This youtube video is the hot topic of conversation in Bali. It was filmed by a Dutch tourist in one of the more touristy areas of Bali. In case you can't understand the broken English, here's a quick synopsis: tourist is stopped for not wearing a helmet, the officer tells tourist he has to go to court and pay 1.25 million rupiah ($125) OR he can pay directly to the officer for 200,000 rupiah (about $20). The tourist pays on the spot, then the officer uses half of the money to buy beers for his fellow officers and the tourist. It would be almost funny if it weren't true and somewhat reflective of the situation in Bali...
Everyone kind of knows and accepts that the police will often ask for 'pocket money' in order to settle small traffic violations. It's one of the realities of life in Indonesia. If you don't pay the officer on the spot, you have to go to court and/or surrender your registration. It's a hassle and not always a straightforward process. So it's easier for most people to settle it on the side of the road, unfortunately, settling it on the side of the road sometimes ends up with the officer slipping your 'fine' into the lining of his hat.
It's not all bad though. The police have cleaned up their act in many ways. We have seen the improvement even during our 6 years here. Some of my neighbors are police officers, and they are good guys who truly care about eliminating corruption.
