as soon as I leave western countries. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2002, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrender-your-pass-a-ports/136697/24 "2002-11-17T21:54:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by sailor \* > \*\*I understand in Mexico the traffic cop will keep your car plates to ensure you return to him to pay your ticket/bribe. \*\* In Wisconsin I was kept to ensure that the driver paid the ticket/bribe. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surrender-your-pass-a-ports/136697.md?page=1)